Marine nature reserve

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Marine nature reserve (MNR) is a conservation designation officially awarded by a government to a marine reserve of national significance.

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Republic of Ireland

Lough Hyne, a marine lake off of County Cork, is Ireland's only marine nature reserve.

United Kingdom

Marine nature reserves were introduced in the UK by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and were designed to conserve marine life and geological or physiographical features of special interest. They have similar status and protection to national nature reserves, but were specifically concerned with a marine environment, including both the sea and seabed.

In the UK, there are only three statutory MNRs: Lundy Marine Nature Reserve at Lundy Island (Bristol Channel), Skomer Marine Nature Reserve (Pembrokeshire) and Strangford Lough (County Down).

There is a non-statutory voluntary MNR at St Abbs Head, Berwickshire.

Marine conservation zones

Schedule 12 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 allows the conversion the existing MNRs into the newer designation Marine Conservation Zones. [1]

Isle of Man

The Isle of Man government has designated ten marine nature reserves under the Wildlife Act 1990, [2] including Ramsey Bay, Laxey Bay, the West Coast Marine Nature Reserve, Douglas Bay, Little Ness, Niarbyl Bay, Port Erin Bay, Calf and Wart Bank Marine Nature Reserve, and Langness. [3]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramsey Bay</span> Human settlement in the United Kingdom

Ramsey Bay is a large bay and Marine Nature Reserve covering some 94 square kilometres off the northeastern coast of the Isle of Man. It runs for 18 kilometres from the Point of Ayre at the island's northern tip to Maughold Head. The port town of Ramsey, the island's second town, lies towards the south of the bay.

MNR may stand for:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skomer Marine Conservation Zone</span>

Skomer Marine Conservation Zone is an underwater marine nature reserve located off the coast of Pembrokeshire in Wales. The nature reserve completely surrounds the islands of Skomer and Middleholm, and encompasses the mainland coastline around the end of the Marloes peninsula, including the small bay of Martin's Haven.

Regionally important geological and geomorphological sites (RIGS) are locally designated sites of local, national and regional importance for geodiversity in the United Kingdom and Isle of Man. These sites are also known by other names, such as regionally important geological sites, regionally important geodiversity sites, County Geodiversity Sites in Norfolk, Local Geodiversity Sites in Scotland and Lancashire, and as County Geology Sites in Cornwall and Devon and as in the Republic of Ireland.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Devon's Biosphere Reserve</span> UNESCO biosphere reserve in North Devon, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Community of Arran Seabed Trust</span>

The Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) is a registered Scottish charity based on the Isle of Arran, the largest island in the Firth of Clyde. Established in 1995 by two local divers (Howard Wood and Don McNeish) COAST has been a registered charity since 2011 and is run mostly by Arran residents, who all share the same aims to protect the health of the marine environment around the Isle of Arran and within the Firth of Clyde from indiscriminate commercial fishing methods. COAST values the marine biodiversity around the shoreline of Arran and aims to regenerate and protect it for future generations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Conservation Zone</span>

A Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) is a type of marine nature reserve in UK waters. They were established under the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) and are areas designated with the aim to protect nationally important, rare or threatened habitats and species. Approximately 20% of UK waters now have some protection although some conservation, fisherman and wildlife groups are concerned that there are no management plans for each zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protected areas of Scotland</span> Designated area for protection in Scotland

Many parts of Scotland are protected in accordance with a number of national and international designations because of their environmental, historical or cultural value. Protected areas can be divided according to the type of resource which each seeks to protect. NatureScot has various roles in the delivery of many environmental designations in Scotland, i.e. those aimed at protecting flora and fauna, scenic qualities and geological features. Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designations that protect sites of historic and cultural importance. Some international designations, such as World Heritage Sites, can cover both categories of site.

Laxey Bay is a coastal feature and Marine Nature Reserve on the east coast of the Isle of Man in the north Irish Sea. Geographically it is bounded by Laxey Head to the north and Clay Head to the south.

References

  1. "England’s first Marine Conservation Zone announced", Natural England News release, 12 January 2009. Archived 27 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Marine Nature Reserves". Isle of Man Government. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  3. "The New Isle of Man 0-3 nm Marine Nature Reserves" (PDF). 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2020.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)