The Plymouth Sound & Tamar Estuaries Marine Protected Area comprises several marine protection designations, as well as overlapping coastal and terrestrial designations across the site.
Plymouth Sound & Estuaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Legislation: EC Habitats Directive 1992 (European), The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (UK).
Qualifying features: Allis shad (Alosa alosa); Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae); Estuaries; Large shallow inlets and bays; Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide; Reefs; Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time; Shore dock (Rumex rupestris).
Designated: 1 April 2005 Area: 6,402 hectares.
Tamar Estuaries Complex Special Protection Area (SPA)
Legislation: EC Birds Directive 1979 (European), The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 (UK).
Qualifying features: Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), non-breeding; Little egret (Egretta garzetta), non-breeding.
Designated: 26 June 1997 Area: 1,955 hectares.
Plymouth Sound & Estuaries Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ)
Legislation: Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (UK).
Designated features: Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) beds; Intertidal biogenic reefs; Intertidal course sediment; Native Oyster (Ostrea edulis); Smelt (Osmerus eperlanus).
Designated: 21 November 2013 Area: 1,530 hectares.
Component SSSIs
Lynher Estuary SSSI
Plymouth Sound Shores and Cliffs SSSI
Rame Head & Whitsand Bay SSSI
St. John’s Lake SSSI
Tamar – Tavy Estuary SSSI
Wembury Point SSSI
Yealm Estuary SSSI