Response to horse mussel management proposals

24 November 2011

Seafish has responded to the Welsh Government's consultation on management proposals for a horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) reef off the North Wales coast. Amongst other comments, Seafish questions the recommended "appropriate" buffer zone of 500m. The commonly accepted size of a buffer zone (JNCC UK Guidance on defining boundaries 2008) is four times the depth of the water in the area, for this depth of water. As the maximum depth of water in that area is around 22m, this suggests an appropriate size for the buffer zone would be 88m.

The full response is available here: /media/publications/Modiolus_Response_Nov_2011.pdf