Marine Protected Area

In 2000, the international importance of certain features of the marine area was recognised and became designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the European Habitats Directive. These features include the subtidal sandbanks, reefs, sea caves and Grey seal population. By protecting these features, the habitats and species that are found there are monitored and safeguarded for the future.

As Lundy’s waters had been protected for some time, it was appropriate to place the UK’s first No Take Zone along its east coast. An area of 3.3.km2 is covered by the fisheries byelaw and within this area nothing (particularly plants and animals) can be taken, or added, up to the high water mark along the shoreline.

In 2010, Lundy’s Marine Nature Reserve became the UK’s first Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), specifically for the protection of the Spiny lobster, Palinuras elephas, also known as a Crawfish, which is very rare. Under this protection, these lobsters cannot be fished and are protected by Devon and Severn IFCA byelaws as part of the MCZ designation.

LUNDY’S CODE OF CONDUCT

Lundy's Zoning Scheme and No Take Zone apply to everyone. These are strictly enforced and much of the Code of Conduct is underpinned by law. The code is for everyone who visits Lundy to ensure that the marine life is protected for future generations.

If you happen to witness any infringements from this Code of Conduct and/or any instances of wildlife disturbance within the islands SSSI & MPA, please contact the Warden on (01237) 431 831 or email: [email protected].

General – Applies to all visitors

• Do not disturb or remove any plant or animal within the Marine Protected Area (Marine Conservation Zone, Special Area of Conservation and Site of Scientific Interest).
• All extractive activities are prohibited within the No Take Zone (unless under the auspices of a scientific licence).
• Keep a distance of at least 100m from any hauled-out seals, seal pups on beaches and/or nesting seabirds – this includes visitors enjoying wildlife on the island from the shore, as well as all vessels within the MPA (including kayaks and stand-up paddleboards).
• Lundy is now a rat free island to keep it that way please, take ALL rubbish home with you – especially perishables and check your boats and bags for rats before arriving.
• Abide by the climbing restrictions in place during the seabird season from 31st March – 14th August.
• Don’t drop litter. Please pick up any you see and report pollution incidents to the Warden.
• Dispose of cigarette butts and chewing gum in the bin – they harm wildlife.
• Some plants on the island are very rare e.g. Lundy Cabbage. Never pick flowers, remove plants or take animals from the island.
• Recreational drone use is not allowed anywhere on the island.
• Collecting firewood or lighting campfires is not allowed anywhere on the island.
• Do not climb on the stone walls, disturb stones, gravestones or ruins – some of these monuments are protected by law.
• Using a metal detector or purposefully disturbing the ground anywhere on Lundy is not permitted.
• Report all interesting or unusual sightings of marine wildlife or any archaeological finds to the Warden.

When out walking

• Keep a distance of at least 100m from any hauled-out seals, seal pups and/or nesting seabirds.
• Leave gates as you find them and use stiles where possible.
• Avoid sheep with lambs.
• Keep to obvious footpaths and watch your step in April to August – ground nesting birds conceal their nests amongst bracken and grass.
• If you stumble across a nest or chick by accident, leave at once to allow the parents to return.
• If a birds appears agitated or aggressive towards you, there maybe a nest nearby, so move quickly away.
• Try to avoid disturbing the islands mammals. Approach the wild ponies with caution and please do not feed them.

Rockpooling

• Please try to leave everything as you find it, always return rocks and seaweed as they were, these provide shelter, food and homes for wildlife.
• Do not collect animals or plants in buckets or use nets.
• Surveys and scientific monitoring may require a consent (consult with warden).

Diving and snorkelling

• Control buoyancy to avoid contact with marine life and be aware of the environment around you especially when taking photographs.
• Try not to leave air bubbles in caves or overhangs.
• Do not remove crawfish (spiny lobsters) from the MPA.
• Spear fishing is not permitted anywhere within the MPA.
• Do not remove any items off any wrecks or any associated material on the seabed.
• The Gull Rock Wreck and Iona II are designated Protected Wreck sites: diving these without a licence is illegal. The HMS Montagu wreck is a Scheduled Monument and may be dived without a licence.
• We do NOT encourage the taking of shellfish outside of the No Take Zone (NTZ).
• Follow the Seal Code of Conduct.

 Seal Code of Conduct

•  If you observe any behaviour which might indicate stress, such as increased vocalisation, teeth bearing or rapid entry into the water, please move away and allow the seal to recover.
• Keep to a distance of 100m from hauled-out seals (all year round).
• Reduce speed to less than 5 knots when 100m from seal haul-out areas (particularly at Brazen Ward, Three-quarter Wall Bay and Surf Point), or when approaching dive sites close to rocks.
• Whilst snorkelling or diving, please refrain from touching or feeding the seals.
• Do not take toys into the water to play with the seals.
• Do not directly approach the seals on land or in the water or attempt to chase them; given time they will come to you if they want to.
• Take plenty of pictures and feel free to send these onto the Warden, but avoid using flash photography as this may scare the seals.

Boating

All kinds of craft from stand-up-paddleboards through to kayaks to charter boats are included

• Keep to a distance of 100 m from nesting seabird sites from 1^st March to 1^st August. Reduce speed to less than 5kts when 100m from seabird cliffs and rafting birds.
• Keep to a distance of 100m from hauled-out seals (all year round). Reduce speed to less than 5 knots when 100m from seal haul-out areas (particularly at Brazen Ward, Three-quarter Wall Bay and Surf Point).
• Reduce speed to less than 5kts when 100m from basking sharks, seals, cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises)⁵ Do not change your course to directly approach them, let them come to you.
• Avoid anchoring if at all possible. If it is necessary, then anchor in less sensitive habitats such as sandy seabed’s in the Landing Bay.
• Do not anchor or use shot lines within 100m of the Knoll Pins.
• Use the visitor moorings buoys as shown on the zoning scheme in Gannets Bay, Brazen Ward, Jenny’s Cove and the Landing Bay.
• Do not deploy any mooring. A licence is required for permanent moorings and permission for a temporary mooring from the Warden.
• Use a WiSe accredited operator when chartering, see: www.wisescheme.org.
• The speed limit within the Landing Bay (Recreational Zone) is 5 knots.

Sea fishing

•  All types of fishing are prohibited within the No Take Zone.
• The removal of crawfish (spiny lobster) is prohibited from
• within the whole MPA.
• Adhere to the MPA Zoning Scheme and rules designated under D&SIFCA byelaws.
• Catch and release all fish if not going to be used.
• Release all wrasse species, tope, red band fish, bull huss and conger eels where they are caught.
• Use barbless hooks.
• Avoid use of a gaff.
• Fish above the reef when fishing in reef areas. Do not fish on the bottom to avoid entanglement.
• Only retain sufficient fish for personal consumption and return all unwanted catch to the sea unharmed.
• Do not collect any bait from the intertidal area. You can obtain sustainable bait in the island’s general store.
• Fishing of any type is not permitted within the area of a designated wreck site.
• Follow the National Federation of Sea Anglers (NFSA) ‘Conservation Code for Sea Anglers’ and abide by the ‘Recommended Retention Size Limits’.
• Do not place any pots in the Landing Bay: they will be removed.
• Record and report all interesting catches.
• For enquiries or further information contact the Warden on (01237) 431 831 or email: [email protected]
• Please refer to http://www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uk/ for a full list of the byelaws connected with Lundy and the NTZ.
• All Lobsters must be over the Minimum Landings Sizes (MLS) in Devon, it is illegal to remove berried  or ‘v’ notched lobsters.

If you happen to witness any infringements from this Code of Conduct and/or any instances of wildlife disturbance within the islands SSSI & MPA, please contact the Warden on (01237) 431 831 or email: [email protected].