Indicative feature condition assessments for European marine sites (EMS)

Indicative condition assessments were produced in 2018 for features in Wales’ European marine sites: marine special protection areas (SPAs) and marine special areas of conservation (SACs).

They provided an indication of the condition of designated habitats and species (known as 'features') at individual site level.

The reports below remain available to view, but have been superseded by the 2025 condition assessments for Welsh only marine SACs and SPAs. The two sets must not be directly compared, as they were produced using different methods. The 2025 assessments are most useful for managing sites and assessing licensed activities.

Indicative feature condition assessment reports 2018

• Dee Estuary SAC
• Menai Strait and Conwy Bay SAC
• Anglesey Coast: Saltmarsh SAC
• Cemlyn Bay SAC
• Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC
• Cardigan Bay SAC
• Limestone Coast of South West Wales SAC
• Pembrokeshire Marine SAC
• Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries European marine site (EMS)
• Kenfig SAC
• Severn Estuary SAC
• Marine features of Welsh SPAs

The Dee Estuary SAC, Severn Estuary SAC and three of our marine SPAs are cross-border sites, jointly managed with Natural England (NE).

The indicative condition assessments for these sites were based on the information collated and interpreted by NRW specialists and represent NRW’s opinion only.