The management plans help the IFG members to understand how their activities and proposals might interact with features of biodiversity importance, and in particular designated sites and species. Secondly, at a more specific level, the process of developing the management plans has allowed environmental bodies to advise where proposals are relevant to European Marine Sites or European Protected Species and, consequently, to help identify the actions that may be required to address issues arising during implementation (e.g. such work that may be required in order to inform an appropriate assessment under the Habitats Regulations).