The Axe Estuary MCZ is an inshore site that covers an area of approximately 0.33 km². The site is within the Axe Estuary in Devon which runs from near Colyford to Axmouth and Seaton, opening up into Lyme Bay. The site is constrained by the boundaries of the estuary and lies adjacent to the Seaton Wetlands, a series of local nature reserves.
The Axe Estuary is an important link between the surrounding wetlands and the open sea. The areas of coastal saltmarshes, intertidal sediments and rocky habitats act as important nursery grounds for juvenile fish, including sea bass, and support habitats for sensitive species of birds, crustaceans (such as crabs, lobsters and barnacles) and molluscs (such as mussels, native oysters and cockles). The estuary is also home to the critically endangered European eel.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marine-conservation-zones-axe-estuary
Coastal saltmarshes and saline reedbeds border the site and support a wide variety of species. They are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world with significant economic value, as well as being important foraging grounds for wading birds and wildfowl, providing sheltered refuge at high tide. Specialised salt and flood tolerant flowering plants help to stabilise sediments and prevent erosion, while an abundance of marine worms, crustaceans and tiny snails live within the damp sediment surrounding the vegetation.
Due to the highly dynamic nature of the site, the areas of intertidal sediments, consisting of muds, coarse and mixed sediments, create a mosaic of different habitats supporting a wide variety of species.
The shoreline habitats protected by this MCZ, particularly rocky areas, saltmarshes and reed beds, support a wide selection of species including juvenile fish. Coarse sediment shores appear, on the surface, to be devoid of life and present difficult places for creatures to survive; but dig a little deeper and animals can be found, such as shrimp-like sandhoppers which feed on plant material washed up. The marine life within these areas often provide an important food source for fish and birds.
