The Skerries Bank and Surrounds MCZ is an inshore site located on the South Devon coast. It runs along the coast from Leek Cove at Limebury Point to Torcross, and extends from the coast line out to depths of approximately 70 metres. The site overlaps with the Start Point Inshore Potting Agreement. Skerries Bank and Surrounds is an area that supports a highly diverse range of species that live on the seabed or in the water column and is also known to be an important breeding area for flat fish.
Skerries Bank and Surrounds is known to cover an area that has a high diversity of seabed-dwelling species. The wide range of seabed types within the site contributes to this level of biodiversity by providing a variety of environments where marine wildlife can live. Skerries Bank and Surrounds has the largest extent of moderate energy infralittoral rock found within any of the Marine Conservation Zones in the south west region. Protecting this, as well as 10 other habitat types means this is an important site.
This site protects 11 different habitat types and their associated species as well as offering specific protection to two species of conservation importance. Rocky seabed is present across the site from the intertidal to deeper water.
As the water depth increases, the amount of light reaching the seabed declines, restricting what can live there. Plants including kelps and seaweeds dominate the shallower areas (infralittoral) but further out to sea where it is deeper and light is limited, the rocky habitats are dominated by a rich array of marine animals (circalittoral). Starfish, sea urchins and brittlestars are found here along with important inshore commercial fisheries species such as lobster and crab.
A variety of subtidal sediments are protected within the site. This includes diverse muddy gravelly sands and mosaics of cobbles and pebbles that are found embedded in or lying upon mud, sand or gravel. Not only do these sediments support a wide range of marine species but they also play an important role in the global cycling of many elements, including carbon and nitrogen.
Spiny lobsters (Palinurus elephas) are also protected within this MCZ. They can be found near the coast or up to depths of 70 metres amongst seascapes of bedrock and boulders. Lobsters are at their most active during the night and typically spend days hidden under rocks, within caves or beneath overhangs. Spiny lobsters require protection to reverse the considerable decline in population number that has occurred in UK waters over the past 40 years.
The pink sea-fan (Eunicella verrucosa), a type of coral, is found growing on rocks within the site. It can grow up to 80 cm high and 100 cm across and typically grows perpendicular to the prevailing water currents enabling it to catch as much food from the passing water as possible. Pink sea-fans are very fragile and slow growing, and as such are particularly vulnerable to damage from some activities.
