Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Marine Nature Recovery Framework

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Photo: Crawfish and wrasse by a rocky reef supporting a plethora of other invertebrate life (Matt Slater)


Our Coasts and Seas in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

The sea is at the core of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly identity, and foundational to our fishing industry and communities. Our marine waters and seabed are also an ecological hotspot. The coastline is dominated by rocky reefs, with exposed shores in the north and more sheltered shores in the south. It is dotted with estuaries hosting rich muddy habitats and stunning maerl beds – the Cornish equivalent of a coral reef. Below low water, the open coast meets grey seal populated sea caves, saline lagoons and seagrass beds. This covers a mix of muddy, rocky and sandy habitats continuing below the mean low water mark – including artificial habitats on historic wrecks. From seaweeds to seabirds, these areas host diverse and important wildlife. Nearshore habitats cover a mix of open seas, islands like St. Michael’s Mount with rare lower plants, and the seas host a rich mix of species – from large migratory fish and shellfish, to seafans, jellyfish, turtles, seahorses, basking sharks, molluscs and large mammals like dolphins.

Photo: Atlantic grey seals hauled out to rest (Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust)


Marine Nature Recovery and Why We Need it

Nature in Cornwall is not as healthy as it seems. Cornwall’s first State of Nature report highlights key trends for our species and habitats within a generation and finds that Cornwall mirrors the national picture regarding the health of our coasts and seas. It illustrates that our waters are in long term decline with pollution, bycatch and other fishing data, population trends, habitat loss, and animal strandings data all showing worrying trends. In addition, Cornwall’s Environmental Growth Strategy (EGS) reporting shows, 34% of Cornwall’s inshore (0 –12 nm) waters are within a designated MPA. Therefore, locally the government ambition to protect a third of seas by 2030 (the so called 30x30 target) has already been exceeded. However, in 2021 just 8% of the inshore seabed was under positive management, resulting in environmental growth.


What is the Marine Nature Recovery Framework

To help nature at sea to recover, Cornwall Council are working to develop an evidence-based, voluntary Marine Nature Recovery Framework (MNRF) with support from Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership (CIOSLNP) and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Marine and Coastal Partnership (CIOSMCP), building on all the feedback from local people about the importance of our marine and coastal wildlife.

This new Framework will align with and compliment the statutory terrestrial Local Nature Recovery Strategy which is due for consultation this autumn, enabling us to take an integrated approach around the coastal boundaries of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It will also act as an overarching strategy for marine nature recovery projects, enabling coordinated delivery and knowledge sharing whilst identifying additional opportunities for investing in our natural capital.



Photo: Crawfish and wrasse by a rocky reef supporting a plethora of other invertebrate life (Matt Slater)


Our Coasts and Seas in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

The sea is at the core of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly identity, and foundational to our fishing industry and communities. Our marine waters and seabed are also an ecological hotspot. The coastline is dominated by rocky reefs, with exposed shores in the north and more sheltered shores in the south. It is dotted with estuaries hosting rich muddy habitats and stunning maerl beds – the Cornish equivalent of a coral reef. Below low water, the open coast meets grey seal populated sea caves, saline lagoons and seagrass beds. This covers a mix of muddy, rocky and sandy habitats continuing below the mean low water mark – including artificial habitats on historic wrecks. From seaweeds to seabirds, these areas host diverse and important wildlife. Nearshore habitats cover a mix of open seas, islands like St. Michael’s Mount with rare lower plants, and the seas host a rich mix of species – from large migratory fish and shellfish, to seafans, jellyfish, turtles, seahorses, basking sharks, molluscs and large mammals like dolphins.

Photo: Atlantic grey seals hauled out to rest (Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust)


Marine Nature Recovery and Why We Need it

Nature in Cornwall is not as healthy as it seems. Cornwall’s first State of Nature report highlights key trends for our species and habitats within a generation and finds that Cornwall mirrors the national picture regarding the health of our coasts and seas. It illustrates that our waters are in long term decline with pollution, bycatch and other fishing data, population trends, habitat loss, and animal strandings data all showing worrying trends. In addition, Cornwall’s Environmental Growth Strategy (EGS) reporting shows, 34% of Cornwall’s inshore (0 –12 nm) waters are within a designated MPA. Therefore, locally the government ambition to protect a third of seas by 2030 (the so called 30x30 target) has already been exceeded. However, in 2021 just 8% of the inshore seabed was under positive management, resulting in environmental growth.


What is the Marine Nature Recovery Framework

To help nature at sea to recover, Cornwall Council are working to develop an evidence-based, voluntary Marine Nature Recovery Framework (MNRF) with support from Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership (CIOSLNP) and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Marine and Coastal Partnership (CIOSMCP), building on all the feedback from local people about the importance of our marine and coastal wildlife.

This new Framework will align with and compliment the statutory terrestrial Local Nature Recovery Strategy which is due for consultation this autumn, enabling us to take an integrated approach around the coastal boundaries of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It will also act as an overarching strategy for marine nature recovery projects, enabling coordinated delivery and knowledge sharing whilst identifying additional opportunities for investing in our natural capital.


  • LNRS launch, Building the Framework, and Pathway to Publication

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    This November 2024, we see the exciting launch of the public consultation for our Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS). Over the next six weeks there will be a plethora of opportunities, both in person and online, for people to review and comment on this important statutory document which will guide action for nature recovery. As the Local Nature Recovery Strategy extends to the low water mark, we are encouraging our marine and coastal associates and partners, including you as a reader of this article, to engage with the consultation. In doing so, we can ensure that all intertidal priorities are well represented and that any actions on land, which may impact the sea in this maritime region, are documented. To find out more please check out A Nature Recovery Strategy for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly | Let's Talk Cornwall .

    Simultaneously to the LNRS launch, the team continue to be busy building the aligned and complimenting the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Marine Nature Recovery Framework. A successful field trip to the Isles of Scilly took place at the end of October, where the team met with key stakeholders and discussed the inclusion of the Scillies as a case study within the Framework. In addition to this, yesterday, Tuesday 19th November 2024, Cornwall Council presented at the first Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Marine and Coastal Partnership (CIOS MCP) on the progress of the Framework to over 100 delegates from all marine and coastal sectors in our region.

    This winter the team at Cornwall Council, with support from the CIOS MCP, will be busy drafting the Marine Nature Recovery Framework, building the priority chapters (ten species and habitats identified for our region – maerl, seagrass, kelp reef, native oysters, mussels, polychaetes, seals, cetaceans, sharks & rays, and tuna & cod) with teams of specialists and experts via a series of workshops. We are also proposing the addition of seabirds to those ten priorities due to the global and national importance of the region for this group. The aim is to release the Framework for public consultation mid-May 2025, ready for adoption by the Marine and Coastal Partnership, the CIoS Local Nature Partnership, and Cornwall Council early autumn 2025.

    Until then, we will continue to raise the profile of our fantastic marine environment and the Framework. Please do follow this page, and the social media accounts for:

    - Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership (@cios_nature)
    Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

    - Cornwall Council (@cornwallcouncil)
    Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

  • Moving forward with the Marine Nature Recovery Strategy

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    Our voluntary Marine Nature Recovery Framework moves on with support from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Marine and Coastal Partnership (CIOS MCP), and this summer received the fantastic news that the work will be supported by funding through the Championing Coastal Coordination (3Cs) initiative being led by the Environment Agency.

    On the 16th September we held our third successful MNRF workshop with our marine working group which focused on marine priority mapping. The feedback was incredibly useful, highlighting the opportunities and challenges with the marine mapping element of the Framework, and will provide a strong basis for further discussion with expert groups this autumn.

    The team are now preparing for a successful trip to the Isles of Scilly during the week commencing the 14th October and are setting up a series of events and meetings to engage key stakeholders on the Islands with the Framework and get their feedback and input into its development.

  • Draft priority species identified

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    Cornwall Council are immensely grateful to everyone who has helped to shape the emerging Marine Nature Recovery Framework (MNRF) to date, from the nearly 3000 people who responded to earlier public and strategic Nature Recovery surveys to the network of local experts who have attended marine workshops over the past 6 months.

    As a result of the above engagement, the MNRF will now be focusing on the top ten marine priority list which will be subject to further consultation later this year. These are;

    • Cetaceans
    • Seals
    • Tuna & cod
    • Sharks & rays
    • Seagrass
    • Maerl
    • Kelp & reefs
    • Native oysters
    • Mussels
    • Polychaetes

    Now that we have identified these priorities, we are focusing efforts on mapping existing areas which are important for these species and habitats and, if possible, opportunity areas where we can all focus our efforts to help maximise recovery.

    If you have any issues or questions about the MNRF and the process of its development, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Nature Recovery Team at grow-nature@cornwall.gov(External link).uk.

Page last updated: 20 Nov 2024, 03:30 PM