Consultation is now being sought over a South Hams estuary being included in a Marine Conservation Zone.

The Avon Estuary, home to Bantham Beach and Bigbury-on-Sea, is being considered to be included in a Marine Conservation Zone.

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have published a consultation on the third tranche of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs), in which 41 new sites have been proposed. They are seeking the public’s views on whether these plans are appropriate.

If all of these proposed MCZs are designated, around 40 per cent of English inshore and offshore waters will be protected, and the total for the UK as a whole will be nearly 25 per cent. This will provide vital protection for the diverse array of wildlife in our seas. 

The sites proposed in this consultation will protect a range of rare and threatened species and habitats found in our seas, including: seahorses in seagrass meadows; blue mussel beds supporting sea snails and crabs; cold-water coral reefs with starfish, anemones and sponges; and deep water mud habitats with cockles and sea urchins.

The Long-snouted Seahorse can be found in the estuary. They have been known to practice monogamy and are thought to mate for life, and as such the loss of one partner can have detrimental effects on the other. Seahorses are now under threat of extinction due to the rise of domestication, the gift trade and their believed medicinal properties. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of ’Living Seas’, where marine wildlife thrives.

Various species of worm, crustacean and shrimp can also be found in the estuary. The rare tentacled lagoon worm has been recorded and lives in the thick, deep mud of the estuary. These small worms live within tubes made of mud in sheltered lagoons and estuaries and are particularly vulnerable to changes in their habitat.

Additions of new features to 12 existing MCZs have also been put forward.

The Avon Estuary is part of the AONB and lies within the South Devon Heritage Coast.

The consultation is now underway and you can give them your views here: