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Plans to protect 'treasure trove' of marine life

Julia GregorySouth West
Sue Daly/ La Société Sercquaise An underwater scene with purple and bright orange creatures attached to rocks. A five-legged white starfish is on one rock and there is a small thin orange fish with three black and pale yellow or white spots on its back. a larger fish has a bright blue tail with orange markings stretching along the top and bottom of its body. It had pale blue colouring along its body with orangey brown spotty markings, with some yellowish-green markings around its mouth towards its gills.Sue Daly/ La Société Sercquaise
Wildlife like jewel anemones and cuckoo wrasse at L'Etac could get more protection

There are plans to create a Marine Protected Area (MPA) around Sark to give a "treasure trove" of marine life extra support.

Sark's Agriculture, Environment and Sea Fisheries Committee said an MPA would safeguard the island's "rich marine life" and support sustainable fisheries.

It has worked with La Société Sercquaise and the Blue Marine Foundation on plans to formally declare Sark's waters as a "Highly Protected" MPA.

The waters around Sark host a range of habitats including eelgrass beds, reefs, seabirds, and marine mammals. The proposed MPA would strengthen measures on trawling within inshore waters, while supporting low‑impact fishing, recreation, and tourism, the committee said.

Sue Daly/La Société Sercquaise A crab with long orange claws and a pale green shell is amongst bright green thin-leafed seaweed.Sue Daly/La Société Sercquaise
Current regulations already ban dredging and restrict trawling off Sark

Current rules on Sark already ban dredging, restrict trawling, and enforce closed seasons for lobsters, crabs and ormers.

Sue Daly, from La Société Sercquaise marine biology section, said: "Sark's seas are a treasure trove of life, from eelgrass meadows to seabird colonies, and they deserve lasting protection."

She said the new plans would "ensure these fragile habitats continue to thrive".

Freddie Watson, Channel Islands project manager for Blue Marine Foundation, added: "A formal Marine Protected Area would place Sark firmly on the global marine protection map, ensuring its waters are safeguarded in the long term, benefitting nature, climate and generations to come."

Chief Pleas will carry out further consultation on the committee's recommendations.

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