Brittlestar bed (Credit Polly Whyte / earthinfocus)
This recommended MCZ is also a proposed Special Area of Conservation due to the uniqueness of the habitat and the diversity of creatures found here.
This MCZ includes the Pisces Reef Complex!
This recommended MCZ includes the Pisces Reef Complex: a series of reefs made up of protruding rocky mounds rising from 15-35m from the seafloor. The habitat creates a solid base with nooks and crannies that allow many species to live within its protection. Lampshells, sea squirts, sea mats, fern-like hydroids and fish take advantage of this, and the mounds are also a resting and feeding place for passing species of fish and marine mammals.
Within the rocky mounds lies a plateau of mud and sediment, a sheltered area for Dublin Bay prawns, brittlestars and other species to settle in the relative protection of the outcrops.
This MCZ is also a proposed Special Area of Conservation due to the uniqueness of the habitat and the diversity of creatures.
This recommended Marine Conservation Zone is ON HOLD at the moment as Defra has indicateda need for further work to understand the impacts of designation of the site on the Northern Ireland commercial fishing sector.
We need you to urge Defra carry out the additional work as soon as possible and to consider this site as an urgent and high priority for designation in the next tranche:
This site is on hold at the moment. Although Defra has indicated that there is enough evidence to support designation of all features recommended by stakeholders in this site, it feels there is a need for further work to understand the impacts of designation of the site on the Northern Ireland commercial fishing sector.
Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee have identified this site as being at high risk of damage and degradation due to the presence of highly sensitive features within the site which are very vulnerable to degradation and damage. Furthermore, the mud habitats found here are not protected anywhere else in the Irish Sea.
We need you to urge Defra carry out the additional work as soon as possible and to consider this site as an urgent and high priority for designation in the next tranche. The site should be protected from further damage and degradation in the meantime.
Other nearby MCZs
South Rigg North St. George’s Channel
Location map
Slieve Na Griddle 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 |
|---|---|
| Slieve Na Griddle.pdf | 278.63 KB |