Honeycomb worms (Credit Paul Naylor)
Allonby Bay contains some of the best examples of Honeycomb worm reef in the north west.
The region is home to creatures such as the breadcrumb sponge and baked bean sea squirt. Now all we need is a bacon barnacle and we have a full fry-up!
Allonby Bay hugs the coast into the Solway Firth and includes two extremely important areas for marine life, Dubmill Scar and Maryport Roads. The area is highly diverse containing many different species of sponge, soft coral, seaweed, sea squirt, anemone and the reef-building honeycomb worms which is at its most Northern extent.
Honeycomb worm reef is a feature of the North-West, and plays a vital role as a home to other species, allowing settlement in areas which would otherwise be shifting sediments. Allonby Bay contains some of the best examples of reef in the north west. Let’s make sure we protect it for the future!
This recommended Marine Conservation Zone is ON HOLD at the moment as Defra has indicated that there is not enough evidence to support designation.
We need you to urge Defra to commit to gathering additional evidence as soon as possible and to consider designation of this site in a future tranche:
Defra has indicated that there is enough evidence to support designation of the site for two of the habitats recommended by stakeholders (the honeycomb worm reefs and the intertidal biogenic reefs) but that further evidence will be required for seven other habitats and species recommended.
This site is important, It contains some of the best and most extensive examples of honeycomb worm and intertidal biogenic reefs in the UK.
We need you to urge Defra to commit to gathering the additional evidence needed as soon as possible to consider designation of this site in a future tranche.
Contains UKHO Law of the Sea data. Crown copyright and database right and
contains Ordnance Survey Data Crown copyright and database 2012
Other nearby MCZs
Downloads
| Filename | File size |
|---|---|
| Allonby Bay.pdf | 335.13 KB |