Kingmere facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kingmere |
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|---|---|
| Location | West Sussex, England |
| Nearest town | Worthing, Littlehampton |
| Area | 47 km2 (18 sq mi) |
| Max. elevation | -7 m |
| Min. elevation | -13 m |
| Designation | Marine Conservation Zone |
| Established | 21 November 2013 |
| Governing body | Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority |
The Kingmere Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) is a special underwater area in the English Channel. It's located off the coast of West Sussex, England, near the towns of Littlehampton and Worthing. This protected area covers about 47 square kilometres (18 sq mi) of the sea.
It was set up to protect important marine life and habitats. Think of it like an underwater national park! It helps keep the sea healthy for many different creatures.
Contents
What is Kingmere MCZ?
The Kingmere MCZ is home to two very important underwater spots. These are called Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCIs). They are known as Kingmere Rocks and the Worthing Lumps.
Kingmere Rocks
Kingmere Rocks are famous for being a key breeding spot for the black seabream. This fish is very important to the area. The rocky seabed and chalk outcrops here are perfect places for them to build their nests. In fact, Kingmere might be the most important place for sea bream in the whole UK!
Worthing Lumps
About 3 miles (5 km) from Worthing, you'll find the Worthing Lumps. These are like underwater chalk cliffs, some as tall as 3 metres (10 ft). The Marine Conservation Society has even called them "one of the best chalk reefs in Europe." They are a unique habitat for many sea creatures.
Managing the Kingmere MCZ
The Kingmere MCZ is looked after by the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (Sussex IFCA). Their job is to make sure fishing in the area is done in a way that protects the marine environment.
Most of the fishing here is done by small boats from nearby towns like Selsey, Shoreham-by-Sea, Newhaven, and Littlehampton. The main types of fishing are potting (using pots to catch crabs and lobsters), netting, and trawling.
Amazing Sea Creatures
Kingmere is a fantastic place for many different types of fish and other sea animals.
Black Sea Bream and Their Life Cycle
Kingmere Rocks is super important for black sea bream to have their babies. Male black sea bream are very busy! They search for the best spots on the seabed. Then, they use their tails to dig nests in the sand or mud over the rocks.
Female sea bream then lay their eggs in these nests. The male fish then guards the eggs until they hatch. After hatching, the young sea bream stay near their nest for a while. Because their nests are delicate, fishing methods that stir up the seabed, like scallop-dredging, can harm them.
Rare Fish of Worthing Lumps
The Worthing Lumps are a special home for some rare fish. It's the only place in Sussex where you can find Baillon's wrasse. This fish is usually found further away, like off the coast of Dorset in England or Galway in Ireland.
Other unusual fish also live in the Worthing Lumps. These include small fish called blennies and the lesser spotted dogfish, which is a type of small shark.
