Site Overview

This site is a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) designated under the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2010) on the 31st May 2019. The designation is intended to protect populations of common eider (Somateria mollissima)

 

Eider - Space For Shorebirds Photo

Male Eider (photo credit: Space For Shorebirds)

A PDF boundary map of the site can be downloaded HERE

Boundary Map and available GIS data

Conservation Objectives

The site was designated on the 31st May 2019 for its breeding and non-breeding populations of Common Eider (Somateria mollissima).

The Conservation Objectives for the site is that the designated feature:

  1. is maintained in favourable condition if they are already in favourable condition
  2. is be brought into favourable condition if they are not already in favourable condition

For the protected species, favourable condition means that the population within a zone is supported in numbers which enable it to thrive, by maintaining:

  1. The quality and quantity of its habitat including the composition of its characteristic biological communities (including diversity and abundance of species forming part of or inhabiting the habitat)
  2. The distribution, number, age and sex ratio of its population

Natural England’s full conservation advice for the MCZ can be found HERE

Natural England has also produced Supplementary Guidance on the Conservation Objectives which aim to describe the range of ecological attributes that are most likely to contribute to a site’s overall integrity

Defra has published a factsheet about the MCZ which can be viewed HERE

A short infographic summary for the site can be downloaded HERE

Organisations with responsibility for MPA

For more information please see our FAQ’s or you can get in touch