Hermit crab and cloak anemone (Credit Paul Naylor)
This species of hermit crab often shares its shell with cloak anemones.
This area is found about 100km to the north-west of Land's End, in the Celtic Sea.
The northern boundaries of this recommended MCZ are aligned with the continental shelf limit of the UK.
Chosen for the subtidal sand, subtidal mud and mixed sediment habitats that are found in this area. Depths range from 50 to over 100 metres.
Mats of delicate sea anemones are found here, and the shallower parts support populations of the hermit crab Pagarus prideaux. This crab often shares its shell with cloak anemones. This symbiotic relationship is beneficial to both the crab and the anemone. The crab benefits from protection from the stinging cells of the anemone and the anemone benefits from food stirred up during the crab's foraging.
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 information for this site as soon as possible and to consider it for future designation.
This site is on hold at the moment as Defra has indicated the need to gather additional evidence before considering designating the site for any of the habitats or species recommended for protection by stakeholders. This site contains a number of habitats which are considered to be ecologically important at a regional scale as only a small proportion of these habitats are protected within existing MPAs in the region. Furthermore, the site contains nursery and spawning areas for fish and potentially provides important habitat for seabirds.
We need you to urge Defra to commit to gathering additional information for this site as soon as possible and to consider it for future designation.
Other nearby MCZs
East of Haig Fras South of Celtic Deep
Location map
North-East of Haig Fras 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 |
|---|---|
| North-East of Haig Fras.pdf | 218.46 KB |