West of Walney facts for kids

West of Walney is a special underwater area in the Irish Sea, located west of Walney Island in England. It's called a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), which means it's a protected place for ocean life. This zone was set up in 2016 to help protect important habitats like muddy and sandy areas on the seabed. At that time, it was one of three similar protected zones off the coast of Cumbria.

The West of Walney MCZ covers a large area, about 388 square kilometers. That's roughly the same size as the Isle of Wight! The water depth in this zone ranges from about 15 to 33 meters, which is like diving down to the height of a five to ten-story building.

Wind Turbines and Ocean Protection

One cool thing about the West of Walney MCZ is that it shares its space with offshore wind turbines. These giant turbines help create clean energy from the wind. When the MCZ was first created, people realized it would be easier to protect the seabed here because certain types of fishing are usually not allowed near wind farms.

Protecting the Seabed from Trawling

One fishing method that can harm the seabed is called bottom trawling. This is when a large net is dragged along the ocean floor to catch fish. Because this type of fishing can damage the delicate mud and sand habitats, it's generally not encouraged around wind turbines.

In 2019, a special rule, called a bye-law, was put in place. This rule officially stopped bottom trawling in most of the West of Walney MCZ. This helps keep the seabed safe for all the creatures that live there.

Trying New Fishing Methods

Instead of bottom trawling, people have been trying out more sustainable ways to fish for prawns in the area. One method being tested is using creels. Creels are like small traps or pots that are placed on the seabed to catch prawns without damaging the ocean floor. This shows how people are working to find ways to fish that are better for the environment.

Ocean Animals of West of Walney

The West of Walney MCZ is home to many interesting ocean animals. One type of creature that lives here is called a sea pen.

What are Sea Pens?

A sea pen, which looks a bit like an old-fashioned quill pen.

Sea pens are amazing animals that look a bit like old-fashioned quill pens sticking out of the seabed. They are actually colonies of tiny animals called polyps, all living together. Sea pens are important because they provide shelter and food for other marine life. They are a key part of the muddy and sandy habitats that this MCZ aims to protect.