Yesterday marked a significant day for the Bay as Marine Conservation Zone Status was awarded to protect some of Torbay’s most sensitive marine life.

Natural England announced the list of 27 national Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ), which includes important marine sites around the English coastline, such as Lundy Island and the Isles of Scilly. The Torbay MCZ will help protect the Bay’s most special marine habitats including the seagrass beds.

The new status will not affect most activities in the Bay, but damaging activities, like bottom dredging and anchoring on the seagrass beds, will have to be managed.