This site protects a wide range of habitats, from beaches of intertidal sand, which are exposed to the air at low tide and below water at high tide, to subtidal sediment and rock habitats, which are permanently submerged. This site is important for creating connectivity between sites along the north coast of Devon and Cornwall. Low energy Infralittoral rock: shallow water rock, below the tides, sheltered from waves and currents
This MCZ helps to fill a gap in the network for honeycomb worm reefs, which are formed from the closely-packed sand tubes constructed by these colonial worms. The reef structures resemble honeycomb and can extend for tens of metres across and up to a metre tall. They, in turn, are able to support a wide range of shore-dwelling species including anemones, snails, shore crabs and seaweeds.
This site also protects a range of important and vulnerable species such as the pink sea-fan coral which is a slow-growing colony of tiny anemone-like animals. These coral feed on microscopic animals captured from the passing water. Pink sea-fans are themselves home to other creatures including a sea slug and a rare anemone. Dogfish also attach their eggs to pink sea-fans, wrapping the long tendrils at the corners of the ‘Mermaid’s Purse’ eggcase around the sea-fan’s branches. This site also protects the spiny lobster, whose common name comes from the sharp spines all over their heavy, orange-brown shells.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marine-conservation-zones-bideford-to-foreland-point
https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteGeneralDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UKMCZ0029
