Beachy Head East Marine Conservation Zone consultation

By Sarah Ward

Marine Conservation Officer

The Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) are currently running a consultation on the proposed fisheries management for the Beachy Head East Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ).

Designated in 2019, Beachy Head East is a large site characterised by a highly diverse sandstone / chalk reef system. The MCZ specifically protects several important features, including Short-snouted Seahorses, subtidal chalk, Ross Worm reefs, and subtidal sand and course sediment.

Under the Marine & Coastal Access Act (2007) the Sussex IFCA has a duty to introduce fisheries management to all MCZs within its district. The management must allow the site to meet its conservation objectives. Further information on the process and conservation objectives can be found here.

What Management is being Proposed?

The Sussex IFCA has proposed a zonal approach to management, with an exclusion of bottom-towed fishing gear within Zone 1. Zone 2 does not exclude any kind of fishing, but vessels operating bottom-towed gear in this Zone must be fitted with a Vessel Information & Monitoring System.

Full details and illustrative maps can be found on the Sussex IFCA website.

How is Sussex Wildlife Trust Responding?

Sussex Wildlife Trust is in support of an exclusion of bottom-towed fishing gear, however we feel that the exclusion should be extended across the whole MCZ.

Although we appreciate that Zone 1 contains the habitats which are highly sensitive to this kind of fishing, Zone 2 is almost entirely made up of subtidal sand and subtidal course sediment, both of which are also protected features of the MCZ. Further to this, Zone 2 is also potential habitat for Ross Worm reef (for which the conservation objective is ‘recover’).

We understand that the IFCA needs to balance the socio-economic interests of the area with the conservation objectives, however space for nature should be prioritised within protected areas.

Can I get Involved?

This is a public consultation, so anyone can respond. Comments, objections and approvals on the proposed byelaw must be made in writing by Friday 19^th April 2024. Further information on how to respond can be found here.