Tag Archives: Lyme Bay Closed Area

Scallop dredging: why is it considered so damaging to reefs?

I first wrote this blog back in 2012.  If moved off-site for several years, but in 2020 I’ve reinstated it, with a few very minor changes.  Lyme bay now has statutory protection from scallop dredging, and all towed bottom fishing … Continue reading

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How to buy bad science.

Summary Lyme Bay Closed Area was a first for British waters.  The very first statutory closed area established for conservation reason, protecting fragile reefs and associated species from the effects of bottom-fishing trawls and scallop dredges.  It was a long … Continue reading

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Lyme Bay, Lane’s Ground Reef: sponge species recovery and opportunities lost

As part of a small study looking in to gear impacts on seabed species, we recently conducted a few dives attempting to record HD video of bottom trawls and crab pots working on the seabed. Unfortunately we picked a period … Continue reading

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Lyme Bay Reefs

As I’ve been writing a fair amount about Lyme Bay and the Lyme Bay Closed Area protection and its effects recently, I thought I’d post a small selection of images to illustrate why the reefs of Lyme Bay are so … Continue reading

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Lyme Bay Closed Area Monitoring: what we have learned so far.

After almost 18 years of research, campaigning and negotiation, statutory protection for the most vuulnerable reefs in Lyme Bay became a reality in 2008.  This was deemed necessary as, despite voluntary agreements, it was apparent the damage to the reefs … Continue reading

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Lyme Bay Closed Area Monitoring

Final Report covering diver monitoring 2008-2010 now available here. Introduction In 2008, DEFRA closed an area of Lyme Bay, southwest England, some 60 square miles in extent to all mobile benthic fishing gear, i.e. bottom trawling and scallop dredging. This … Continue reading

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