Starlet sea anemones (Credit Rob Spray)
Rich in all kinds of wildlife Stour and Orwell are home to even these wonderful starlet sea anemones.
Estuaries provide an important nursery ground for fish such as bass.
Estuaries are renowned for being rich in all kinds of wildlife and none more so than the Stour and Orwell recommended MCZ.
Ross worms, honeycomb worms, blue mussel beds and native oysters can all be found here. These marine species encourage others to make the estuaries their home with plenty of places for settlement and shelter in addition to providing food. The starlet sea anemone and tentacled lagoon worm have also been recorded.
Estuaries provide an important nursery ground for many fish species and both the Stour and Orwell are valuable for bass. Other commercially important fish here include Dover sole, herring, cod and whiting. European eels also use the area for breeding.
This recommended Marine Conservation Zone has been put forward for potential designation in 2013, government consultation pending.
We need you to urge Defra to remain committed to designating this site in 2013 and putting appropriate management in place as soon as possible:
This site is proposed for designation in 2013 for five of the habitats and species recommended for protection by stakeholders including the native oyster beds and the honeycomb worm and rossworm reefs. However, Defra has indicated that additional evidence is required before the six remaining habitats and species recommended for protection can also be designated. This site has been identified as being at risk of damage and degradation due to the presence of sensitive features within the site. Furthermore, Defra has commissioned additional survey work for this site in 2013.
We need you to urge Defra to remain committed to designating this site in 2013 and putting appropriate management in place as soon as possible. Defra should also use the additional evidence gathered as soon as possible to consider designating the remaining features within the site.
Other nearby MCZs
Alde Ore Estuary Orford Inshore
Location map
Stour and Orwell Estuaries 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 |
|---|---|
| Stour and Orwell Estuaries.pdf | 258.73 KB |