Marine Conservation Zone
Tamar Estuary MCZ
Designated - 21st November 2005 Area - 1530 hectares
Photo credit Jack Perks
The Tamar Estuary MCZ is designated to protect nationally and internationally marine wildlife, geology and geomorphology.
The Area Protected
The Tamar Estuary which flows 50 miles from the north of Cornwall downstream into Plymouth Sound and provides sheltered habitats which are influenced by tidal action and salinity (salt content of the water).
The MCZ covers two specific areas, namely the upper reaches of the Tamar and Tavy estuaries and the Lynher estuary which have habitats that support a huge number of ecologically important features. It also protect declining populations of migratory fish and bivalves like Native Oysters.
How it is Protected
In England and Wales Marine Conservation Zones are protected under the Marine and Coastal Act 2009 (Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (legislation.gov.uk)). The purpose of this act is to provide a framework for the sustainable use, management and conservation of marine and coastal environments around the UK.
As with other legislation, amendments were made after the UK left the EU to make sure the laws still applied.
Protected Features
Habitats
- Intertidal Biogenic Reefs
- Intertidal Course Sediment
Species
- Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) beds
- Native Oyster (Ostrea edulis)
- Smelt (Osmerus eperlanus)
For more detailed information, guidance and conservation advice visit Natural England (Marine site detail (naturalengland.org.uk)