Voting for sites in England closed on 31 October 2011
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South West England
FINAL Votes for 196 Votes against 19
Bawden Rocks
There will be a public consultation on the English network in 2012, so there will be another opportunity to have your say.
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What you could find at Bawden Rocks
click image to enlarge | photo credits
Voting on sites in England has now closed. To see the draft MCZ network that is being recommended go to jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2409
This site isn't protected in any way.
Wildlife
Where there are rocky pinnacles, life is plentiful and the Bawden Rocks are no exception. The rocks are home to scores of fish including long-spined sea scorpions, thornback rays and lemon sole while the rocky walls are crowded with crabs and gorgeous little sea slugs.
Observations on use
Where there is plentiful sealife, people follow. These rocks are popular with divers as well as anglers. Trawlers operate offshore and gillnets and shellfish pots are set around the rocks.
What difference would protection make?
Completely protecting this amazing oasis is not just about keeping safe all the colourful and fascinating creatures that depend on it. The rocks are a haven for fish, lobsters and edible crabs which, if given a chance, could multiply, grow and spill out to the surrounding areas and improve the local catch.
Bawden Rocks Latitude: 50.3357 Longitude: -5.2270 Size: 0.526sq.km
© Crown Copyright, 2012. All rights reserved. License No. EK001-120101.
Not to be used for Navigation.
For
Having spent my childhood near the north Cornish coast and seen it recover from the Torrey Canyon disaster, I would like to ensure that the species that live and breed in these rocky habitats are protected into the future.
Against
Strange choice! The presence of all that you have seen only goes to show that there is in fact little impact caused by the fishing activity, the area has a very strong tide run and is unsuitable for netting and only a very few lobster pots are worked in the vicinity. most of the local fishermen ( less than 20 small boats) only use handlines at a productive spot ,I hope you don't intend to ban them too! I am not sure where you get the numbers from for people visiting/diving the site but it would appear to be highly exaggerated! If it is intended to turn the area in to a MCS site then why not cover the whole area and compensate the few fishermen who will be affected or better still ask / pay them to monitor the improvements. This might be difficult because most of the fish & shellfish will travel great distances and there are only so many holes for the lobsters to hide in ,many of which are probably already occupied. Influences on shellfish and fish stocks are impacted by effort further a field . What about considering the Stones off of St ives , Carter's rock near Hollywell ,they are far larger areas and far more beneficial for conservation. More comment if you want it! I have fished the area man and boy!
For
I would suppor this reef becoming a 'no take area'. gill netting in particular should be banned, and trawlers and scallop dredgers should be excluded
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