Squat lobster (Credit Dominic Flint)
Like other estuaries in the south-west the Erme Estuary is important for its function as a nursery area for fish species, with sea trout also using the area for spawning.
The estuary is designated as a ‘Several Fishery’ and has managed bait and shellfish collecting.
The Erme is a narrow, sheltered estuary approximately 6.5km long. It is very secluded and remains largely unaffected by industrialisation. The habitat is mainly sedimentary with bedrock at the mouth. Mobile sediments near the channel have a typical crustacean and polychaete community characterised by the amphipods Bathyporeia pilosa and speckled sea louse. Other sheltered sediment infaunal communities are characterised by ragworms. Low shore shingle and cobble habitats are colonised by brackish water algae.
The estuary is designated as a ‘Several Fishery’ and has managed bait and shellfish collecting. Like other estuaries in the south-west, it is important for its
function as a nursery area for fish species, with sea trout also using the area for spawning. The rare European eel has also been reported in surveys along with a population of otter.
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 needed as soon as possible and to consider designation of this site in a future tranche:
This site is on hold at the moment. Defra has indicated that although there is enough evidence to support designation of the site five of the habitats and species recommended for protection by stakeholders, additional evidence is required for eight other features recommended.
The rocky habitats within this site provide habitat for commercially important species including lobster and crab and the subtidal sediment provides important nursery habitat for many fish species and feeding grounds for wading birds. The estuary is also known as a spawning ground for sea trout and supports otter. Defra indicates that this site has a low level of human activity and that there are no significant costs of designation of the site to any sector.
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 |
|---|---|
| Erme Estuary.pdf | 529.89 KB |