 web.jpg "Native oyster (Credit Paul Naylor)")
Native oyster (Credit Paul Naylor)
The mud at Fareham Creek supports an important native oyster population.
Seagrass meadows, saltmarshes and other molluscs are also present in this muddy habitat.
This small area has been proposed to protect the native oysters (Ostrea edulis) which live in the creek.
The Solent used to have one of the largest natural populations of native oysters in the country, but over the years populations have declined, probably due to several factors including disease, predation and overfishing.
Native oysters still occur throughout the Solent and are targeted by fishermen. In Fareham Creek, a bylaw already restricts some fishing activities, so this site should not impact on fishermen.
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 gather additional data 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 this site for native oysters, further evidence is required before they will consider designating the site for two additional habitats recommended by stakeholders.
The sheltered muddy gravels within this site are important for providing habitat for a range of species and the site is of particular interest due to the populations of natural and unharvested native oysters found within its boundaries.
We need you to urge Defra consider designation of this site as soon as possible for those features deemed to have sufficient evidence whilst continuing to gather evidence for those additional features for consideration 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 |
|---|---|
| Fareham Creek.pdf | 250.84 KB |