Giant wave of support wanted for new campaign to protect wildlife at sea

The Wildlife Trusts are calling on everyone to join a giant wave of support for 41 new Marine Conservation Zones

The Wildlife Trusts have launched a new campaign – #WaveOfSupport – to give everyone across the country the chance to back 41 new Marine Conservation Zones and protect our part of the Blue Planet around the English coast.

Recently, the government launched a consultation asking the public for their views about protecting a new group of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) – areas at sea where wildlife is protected from damaging activities. 41 special places have been chosen for the public to comment on, including nine in Devon’s waters.

None of these places will be designated unless there is public support for their protection. That’s why The Wildlife Trusts are urging the public to have their say and join a giant #WaveOfSupport e-action campaign which sends a message to government calling for all 41 potential MCZs to be recognised and protected. The public have until Friday 20th July to make their views known. The e-action can be completed at www.wildlifetrusts.org/wave-of-support

Plymouth-based Joan Edwards, Director of Living Seas at The Wildlife Trusts said:
“It’s rare that people get a chance to influence the future of our precious seas and the beautiful but fragile wild places and animals that live there. Since The Wildlife Trusts’ president emeritus, Sir David Attenborough, brought us the Blue Planet series, there’s been a surge of interest in the wonders of marine life coupled with horror at the threats facing the delicate marine environment. We’re offering people a way of channelling this concern into a giant wave of public support to create a network of protected special places at sea.”

Coral Smith, Marine Education Officer for Devon Wildlife Trust, explained the significance for Devon’s marine wildlife: 

“Nine areas in Devon’s waters have been put forward for protection in the form of Marine Conservation Zones, reflecting just how special and important our marine environment is here in Devon.
“Five estuary sites have been nominated, providing some of the most biologically productive mud and sand habitats, which in turn are hugely important feeding areas for waders, seabirds and juvenile fish. Four recommended offshore sites are home to commercially important species such as crab and lobster and many other wild and extraordinary creatures which are part of a healthy marine ecosystem."

Coral continued: "It is vital that these remaining areas are designated in order to create a blue belt of protection around Devon to restore the sea-bed that has been ravaged over the past century and allow fragile marine life to recover.  “This MCZ consultation process could be our last chance to protect Devon’s most important marine wildlife and habitats, and so we must make the most of this opportunity for our voices to be heard.”

The Wildlife Trusts believe that the consultation is a step in the right direction for England’s seas. Proper protection through good management of these sites after designation will be essential to ensure that our seas have the opportunity to recover.

Grey Seal - Photo copyright Paul Naylor (marinephoto.co.uk) All Rights Reserved.

Supporters can add their #WaveOfSupport at www.wildlifetrusts.org/wave-of-support

Battle to protect wildlife at sea receives boost today

Devon Wildlife Trust welcomes possibility of 9 new Marine Conservation Zones for Devon and 41 nationwide.

Today the government has launched a consultation asking the public for their views about protecting a new group of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) – areas at sea where wildlife is protected from damaging activities. 41 special places have been chosen for the public to comment on, including nine in Devon’s waters.

The Devon sites range from the Dart estuary, which is home to both British species of seahorse, to Morte Platform - between Morte Point and Lundy - where a great diversity of marine wildlife is supported on an area of seabed consisting of rocky, sandy and muddy habitats featuring living reefs and mussel beds.

Plymouth-based Joan Edwards, Director of Living Seas at The Wildlife Trusts said:
“We’ve been calling for the government to give real protection to a connected network of diverse sea-bed habitats since 2009. Only 50 have been designated so far and this new consultation on 41 special places is really good news. We need to restore the sea-bed that has been ravaged over the past century and allow fragile marine life to recover – and this can only be done with good management. Without these astonishing submerged landscapes there simply wouldn't be any fish, let alone fantastic jewel anemones, seahorses, and all the other wild and extraordinary creatures which are part of a healthy marine ecosystem.”

Devon Wildlife Trust believes that the consultation is a big step in the right direction for England’s seas. Proper protection of these sites after designation will mean that our seas will be given the opportunity to recover. However, there is disappointment that the proposed 1100 square kilometre protected area for Lyme Bay’s white-beaked dolphins is missing from the consultation.

Harry Barton, Devon Wildlife Trust’s Chief Executive, said:
“I’m thrilled to see that we’ve got a really good chance to protect nine new marine sites around Devon’s beautiful coasts. I’m particularly pleased that our internationally important estuaries, among them the Dart, the Otter and the Erme, are on the list of potential sites. It’s disappointing that neither the Taw and Torridge estuaries nor the Lyme Bay Deeps site for dolphins and seabirds have been included on the list. We desperately need to safeguard areas for these wonderful creatures so that they can continue to grace our seas. We’ll keep pushing for greater protection for these areas in future.”

The full list of new proposed Marine Conservation Zones for Devon comprises:

• Axe Estuary
• Dart Estuary
• Devon Avon Estuary
• East of Start Point
• Erme Estuary
• Morte Platform
• North-west of Lundy
• South-west Approaches to the Bristol Channel
• Otter Estuary

Harry Barton continued: “The most important thing now is that as many people as possible tell the government that they want these sites protected. If we succeed, it’ll be a huge step forward for marine wildlife and to leaving our natural environment in a better state than we found it.”

The Wildlife Trusts are calling on the public to back the 41 potential Marine Conservation Zones in the consultation – details of how to do this will be added to The Wildlife Trusts and Devon Wildlife Trust websites and on social media in the next week. The consultation closes on Friday 20th July 2018.

 

Devonshire Cup Coral can also be found on the Morte Platform - Photo copyright Paul Naylor (All Rights Reserved)

Plaice as found in Holderness Offshore MCZ and the Morte Platform - Photo copyright Paul Naylor (All rights reserved)

Devon fish paying high price for Scottish salmon farms

A Devon-based wildlife charity is calling for immediate action to control a fishing practice which is leading to thousands of local fish – from a family of fish known as wrasse - being removed from around the coast of Devon. The fish are being transported alive to Scottish salmon farms where they are being used as a ‘natural’ control against parasites.

Today Devon Wildlife Trust is calling for a ban on the live capture of the fish from Devon’s Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)* – places which have been recognised for the richness of their marine nature. The Trust is requesting people in Devon to voice their opposition by signing an on-line petition which asks for action to be taken by the county’s MPs.

The removal of live wrasse for Scottish fish farms is thought to be a relatively new practice. Until now wrasse have not been commercially fished in Devon, however, demand from Scotland for parasite control has meant that five species are now being targeted. These include: corkwing, ballan, goldsinney, cuckoo, and rock cook wrasse.

Recently limited controls on Devon’s wrasse fishery have been implemented by the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA), but Devon Wildlife Trust believes that these do not go far enough. It points to a similar wrasse fishery which took place in 2015 in Dorset. This saw 57,000 of the fish taken during just one 18-week period in an area between Lulworth and Weymouth. Now the fear is that a similar operation is underway in Devon.

Devon Wildlife Trust is concerned about the impact this will have on local wrasse populations and the wider marine environment. The charity’s Director of Conservation and Development, Peter Burgess said:

“We’re calling for an immediate stop to the practice of removing live fish from Devon’s MPAs to satisfy the needs of Scottish fish farms. This is a very destructive fishery. Mortality rates among the wrasse are often high - many of them do not survive the process of capture, storage and transportation they are put through.”

“Wrasse are long-lived and highly territorial fish, so the removal of large numbers along the Devon coast will severely disrupt their populations – it could take decades for them to recover.”

Peter Burgess added:

“Nobody yet knows what impacts wholescale removal of wrasse will have on our fragile marine reef ecosystems and the natural balance could be thrown into chaos. This could be devastating for not only the wrasse but habitats and species which depend on them for their survival.”

“The recent moves by the Devon IFCA to partially control the fishery are an acknowledgement of the problem but don’t go nearly far enough to offering a solution. It’s vital that we exercise the precautionary principle and halt the capture and removal of wrasse from our most precious marine environments before long term damage is done.”

Devon Wildlife Trust has evidence that as many as 480 baited traps, known as pots, could be deployed around the county’s coastlines. There are currently no restrictions on where the pots can be placed. As wrasse live on rocky reefs close to shore this means that much of the fishing activity could take place within Devon’s most treasured and protected ‘in-shore’ marine environments, places which include Plymouth Sound Special Area of Conservation and Wembury Voluntary Marine Conservation Area.

Devon’s wrasse are being removed to meet demand from salmon fish farms in Scotland. Wrasse are used as ‘cleaner fish’ helping fish farms by feeding on the sea lice that infest captive salmon and which slow their growth. In the past chemical controls have been used against the lice. However, in recent years the lice have developed resistance to these chemicals and salmon producers have instead turned to the use of ‘natural’ controls in the shape of wrasse and other fish.

Devon Wildlife Trust’s Peter Burgess encouraged people to support the charity’s call for a stop to the mass removal of wrasse for the Scottish salmon industry. He said:

“Devon wrasse populations are being threatened to solve the problems caused by commercial salmon fish farms hundreds of miles away in Scotland. Once commercially viable stocks of wrasse are exhausted from Plymouth our fear is this practice could move to ports throughout the South West.

There are only limited controls on this new fishery and little understanding of its longer term impacts on the health of this fascinating native species and the fragile reef environments the wrasse help to sustain. This is why we’re asking the people of Devon to help us stop the removal of thousands of wrasse from the county’s Marine Protected Areas by signing our on-line petition.”

Details on Devon Wildlife Trust’s wrasse petition can be found at www.devonwildlifetrust.org

 

Corkwing Wrasse Photo: Paul Naylor/www.marinephoto.co.uk (All Rights Reserved)

Ballan Wrasse. Photo: Paul Naylor/www.marinephoto.co.uk (All Rights Reserved)

Cuckoo Wrasse. Photo: Paul Naylor/www.marinephoto.co.uk

  Devon Wildlife Trust’s Peter Burgess

👀👀👀👀

Tap Here for details on Devon Wildlife Trust’s Wrasse petition

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Marine Protected Areas are “home to some of the most biologically diverse habitats and species in Europe” and are identified as such by the Joint Nature Conservation Council (JNCC), the public body that advises the UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and international nature conservation.

Plea to help save one of Devon’s most endangered species

A conservation project which aims to save one of Devon’s most endangered animals is now urgently seeking donations from the public so that it can continue its vitalwork.

The freshwater pearl mussel might not look as stunning as some wildlife but the conservation charity Devon Wildlife Trust describes it as a ‘remarkable animal’ and one that can have a positive impact for us all.

Freshwater pearl mussels filter bacteria and algae. So a large population helps to clean up our rivers for the benefit of other wildlife - and people. They have been wild residents of Devon’s rivers for thousands of years. But now the mussels are declining significantly across their range and in the whole of Devon they are only found on the Torridge and the Taw.

But even these rivers are too polluted for the mussels to breed successfully. Although they can live to 130 years of age, the youngest freshwater pearl mussels on the River Torridge were born in the 1960s. Now Devon Wildlife Trust is warning that if they are unable to breed, this unique animal will be lost from the county.

Devon Wildlife Trust is working to clean up the river and to breed mussels in captivity - so they can survive in healthy water at their earliest stage of life, before being returned to the wild. However, it now needs to fill a £9,000 funding gap in the project and is asking people to help.

In her role as Freshwater Pearl Mussel officer for the national ‘Restoring Freshwater Mussel Rivers in England’ project, Devon Wildlife Trust’s Izzy Moser has been working with landowners to help improve water quality in the River Torridge for the last two years. She is also involved in the captive breeding programme, as part of this nationwide effort co-ordinated by the Freshwater Biological Association.

Izzy Moser said:

“This winter, we had some great news: the first signs of breeding success for freshwater pearl mussels from the River Torridge in more than 50 years!”

This animal's amazing life cycle involves a stage of living on the gills of Atlantic salmon or brown trout, so right now, the fish – and the mussel larvae - are all in tanks in a hatchery in north Devon. Once they are big enough, the larvae will drop off the fish, down to the gravel bed of the tanks and then grow to become juvenile mussels. And the juveniles then have a real growth spurt, growing approximately 200% bigger in their first year.

But even in unpolluted rivers, only an average of five larvae from the five million released by an adult mussel each year will survive to become an adult freshwater pearl mussel.

The next stage of the project is crucial. Izzy will have to move the juvenile mussels from their gravel habitat in the tanks, to specially selected points of the Torridge riverbed - and then monitor these sites to check on the progress of the first young mussels on the river since the 1960s.

Although this project is largely funded by Biffa Award, Devon Wildlife Trust has to find a further £9,000 to cover the costs of this critical work on the Freshwater Pearl Mussel project over the coming months.

Izzy Moser said:

“Despite the projects recent successes, there is still a significant amount of work to be done on a catchment scale to reduce run-off from farmland, roads and domestic sources and protect our local waters. We have already planted 80 trees and 250 willow stakes this year to reduce riverbank erosion, and fenced 1km of river but there is much more to be done!”

Anyone making a donation to the Freshwater Pearl Mussel appeal will be playing a role in the rescue plan for one of Devon’s most endangered creatures. And by supporting work to improve water quality in one of Devon’s grandest rivers – the Torridge – they’ll be helping a wide range of other wildlife too, including otters, dragonflies, bats and kingfishers.

People wanting to make a difference to one of Devon’s most endangered species should visit

http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/freshwater-pearl-mussel-appeal

Photos show Freshwater Pearl Mussels in a tank at the hatchery in North Devon; Izzy

Moser in the River Torridge; Devon Wildlife Trust’s Izzy Moser inspecting a freshwater pearl mussel for larvae

Combe Martin Bioblitz – 4 schools and 300 schoolchildren

A survey of coastal wildlife at Combe Martin attracted over 300 children from four Devon schools to celebrate British Science Week. The children moved round three different activities on their Bioblitz day to survey and find out more about coastal wildlife. They started with wildlife surveys in the rock pools and on the beach. Then they studied creatures and seaweeds under the digital microscopes in Combe Martin Museum. Finally they visited four stands with different science activities on the school field. The event was hosted by Combe Martin Primary School, one of the major partners in the Coastal Creatures project led by North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“The children lived and breathed science for a day,” said AONB officer Cat Oliver. “Their knowledge and enthusiasm was infectious, whether delving into rockpools, magnifying shells and seaweed or drawing the coastline with a long piece of rope. We would like to thank our major funder the Heritage Lottery Fund and our sponsors of the day, North Devon Council through their councillor grants. Without their support, this fantastic event would not have been possible.”

“Seeing the children from different schools working collaboratively and fully engaged with discovering our coastal wildlife was truly inspirational," said Combe Martin Primary's Sea School teacher Graham Hockley. "Such a large number of children working as mini inter-tidal ecologists, each one helping to find and identify coastal species will hopefully inspire them to go on and study STEM subjects, becoming the next generation to understand and protect our stunning coastline."

The day was attended by Combe Martin Primary School and Tiddlers Nursery, Bampton CE Primary School, Woolacombe School and Caen Community Primary School from Braunton. The activities provided on the school field included matching animals with their habitats on the AONB stand, making wildlife badges with the National Trust, identifying what bats eat with the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat project and drawing the coastline with Exmoor National Park’s rangers.

All the wildlife survey forms completed by the children, Coastwise members and Museum volunteers from the day were checked by the Marine Biological Association. These will contribute to science nationally by being uploaded as records on the National Biodiversity Network.

Combe Martin Bioblitz - Dave Edgecombe, surrounded by fascinated children, explains the life of limpets

Combe Martin Bioblitz – AONB team on their stand, Combe Martin primary school children on Combe Martin beach
Photos copyright North Devon ANOB (All Rights Reserved)
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Coastal Creatures is a project hosted by the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is a partnership project working with Combe Martin Primary School, the National Trust, Coastwise North Devon and Northam Burrows Country Park. It is funded by the AONB, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Tesco Bags of Help and the four partner organisations. Grants from several Councillors of North Devon Council are supporting the Bioblitz and equipment for wildlife surveys. Contact: Cat Oliver on 01271 388893 or find out more about the Coastal Creatures project at www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk.

Extreme Beach Cleans

Reaching the parts that are hard to reach, the North Devon Coast AONB team, Skern Lodge and local volunteers are planning several events to remove marine litter washed up on the more remote parts of our coast.

“We are delighted to have funding from Tesco Bags of Help to involve the local community in protecting our wildlife and beaches by removing litter washed in from the sea,” said AONB Education Officer Cat Oliver. “Reaching the more remote beaches presents a number of challenges so we hope that combining the offer of a bracing walk or a chance to scramble down a cliff will inspire more people to help us clean up the beaches.”

The first ‘walk and beach clean’ is on Saturday 3rd December at Cockington Mouth from 10.00am to 3.30pm. This stretch of beach is a 45 minute walk south of Greencliff and north of Peppercombe, where the South West Coast Path dips down onto the beach (west of Abbotsham). Due to the remote location there is a phenomenal amount of marine litter stranded there that rarely gets taken away as there is no vehicle access. This is where Skern Lodge Outdoor Activity Centre comes in to provide the staff and a boat to remove the litter by sea. The National Trust, Keep Britain Tidy and Surfers Against Sewage are also supporting this event.

“We’re delighted to be able to work with the AONB team to share our skills, knowledge and equipment in looking after our outstanding coastline,” said John Watson, Skern Lodge General Manager. “We rely on the exceptional quality of the coast to bring people to North Devon.”

Plans for next year include a general beach clean, plus rock scrambling with Skern Lodge staff, at Hartland Quay on Saturday 25th February 2017. 

Marine litter on Cockington Mouth beach. Photo Copyright North Devon Coast AONB (All Rights Reserved)

Further information is on the AONB website calendar at www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk 

or contact catherine.oliver@devon.gov.uk

New report calls for more protected areas for marine wildlife

Today, The Wildlife Trusts publish a new report, 'The case for more Marine Conservation Zones'. The report identifies 48 areas at sea that still need protection for their marine habitats and wildlife.

Nine of the sites identified are off Devon's coasts, with two areas in the Bristol Channel, one in Lyme Bay and six Devon estuaries recommended as MCZs.

Following the designation of 50 Marine Conservation Zones since 2011 (of which six are in Devon) these new sites would complete a network of special places where habitats and wildlife can flourish to safeguard healthy and productive seas for the future.

All but one of the Devon sites in the report have already been recommended as Marine Conservation Zones in a previous report to the government following local consultations representing all groups of sea-users in the south west.

The new report is published in advance of the government's plans to announce a third and final phase of Marine Conservation Zones - the government plans to consult the public in 2017 and designate the chosen sites in 2018. The report will be presented to the environment minister, Therese Coffey.

Plymouth-based Joan Edwards, Head of Living Seas for The Wildlife Trusts, said: "This is an unprecedented opportunity to create an effective network of protected areas at sea.  If the government lives up to its stated commitments such a network would put us at the forefront of worldwide marine conservation. Designating these 48 wild havens as Marine Conservation Zones would go some way to guaranteeing a future for the extraordinarily diverse natural landscapes that exist beneath the waves off our coast.

"The government designated 50 MCZs in the first two phases. Unfortunately, this does not provide us with the really comprehensive network needed to enable marine wildlife to thrive once more. We need a sensible number, in the best locations and with the right degree of connectivity between areas. We hope that the government will aim high and hit the 48 mark for this last phase."

The nine MCZs recommended in coastal and offshore areas of Devon are:

1. Axe Estuary
Where? East Devon, near Seaton

Why? Important for saltmarsh and mudflats, feeding grounds for wading birds and nursery areas for fish such as bass

2. Dart Estuary:

Where? South Hams, upstream of Dartmouth

Why? Habitats provide food and shelter for huge range of species including seahorses, oysters, mussels, sponges and anemones.

3. Devon Avon Estuary

Where? South Hams, near Bigbury

Why? Important nursery areas for crustaceans, molluscs and juvenile fish

4. Erme Estuary

Where? South Hams

Why? Habitats for lobsters and crabs, spawning grounds for sea trout

5. Lyme Bay Deeps

Where? 1055 square kilometres in south-west of Lyme Bay - westernmost point 4 miles east of Torbay

Why? Area used by white beaked dolphins for feeding, breeding and raising their young. Also important for common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoise. Basking shark and minke whale also recorded here. Feeding grounds for seabirds such as guillemot, razorbill and Balearic shearwater

6. Morte Platform

Where? Bristol Channel, 5km off Baggy Point

Why? Rich communities of subtidal living reefs including ross worm reefs and mussel beds which provide shelter for many other marine species

7. North-west of Lundy

Where? Bristol Channel, north-west of Lundy

Why? Diverse seabed habitats supporting higher than average range of species, including sandy, muddy and rocky habitats

8. Otter Estuary

Where? East Devon, near Budleigh Salterton

Why? Important for saltmarsh and mudflats, feeding grounds for wading birds such as curlew and lapwing. Nursery areas for several fish species

9. Taw/Torridge Estuary

Where? North Devon, near Barnstaple and Bideford

Why? Important habitat for migratory European eels, feeding grounds for wading birds, nursery area for fish such as bass

Harry Barton, Chief Executive of Devon Wildlife Trust, said: "Devon 's marine treasures include spectacular underwater reefs, waving forests of kelp and vital breeding grounds for our most charismatic ocean giants - whales, dolphins and porpoises. We've lost so much in the past, but we can be rightfully proud of what we still have. This is our chance to give our amazing marine wildlife the protection it deserves, and desperately needs."

Cuckoo Wrasse, Male, Plymouth Photo copyright Paul Naylor (All rights reserved)

Common Lobster Photo copyright Paul Naylor (All rights reserved)

 Bass Photo copyright Paul Naylor (All rights reserved)

Proposed Marine Conservation Zones

You can find more information about the individual sites proposed within this report

on our webpages www.wildlifetrusts.org/MCZs>

Devon Wildlife Trust

Devon Wildlife Trust is the county's leading environmental voluntary body, with more

than 31,000 members. To find out more go to www.devonwildlifetrust.org

New protected area proposed for Lyme Bay dolphins

Marine conservationists are calling for a new protected area for dolphins and seabirds in Lyme Bay.

Earlier this summer, Defra invited proposals for new Marine Conservation Zones to protect 'highly mobile marine species' - animals such as whales, dolphins, sharks, and seabirds.

Devon Wildlife Trust wants to see legal protection for a 1055 sq km area of Lyme Bay which hosts important numbers of white beaked dolphin, common dolphin and harbour porpoise, along with significant records of minke whale and basking shark.

This area is also an important feeding ground for seabirds such as guillemot, razorbill and gannet; and for a nationally important population of Balearic shearwaters.

Dolphins and porpoises are often sited from Berry Head. Just a few miles offshore is an area where Lyme Bay's population of white beaked dolphins spend almost all of their lives - this is where they feed, breed and raise their young.

In Lyme Bay, pods of up to 200 white beaked dolphins have been recorded. Surveys carried out by the Dorset-based charity MarineLife since 2006 have identified distinct individuals.

However, since 2013 the number of sightings of new individuals has declined.

White beaked dolphins are most often seen in the deeper central waters of the Bay, four to fifteen miles east of Torbay, which support shoals of prey species sprat, cod and whiting.

Small fish are drawn to the area by the masses of plankton that feed on the nutrient-rich waters in this part of Lyme Bay. This whole ecosystem supports the larger animals, such as dolphins and seabirds, that thrive here. That's why The Wildlife Trusts want to see the whole area protected from damaging human activities.

White beaked dolphins are sensitive to sea surface temperature, thriving in waters cooler than 17 degrees. The species is very rarely present where sea surface temperatures are higher than 18 degrees.

As white beaked dolphins off western Europe move further north in response to increasing temperatures, the dolphin-friendly habitats of Lyme Bay will become increasingly important.

Large marine animals face a number of threats from industrial and recreational use of the seas. Some of these threats in Lyme Bay - habitat destruction, fisheries bycatch, collisions with vessels, acoustic and physical disturbance - could be managed for the benefit of marine wildlife by creating a Marine Conservation Zone.

Devon Wildlife Trust's Dan Smith said: "This area off Torbay is so important for dolphins and other large marine animals that we need to recognise the site as a whole - for everything from the plankton and the smaller fish that bring in the dolphins and the nutrient upwelling that provides the base for all this wildlife. Creating a Marine Conservation Zone here is about future-proofing the area to manage

any threats that arise. For example, the dolphins often feed where small fish cluster around submerged wrecks - these artificial habitats could be damaged by dredging, an activity that can be managed when a site has been designated an MCZ."

Of the 50 Marine Conservation Zones currently designated, none are for dolphins or other large marine animals. The third, and final, round of Marine Conservation Zone designation offers the first opportunity to create a protected area for the dolphins of Lyme Bay.

Devon Wildlife Trust has launched the Devon Dolphins campaign for people to pledge their support for protecting Devon's white beaked dolphins and other cetaceans. Dolphin fans can support the campaign at http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/devon-dolphins or when visiting Wembury Marine Centre, Seaton Jurassic and a range of other wildlife attractions in Devon.

 White-beaked dolphins by Martin Kitching - Photo copyright Martin Kitching (All rights reserved)

Photo showing area of 'Devon Dolphins' proposed MCZ ('official' name of MCZ likely

to be Lyme Bay Deeps.)

Wildlife Trust welcomes back long-lost crab

A species of crab which had not been seen in Devon for more than 30 years has been found living on a popular stretch of coast close to Plymouth.

The crustacean in question goes by the scientific name Clibanarius erythropus but is more commonly known as the St Piran's crab. The find was made in Wembury Bay by Devon Wildlife Trust volunteer John Hepburn on one of the many regular rockpool safaris run by the charity from its popular Wembury Marine Centre.

The last record of a St Piran's crab in Devon was made in 1985. Once common along the southern coastline of the South West it's thought that the crab, which measures no more than 15mm long, fell victim to pollution resulting from environmental disasters including the wrecking of Torrey Canyon oil tanker in 1967, along with other factors including changing sea temperatures.

Wembury Marine Centre's rockpool safaris have been running for 25 years bringing a unique insight into marine life along our coasts to thousands of holidaymakers and local people. John Hepburn has been volunteering at the Marine Centre for 13 years helping with hundreds of safaris. However, on this occasion he came across something very special among the seaweed and sand of the Bay's tidal rockpools.

St Piran's crab is a type of hermit crab which uses the empty shells of other molluscs to make a home. Spotting what he thought was a relatively common find in the shape of a 'netted dog whelk' shell, John made his amazing discovery. He said:
"Picking up the shell I realised it was not empty. What I assumed was a hermit crab was more confident than usual and came out a long way to examine the end of my finger. Being colour-blind I asked the family I was showing around the rockpools if the crab was red, and having been told it was reddish, I thought it worthwhile trying to get a picture in case it was a St Piran's crab."

Once back home John examined his picture, comparing it with on-line videos of St Piran's crabs. His find matched the videos, a fact confirmed later by the Marine Biological Association of the UK. This Devon discovery of a St Piran's crab follows its re-discovery in March in Cornwall, close to Falmouth. The Cornish find was the first in the UK since the 1980s and generated widespread media attention. Viewers of BBC's Spring Watch programme were asked to give the crustacean a 'common' name which up until that point had only been known as Clibanarius erythropus. St Piran, the patron Saint of Cornwall, was the popular response.

Now St Piran's crabs have also been found alive and well living in Devon and their proud discoverer John Hepburn said:
"This is a pretty special find. There were lots of other people hoping to be the one to discover the first St Piran's crab outside Cornwall. That it's now making a comeback after being absent from our shores for so long shows that it is always worth making the effort to save our seas."

Coral Smith, Marine Education Officer at Devon Wildlife Trust said:
"John's discovery came during one of our regular rockpool safaris. It just goes to show that our local marine wildlife still has the capacity to surprise and how important places like Wembury are, it's why it holds one of the highest forms of statutory protection as a Special Area of Conservation. We're honoured that Devon's first St Piran's crabs have been found here - they are certainly very welcome back!"

The answer to the question of how these small crabs may have re-established themselves in the South West after an absence of decades remains something of a mystery. However some marine biologists think the new populations of St Piran's crabs may have been carried across the seas as plankton from existing populations on the west coast of France.

Wembury Marine Centre's rockpool safaris continue through summer into the autumn. For more details visit www.wemburymarinecentre.org

St Piran's crab  - Photo copyright Devon Wildlife Trust volunteer John Hepburn (All rights Reserved)

A rockpool safari at Wembury Marine Centre. Photo copyright Nigel Hicks (All rights reserved)

Second wave of marine protection welcomed by The Wildlife Trusts

Today, The Wildlife Trusts welcome the news that this Government is designating a
second phase of 23 new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) - including two sites along
the spectacular north Devon coast.  This historic move illustrates a renewed impetus
to protect the seas around our shores.

It follows on from the announcement of 27 MCZs in 2013 - four of those were Devon
sites - and is the second of three phases promised by the Government in order to
fulfil the remit of the Marine and Coastal Access Act.

One of the two new MCZs for Devon is Bideford to Foreland Point, protecting marine
wildlife along one of Devon's most popular stretches of coast, from the Taw estuary
to the cliffs of Exmoor. Locals and holidaymakers alike know the array of anemones,
crabs and fish to be found in the rockpools of Ilfracombe and Combe Martin, as well
as the opportunities to spot cetaceans from Baggy Point or seals in Lee Bay. Now,
for the first time, the rich marine wildlife of the north Devon coast has legal
protection from damaging activities.

The future of marine habitats off the north-west Devon coast also looks more secure
following designation of the Hartland Point to Tintagel MCZ today. The northern
section of this new protected area is home to mussel beds and reef-building
honeycomb worms.

Richard White, Senior Marine Conservation Officer at Devon Wildlife Trust, welcomed
the announcement:  "This is really good news for marine life in North Devon and all
the more welcome as the boundaries within Devon waters were put forward by local
stakeholders  -  conservationists and fishermen working together to protect the
future of their own 'back-yard'."

The location of the Bideford to Foreland Point MCZ was first proposed by local
people, including fishermen, recreational sea-users, conservationists and
scientists. Forming a Marine Working Group under the umbrella of the North Devon
Biosphere Reserve, this group used their local knowledge of north Devon's marine
environment to recommend Bideford to Foreland Point to the Government as a Marine
Conservation Zone. After several years of campaigning by Devon Wildlife Trust and
others, all the hard work has paid off.

But Devon Wildlife Trust recognises that the second round of Marine Conservation
Zones still leaves many important marine wildlife sites without protection. Richard
White added: "There is still much more to do if the network of protection around our
coast is to be completed.  We await news on the future of six Devon estuaries
proposed as MCZs and there is still the question of how areas important for whales,
sharks and dolphins are to be protected."

Nationally, the 23 new MCZs are diverse and special places and include cold water
coral reefs, forests of sea fans, canyons and sandbanks, and an astonishingly varied
range of submerged landscapes which support the stunning diversity of marine life
found in the UK.  They include Land's End, one of the South-West's most recognised
areas and renowned for its rugged coastline, and the Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds in the
North Sea, thought to be Europe's largest chalk reef.  All will contribute towards a
network of areas which is urgently needed to ensure a healthy future for our seas.

Joan Edwards, head of Living Seas at The Wildlife Trusts, said:  "We welcome today's
designation of 23 Marine Conservation Zones.  UK seas have the potential to be full
of incredible life and colour but continued destruction has reduced them to a shadow
of their former selves. Without these astonishing submerged landscapes there simply
wouldn't be any fish, let alone fantastic jewel anemones, seahorses, dolphins,
brittlestars amongst all the other wild and extraordinary creatures which are part
of a healthy marine ecosystem."

Marine Conservation Zones are a type of protected area at sea designated for
habitats and species of national importance, including fragile seahorses, rare
native oysters and even cold water coral reefs.  Such protected areas are a tried
and tested means of giving vulnerable species the time and space to recover.

Joan Edwards added: "We are pleased by this Government's commitment to addressing
the decimation of our seabed over the past century, and to delivering an
ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas.  This second step towards
the completion of a 'blue belt' in UK seas is crucial in turning the tide on the
state of our seas but there's still work to be done.  We look forward to working
with Government and stakeholders to ensure these 50 MCZs are properly managed and to
achieve the much-needed ambitious and comprehensive third and final 'tranche'.  This
will be the start of turning our over-fished, over-exploited and currently
under-protected waters back into a healthy and sustainable environment."

The list of Marine Conservation Zones was drawn-up by sea-users, scientists and
conservationists, with Government committing to designating the sites in three waves
or 'tranches'.  The Wildlife Trusts, actively involved in every step of the process,
are buoyed by the achievement of another important milestone on the road to better
protected seas.  We are calling for anyone interested in protecting our seas to join
more than 8,000 other passionate supporters and become a Friend of MCZ's 

The 23 Marine Conservation Zones 

1. Coquet to St Mary's

2. Farnes East 

3. Fulmar 
4. Runswick Bay

5. Holderness Inshore 

6. Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds
7. The Swale Estuary

8. Dover to Deal 

9. Dover to Folkestone
10. Offshore Brighton 

11. Offshore Overfalls

12. Utopia
13. The Needles 

14. Western Channel

15. Mounts Bay
16. Lands End 

17. North-West of Jones Bank 

18. Greater Haig Fras
19. Newquay and The Gannel
20. Hartland Point to Tintagel 

21. Bideford to Foreland Point
22. West of Walney 

23. Allonby Bay

Become a Friend of MCZ's