Please be advised that, as of 22 March 2024, new fisheries management measures are in force for South of Celtic Deep. For more information about the measures, please see MMO Statutory guidance for the Tranche 2 Marine Protected Areas Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw 2023. |
Status: Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ)
South of Celtic Deep MCZ is located in the Western Channel and Celtic Sea region off the north coast of Cornwall. The seabed is characterised by Subtidal coarse sediment and Subtidal sand, with small areas of Subtidal mixed sediments and Moderate energy circalittoral rock.
Site
South of Celtic Deep MCZ is located 90 km to the north-west of the Land’s End peninsula in the Western Channel and Celtic Sea region. It covers an area of 278 km2 and varies in depth from 50 to 100 m, with two small areas below 100 m. The seabed is characterised by Subtidal coarse sediment and Subtidal sand, with small areas of Subtidal mixed sediments and Moderate energy circalittoral rock. The seabed is highly heterogenous and this variety of habitats allows a range of species to thrive, such as starfish and haddock.
More detailed site information can be found in the Summary section below.
Map displaying the South of Celtic Deep MPA boundary and associated protected feature data. Visit JNCC's MPA Mapper to further view and explore data for this MPA.
Legislation
Legislation behind the designation: Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009)
Protected Features
Protected Feature | Feature Type |
Moderate energy circalittoral rock | Broad-scale habitat |
Subtidal coarse sediment | Broad-scale habitat |
Subtidal mixed sediments | Broad-scale habitat |
Subtidal sand | Broad-scale habitat |
Specific information on the conservation objectives related to this site is provided in the Conservation Advice section.
The acquisition of new data may result in updates to our knowledge on feature presence and extent within this site. The most up-to-date information is reflected on the map on this page and in JNCC’s MPA Mapper and the evidence underpinning this can be viewed in the Monitoring and Evidence section.
Site Timeline
The diagram below is a summary of the key milestones involved in the selection and designation of the South of Celtic Deep MCZ. More detail can be found within the Relevant Documentation section and in the post-consultation advice.
Relevant Documentation
The documents referred to below and any other historical documents relating to South of Celtic Deep MCZ were produced during the selection and designation process and therefore may be out of date. This Site Information Centre is the most up-to-date source of information for this MPA, and will reflect any additional information gathered since these documents were produced. Further information about the Marine Conservation Zone site selection process and historic MCZ advice is available on JNCC's MCZ webpage.
- South of Celtic Deep MCZ Designation Order – the official description of the site designation under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. The Designation Order includes boundary co-ordinates, Conservation Objectives and a list of the designated features. More information on the Designation Order, including a designation map and factsheet is available on Defra's website.
- JNCC's pre- and post-consultation scientific advice for features proposed for designation in 2019.
- JNCC's formal conservation advice for this site is available in the Conservation Advice section.
Summary
Last updated: July 2020
Information for this site summary was adapted from JNCC’s scientific advice to Defra on South of Celtic Deep MCZ and incorporates any further information gathered since this advice was produced. Please refer to the Relevant Documentation section for further details and information sources.
Site overview
South of Celtic Deep MCZ covers an area of 278 km2, protecting a range of habitats including Moderate energy circalittoral rock, Subtidal coarse sediments, Subtidal sand and small areas of Subtidal mixed sediments. The site varies in depth between 50 and 100 m, with two small areas dipping below 100 m. The seabed is highly heterogenous and this variety of habitats allows a number of species to thrive, including bivalve molluscs (for example, scallops and clams), worms, anemones, starfish and a range of fish (for example, John dory (Zeus faber), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and angler fish (Lophius piscatorius). Basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) have also been sighted within the MCZ.
The site was recommended by the Finding Sanctuary regional MCZ project for broad-scale habitats in 2011. A survey was conducted at the site under the MB0120 project in February 2012, which found evidence for Subtidal coarse sediment, Subtidal mixed sediments, Subtidal sand and Moderate energy circalittoral rock (see the survey report). A Gardline geosurvey in 2013 collected backscatter and multibeam data, which was used alongside the ground-truthing data collected in 2012 to create a full habitat map for the designated seabed features.
Further detail on the evidence for this MCZ can be found in the Monitoring and Evidence section.
Site location: Co-ordinates for this MCZ can be found in the Designation Order listed in the Relevant Documentation section.
Site area: 278 km2 (roughly ten times the size of Penzance).
Site depth range: 50–100 m, with two small areas dipping below 100 m.
Charting Progress 2 Biogeographic Region: Western Channel & Celtic Sea.
Site boundary description: The site’s northern boundary is delineated by the UKHO Welsh waters limit, in line with the guidance provided by the MCZ project Ecological Network Guidance (ENG). The original boundary that was proposed for South of Celtic Deep MCZ has been altered slightly since it was recommended by the Finding Sanctuary Regional MCZ Project in 2011.
Monitoring and Evidence
Last updated: November 2023
Site-specific data
There are a range of data that underpin this MCZ. The full overview of these data used to support site identification along with information on confidence in feature presence and extent is available in JNCC’s Tranche Three MCZ pre-consultation and post-consultation scientific advice for offshore Marine Conservation Zones proposed for designation in 2019. JNCC will be adding relevant survey data for this MPA to its MPA Mapper in due course.
Some of the data for this MCZ have been collected through JNCC-funded or collaborative surveys and some through other means. Data from these surveys provide direct evidence confirming the presence of the protected features within the site.
Survey and data gathering
- Gardline Geosurvey of South of Celtic Deep (2013) – Multibeam bathymetry and backscatter data were collected between 27 February and 20 March 2013 by Gardline Geosurvey using the MV Vigilant and the MV Lespoir.
- Cefas/JNCC site verification survey of South of Celtic Deep MCZ (2012) – Multibeam acoustic data and ground-truthing were collected during the RV Cefas Endeavour cruise CEND0312.
Data analysis reports
- South of Celtic Deep rMCZ Post-survey Site Report (2016) – Cefas undertook analysis of acoustic and ground-truthing data collected by dedicated surveys in 2012 and 2013 within the site. These data were used to produce an updated habitat map and to inform the presence of broadscale habitats and habitat FOCI, and allow estimates to be made of their spatial extent within the site.
Knowledge gaps
As part of the UK Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy (UKMMAS), JNCC led the development of a UK Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Strategy, working with partners across the UK monitoring community. The Strategy spans UK territorial and offshore waters, focusing on biodiversity in the wider environment and within Marine Protected Areas. Its aim is to implement efficient, integrated monitoring of marine biodiversity to provide the evidence needed for all the UK's policy drivers.
The evidence collected during MPA monitoring surveys is used in combination with other available evidence to:
- Enable assessment of condition of the features within sites;
- Contribute to the assessment of the degree to which management measures are effective in achieving the conservation objectives for the protected features;
- Support the identification of priorities for future protection and/or management; and,
- Enable Government to fulfil its national and international assessment and reporting commitments in relation to MPAs and help identify where further action may be required.
More detail on offshore MPA monitoring can be found on the Offshore MPA monitoring webpage. A list of monitoring surveys and relevant reports can be found on the MPA monitoring survey reports webpage.
If you are aware of any additional data not listed here or scientific papers relevant to this site, please contact us.
Conservation Advice
Last updated: January 2021
Updated formal conservation advice for this MPA was produced in January 2021. Further information on the approach used to develop this advice is available on our 'Conserving MPAs' webpage, along with a Glossary of Terms used in JNCC's conservation advice and a short video explaining how to use the conservation advice packages.
You must refer to this advice if you:
- undertake an MCZ assessment for a plan or project that could impact the site;
- provide information for such an assessment;
- respond to specific measures to further the conservation objectives for the site; and
- consider the need to put new or additional management measures in place.
You may also find it useful to refer to this advice if you:
- carry out any other activity that could impact the site.
We will engage with stakeholders to identify any lessons which JNCC can learn from customers who have used the advice, with a view to continuing to ensure it is fit-for-purpose.
The following table provides an overview of the components of the conservation advice, and provides hyperlinks to each of the products for this MPA. These elements together form JNCC’s formal conservation advice for this site and should be read in conjunction with each other. This advice reflects the most up-to-date evidence held by JNCC (correct as of January 2021).
Document | Overview |
Background Information |
Explains the purpose of the advice and when it must be referred to. |
The Conservation Objectives set out the broad ecological aims for the site. JNCC provides supplementary advice in the SACO which is essential reading to support interpretation of these conservation objectives. You can use these documents to assess the impacts of your planned activity on the important attributes of the site. |
|
Conservation Advice Statements |
These statements provide a summary of the Supplementary Advice on the Conservation Objectives (SACO).
|
Advice on Operations |
Provides information on the activities capable of affecting site integrity and therefore achievement of the site’s conservation objectives. This is a starting point for determining potential management requirements. It does not take into account the intensity, frequency or cumulative impacts from activities taking place. It is simply to advise you of the possible adverse impacts that your activity can have on a MPA’s features. Use the advice on operations to determine those pressures your activity causes that could harm the habitat and/or species features of the site. |
These documents are available on JNCC's Resource Hub.
Image Gallery
© Cefas/JNCC 2012
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