Laxey Bay facts for kids

Laxey Bay (also called Baie Laksaa in Manx Gaelic) is a beautiful bay on the east coast of the Isle of Man. It's located in the northern part of the Irish Sea. To the north, you'll find Laxey Head, and to the south, Clay Head. This special area is also a Marine Nature Reserve, which means it's protected to help marine life thrive.

Protecting Laxey Bay

Laxey Bay became a protected area to help its amazing sea creatures and plants. In 2009, it was first set aside as a "Fisheries Restricted Area." The idea was to grow king scallops there, protecting them from fishing until they were ready to be harvested.

However, studies showed that not many scallops grew in the bay. This was probably because there wasn't enough good habitat for them.

Becoming a Marine Nature Reserve

In 2016, experts from Bangor University studied the bay's habitats. They found important plants like maerl and eelgrass (Zostera marina). Because of these special habitats, they suggested the bay should stay closed to certain types of fishing.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture then asked the public what they thought. Everyone agreed that Laxey Bay should become a full Marine Nature Reserve.

On September 1, 2018, Laxey Bay officially became a Marine Nature Reserve. This was done under the Wildlife Act 1990. It is now one of ten such reserves around the Isle of Man. Together, these reserves protect over 10% of the island's waters.

Rules of the Reserve

The reserve covers about 3.97 square kilometers. This area includes the shore up to the highest tide mark. There's also a very special Eelgrass Conservation Zone inside Garwick Bay.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture manages the reserve. They work with scientists, fishers, and people who enjoy the sea.

Rules for the reserve include:

• You cannot take sand, gravel, or rocks.
• You cannot dump anything into the water.
• You cannot use certain fishing gear like dredges or trawls.
• You cannot take queen or king scallops while diving.

In the Eelgrass Conservation Zone, the rules are even stricter. You cannot anchor your boat or use static fishing gear like pots. This helps protect the eelgrass, which is a very important plant.

Even though there are no speed limits for boats, the Isle of Man Government asks boaters to be careful. High speeds can disturb marine animals and other people using the bay.

Laxey Bay is also a "core marine area" of the Isle of Man's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. This means it's a key part of a worldwide effort to protect nature. The rocky coast of Clay Head is also a special geological site.

Wildlife and Habitats

Laxey Bay is home to many different kinds of sea life and plants. Some of the most important features are:

• Maerl beds: These are special areas of red seaweed that look like coral. They are found in the north and east of the bay.
• Eelgrass meadows: These underwater "grasslands" are in Garwick Bay. They are very important nurseries for young fish.
• Kelp forest: Tall, brown seaweeds form underwater forests that provide shelter.
• Rocky reef: These are rocky areas where many creatures live.
• Dog whelk: This is a type of sea snail (Nucella lapillus).
• Ocean quahog: These are very long-lived clams (Arctica islandica).

You can often find egg cases from Thornback ray, spotted ray, and small-spotted catshark on Garwick Beach. This shows that these rays and sharks are breeding nearby.

Seabirds and Marine Mammals

Laxey Bay is also a great place for seabirds. Many birds nest here, including:

• Shag
• Black guillemot
• Eurasian eider
• Herring gull
• Great black-backed gull
• Small numbers of lesser black-backed gull

Other birds you might see often include red-billed chough, peregrine, Eurasian oystercatcher, Eurasian curlew, great cormorant, grey heron, and northern fulmar. You might even see gannets diving for fish!

Marine mammals also visit the bay. Harbour porpoises are often seen, and sometimes you can spot grey seals. Between October and March, large groups of bottlenose dolphins (up to 200!) can be found. Small groups of minke whales also appear in the autumn. Less often, you might see Risso’s dolphins or large groups of short-beaked common dolphins.

Environmental Challenges

In the past, too much fishing for scallops hurt the bay. Scallop dredging can damage the seabed. However, it is hoped that the bay will get better over time now that it is protected. Some fish in the wider Irish Sea, like cod and herring, have become less common. This has also affected the fish populations in Laxey Bay.

As of 2020, untreated sewage was still being released into Garwick Bay. This also brought plastic waste into the water. Rivers like the Laxey River and Gawne River also carry agricultural runoff into the bay. Because of the sewage and runoff, Garwick and Laxey Beaches often do not meet clean water standards for swimming.