Cumbria Coast is one of England's Marine Conservation Zones. It was designated in 2013 and is one of a number of such zones off the coast of Cumberland and Furness.
The MCZ covers the stretch of sea from Whitehaven down to the mouth of the Ravenglass Estuary.[1] It includes the sea off Sellafield (the nuclear fuel reprocessing and nuclear decommissioning site), and off St Bees Head.
Fauna
editThe MCZ protects underwater habitats and animals such as the honeycomb worm.
St Bees Head, where there is an RSPB reserve, is an important breeding site for sea birds.
Extension
editThere was concern that the MCZ as originally designated did not protect enough of the foraging grounds of sea birds.[2] In 2019 an addition was agreed.[3]
See also
editAt the time Cumbria Coast was designated the other MCZs on the Cumbrian coast were:
References
edit- ^ "Cumbria Coast". The Wildlife Trusts. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ "Call to protect our seabird population". Whitehaven News. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ "Marine conservation zones: Cumbria Coast".