Skomer announced as Wales’ first Marine Conservation Zone
Skomer Island off the Pembrokeshire coast has been designated as a Marine Conservation Zone, making it the first such zone in Wales.
Skomer Island. © Crown copyright (2013) Visit Wales, all rights reserved
Designated as a marine nature reserve in 1990, Pembrokeshire’s Skomer Island has now been designated as a Marine Conservation Zone, providing greater protection and effective management of the area, allowing important marine habitat and wildlife to be safeguarded for the future.
The announcement has been made as the final parts of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 come into force in Wales. Species such as grey seals, sea slugs and common eelgrass can all be found off the shores of Skomer, while the island itself is home to a vast number of seabirds and is a hugely important resource for researchers and conservationists.
This announcement will now see even greater protection for the island and its surrounding waters without affecting the way the island is currently managed. Further sites across Wales are also currently being assessed.
