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Special Areas of Conservation

Haig Fras

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country UK Offshore waters
Unitary Authority Extra-Regio
Centroid* SV120559
Latitude 50.2296
Longitude -7.7823
SAC EU Code UK0030353
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 47569.38
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Haig Fras SAC

General site character

  • Marine areas, Sea inlets (100%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 1170 Reefs

    Haig Fras is an isolated, fully submarine bedrock outcrop located in the Celtic Sea, 95 km northwest of the Isles of Scilly. It is the only substantial area of rocky reef in the Celtic Sea beyond the coastal margin. It supports a variety of fauna ranging from jewel anemones and Devonshire cup coral near the peak of the outcrop to encrusting sponges, crinoids and ross coral towards the base of the rock (where boulders surround its edge) (Rees, 2000). There are four main habitat complexes; high energy circalittoral rock, moderate energy circalittoral rock, deep circalittoral coarse sediment and deep circalittoral sand. The total area of reef feature within the site boundary is approximately 175 km2. The rock type is granite, mostly smooth with occasional fissures. The rocky outcrop is approximately 45 km long and in one area rises to a peak which lies just 38 m beneath the sea surface (Rees, 2000, Barrio Froján et al., 2015). The surrounding seabed is approximately 118 m deep, with small dispersed patches of rocky outcropping within circalittoral sand and coarse sediment (Barrio Froján et al., 2015).

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

  • Not Applicable

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.