In Germany, the states (Länder) are responsible as a matter of principle for the selection of sites for the NATURA 2000 system of protected areas. Site selection in marine areas was initially only possible within the territorial waters bounded by the 12 nautical mile limit, but not in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ, 12-200 nautical miles), in which the sovereign powers of Germany are limited to certain activities. However, the amendment to the German Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz) in April 2002 created the statutory basis for implementing NATURA 2000 in the marine areas of the EEZ: The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety(BMU) and the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) are now responsible for site selection, designation and administration of these areas. The BMU and the BfN are promoting an extensive programme of research. The following pages present that programme’s outcomes. These provided an essential decision-making basis for the identification and demarcation of sites of special ecological value in the EEZ of the North and Baltic Seas. ... [Information of the supplier]
