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.


  • 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.

  • 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.

Page last updated: 04 Oct 2024, 03:14 PM