Square crab (Credit Rachel Coppock)
The muddy seabed in Hythe Bay is packed with animals like the square crab whose stalked eyes fold neatly into recesses in its shell for protection.
The seabed is peppered with the burrows and tubes of an astonishing variety of marine species.
Although proposed for designation as part of the 2013 Defra consultation, this site is on hold at the moment. This site raised strong opposition from the fishing industry and so the decision to designate has been deferred in order to allow for further disussion with local fishing representatives to find a compromise that meets industry wishes and enable conservation of the site to be achieved. We remain involved in dialogue over this site and will continue to push for its designation and protection. We hope that a decision will be made in early 2014.
Square crabs and green-tongued spoonworms are among the strange and wonderful creatures that burrow out their homes in the soft mud of Hythe Bay. The muddy seabed appears at first sight as no more than gently undulating fine sediment. However, on closer inspection it is peppered with the burrows and tubes of an astonishing variety of species, from tiny crustaceans to graceful anemones which sway gently in the currents.
Sand mason worms construct intricate tubes from grains of sand and shell fragments, while beautifully marked necklace shells and iridescently-bristled sea mice move through the top layers of mud in search of their prey. Neat packages of gelatinous mollusc eggs, attached into the mud by a delicate thread are wafted by water movements. All these animals provide a veritable feast for foraging fish and birds. A dive video of this site was taken in 2013 and can be viewed below.
Dive video of this site
Other nearby potential MCZs
Contains UKHO Law of the Sea data. Crown copyright and database right and contains Ordnance Survey Data Crown copyright and database 2012
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