As one of the larger estuaries in the UK, the Humber Estuary is responsible for 20% of all surface drainage of the UK, creating the ideal conditions for key habitats such as mudflats, sandflats and saltmarsh. This variety of habitats makes the Humber one of the most important estuaries in Europe for migratory birds, with the site supporting 9 species of international importance.
These important habitats and species are the reason it has been given a number of nature conservation designations under UK law and international conventions. The Estuary is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA), a Ramsar Site and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The combined protections form the Humber Estuary European Marine Site (EMS).
With the different classifications and protections of the Humber, a wide range of management techniques are needed to ensure that the Humber can be used responsibly, by various groups and organisations from big to small, to ensure activities do not impact the protected habitats and species that call the Humber its home.
On this page you will find a brief summary of the main activities and their management which takes place on the Humber Estuary.
Fisheries activities within European Marine Sites (EMSs) are managed and enforced by Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) and licenced by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). IFCAs were created under the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) and their duties laid out under Section 149. The IFCAs aims to lead and manage a sustainable marine environment and fisheries, by finding the right balance between sustainable human needs while protecting the environment and ensuring healthy seas.
Developers with plans that could in any way affect the Humber Estuary or surrounding areas have to meet the requirements of the Habitats Regulations. The impacts associated with major developments can include habitat loss, impacts on water and air quality and disturbance to species. The measures required to avoid impacts range from the adoption of sensitive working practices to the creation of new areas of habitat.
The Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy outlines the Environment Agency’s (EA) plans to protect communities and businesses surrounding the Humber Estuary from tidal flooding. This plan is vital to the area, especially with the risks which sea level rise poses.
Any organisation, developer or agency that develops land that reduces the protected habitat in the estuary must provide compensation against this, not just the Environment Agency.
Donna Nook Air Weapons Range has been active for over 40 years. Donna Nook was the first National Nature Reserve (NNR) opened on Ministry of Defence (MoD) land in 2002.
The Humber Estuary is an important industrial area and trade gateway with an average of 40,000 ship movements per year. Its ports and wharves handle 14% of the UK's international trade, making it an important contributor to the UK economy. Due to how shallow the Humber is, ABP provides a pilot service to ensure the safe navigation of vessels within the estuary.
Environmental regulation concerns the abstraction of water, effluent discharges and diffuse pollution, atmospheric emissions, waste processing and disposal, and contaminated land. Certain of the more hazardous industries also have to comply with the Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations (COMAH).
The Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets out how the water environment in England will be managed using a catchment-based approach rather than administrative or political boundaries. The purpose of the Directive is to establish a framework for the protection of inland surface waters (rivers and lakes), transitional waters (estuaries), coastal waters and groundwater.