 web.jpg "Spider crab in seagrass (Credit Amy Dale)")
Spider crab in seagrass (Credit Amy Dale)
The marine world at Norris to Ryde is full of variety. Shimmering emerald meadows of seagrass plays home to many marine species like these spider crabs.
Seagrass provides important nursery areas for juvenile fish and crustaceans.
This area boasts one of the largest seagrass meadows in the south-east region; the meadow in Osborne and Wootton Bays extends 4.5km along the coast and covers more than 200 hectares. They provide important nursery areas for juvenile fish and crustaceans such spider crabs. The lagoons at the top of Wootton Creek have one of the largest populations of the tentacled lagoon worm Alkmaria romijni in the country.
Further offshore are large expanses of subtidal mud, in which creatures like mantis shrimps burrow. The Solent is considered a hotspot for these fascinating crustaceans. Mantis shrimps hide in burrows waiting for unsuspecting prey to pass. They locate their prey accurately, with some of the most advanced eyes in the animal kingdom, and then unleash their awesome weapon: a spear-like barbed claw that impales the prey at the speed of a bullet.
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 use data gathered to consider designation of this site as an urgent priority in the next tranche.
This site is on hold at the moment. Defra has indicated that although there is enough evidence to support designation of the site for two of the habitats and species recommended by stakeholders, there is a need for additional evidence to support designation of the site for the tentacled lagoon worm. Therefore Defra have recommended delaying designation whilst additional evidence for this species is gathered. This site contains one of the best examples of seagrass bed in the Solent. These beds act as a nursery for juvenile fish and provide a major food source for overwintering wildfowl. The site has also been identified as being at high risk of damage and degradation by Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee due to the presence of sensitive features within the site. Defra also commissioned additional survey work within this site in 2012 which has not yet been taken into account.
We need you to urge Defra consider designation of this site as soon as possible for those features deemed to have sufficient evidence. This is particularly important as this site has been identified as being at risk. Defra should commit to gathering additional data to consider designation of those additional features requiring more evidence in a future tranche. The site should be protected from additional damage and degradation in the meantime.
Other nearby MCZs
Location map
Norris to Ryde recommended MCZ is located in the map below.
Contains UKHO Law of the Sea data. Crown copyright and database right and contains Ordnance Survey Data Crown copyright and database 2012.
Downloads
| Filename | File size |
|---|---|
| Norris to Ryde.pdf | 237.63 KB |