South Efford Marsh - Devon Wildlife Trust
Various species of worm, crustacean and shrimp can be found here.
Like most estuaries of the South-West, the Devon Avon is an important nursery area for fish species.
The Devon Avon Estuary is a small estuary reaching approximately 4km inland from the coast up to Aveton Gifford. The estuary mouth is coarse sediment with a scoured channel and semi-exposed rock platfoms, supporting characteristic crustacean and polychaete communities.
The lower estuary is made up of a mixture of different grades of sand, from coarse to fine. Various species of worm, crustacean and shrimp can be found here. One specimen of the rare tentacled lagoon worm has been recorded living in the thick, deep mud.
Like most estuaries of the South-West, the Devon Avon is an important nursery area for fish species and is potentially important for seahorse populations as it provides suitable food and shelter.
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 data and to consider designation of this site in a future tranche:
Defra has indicated that although there is enough evidence to support designation of the site for five of the habitats and species recommended for protection by stakeholders, further evidence is needed for an additional five habitats and species recommended.
This site is of particular interest due to the presence of tentacled lagoon worm and European eel. Both these species are considered to be scarce. The site also provides important sediment habitats including saltmarshes which provide nursery habitat for crustaceans, molluscs and juvenile fish as well as feeding grounds for birds.
We need you to urge Defra consider designation of this site as soon as possible for those features deemed to have sufficient evidence. Defra should commit to gathering additional data to consider designation of those additional features requiring more evidence 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 |
|---|---|
| Devon Avon Estuary.pdf | 204.75 KB |