St Margaret's Bay, near Dover, is one of the areas included in a list of planned Marine Conservation Zones

by Martin Jefferies

mjefferies@thekmgroup.co.uk

Kent's coastline could be given better protection if a series of planned Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) get the go ahead.

A list of 127 sites unveiled today include 11 off the Kent coast.

Experts hope the MCZs would preserve wildlife, including rare and threatened species like the unusual stalked jellyfish, as well as habitats and geology.

kent's planned mczs

dover to deal*
dover to folkestone
goodwin sands*
hythe bay
kentish knock east
medway estuary
offshore foreland
swale estuary
thames estuary
thanet coast*
wreck of ss pomerania, folkestone
* =

Among the sites are the Goodwin Sands, east of Deal, home to a colony of seals, and a near-continuous reef between Deal and Folkestone.

The zones also include four "reference areas" – two in Thanet, one along the White Cliffs of Dover and Goodwin Knoll – which would be given the highest protection.

Fishing, dredging and other activities which damage species and habitats would be banned.

Linda Davies, chairman of Balanced Seas, which came up with the list of MCZs for south east England, said: "This is another major step in the quest for a secure legacy for our fantastic seas.

"It's a huge credit to the many people who have devoted copious time and energy to unlocking knowledge of the wildlife and activities going on above and beneath the surface."

The sites will now be reviewed by scientists and officials from Natural England and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee before the government makes its final decision.