The Severn Estuary Management Scheme
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Good Practice Guidelines Severn Estuary European Marine Site Your way to support our estuary The purpose of these guidelines is to encourage the sustainable use of the estuary and its coastline, providing an enhanced and safer environment for recreational users and visitors to enjoy. Individuals and clubs are encouraged to respect, support and promote these guidelines. Please help us to look after this special estuary. www.asera.org.uk T: 02920 879 111 | E: [email protected] ASERA and the Severn Estuary Management Scheme Organisations around the Severn Estuary have come together to form the Association of Severn Estuary Relevant Authorities (ASERA) to coordinate their statutory duties. ASERA has identified that disturbance from some recreational activities can affect the protected birds, habitats and fish in the estuary. ASERA aims to raise awareness of the Severn Estuary European Marine Site and to ensure that human activities around the estuary are carried out in a way sympathetic to the nature conservation objectives of the site, making sure it’s protected for our future generations. Our Spectacular Severn The Severn Estuary is one of the Disturbance is largest coastal plain estuaries in any activity or the UK, its immense tidal range noise that could and classic funnel shape making change behaviours it unique in Britain and rare of an animal (feeding, worldwide. Dynamic and diverse, it resting or breeding) has fascinating natural, cultural and or habitat structure. For geographical features, managed and example, repeated disturbance used by many organisations and can threaten the survival of our individuals. estuary’s birds. It may lead to birds stopping using an area to feed or Our estuary supports nationally and roost, use up vital energy stores by internationally important habitats putting them to flight and cause and species, and is a key migratory delays to arrival at breeding grounds. route for salmon and internationally If they cannot feed enough to rare fish species. The extensive complete their migration, they may mudflats, saltmarshes and coastal not survive the winter. grazing marshes make it one of the most important estuaries in Activities undertaken around the the UK for its numbers of wildfowl estuary and its coastline need to and wading birds, with over 80,000 ensure they are sympathetic to birds visiting every winter. It is a key the needs of wildlife, especially refuelling stop for important spring the thousands of wintering birds and autumn passage birds. Reefs of that visit every year. Our estuary is the tube-forming worm Sabellaria particularly popular for recreational alveolata are also found here. activities and so your actions really can make a difference! Working together we can reduce disturbance to the habitats and Please help keep our coastline species of the Severn Estuary and looking clean, beautiful and full keep our site special. of wildlife. Severn Estuary European Marine Site The Severn Estuary is internationally important for its habitats and species, designated as a: • Special Protection Area (SPA) The Severn Estuary is part of a Designated under the EU Birds European network of sites known as Directive to protect overwintering Natura 2000 – “your nature” which is and spring/autumn passage special in a European context. These birds and the habitats which sites try to put people at the heart of attract them. nature conservation and are about “people and nature”, not “nature • Special Area of Conservation (SAC) without people”. Designated under the EU Habitats Directive to protect fish species Maps of the sensitive species and and a variety of habitats. habitats found in the Severn Estuary EMS will be available at: • Ramsar Site www.asera.org.uk A wetland of international importance. …collectively known as a European Marine Site (EMS) Walking, Dog Walking & Cycling Observe local byelaws and regulations on rights of access Stay on the permitted right of way to avoid impacts such as erosion and trampling of sensitive habitats like saltmarsh and reefs of Sabellaria Keep your dog under (honeycomb tubeworm) effective control to protect wildlife and marine heritage Follow the Sustrans Cycling by avoiding disturbance along Code of Conduct* the coast Dogs are prohibited from • Make sure your dog stays at your accessing certain stretches side or on a lead where birds are of the Severn Estuary coastline feeding, breeding and resting. during the summer months – • Keep your dog in sight at all look out for local signs for times, confident that it will return further information promptly on command. Keep the coast enjoyable for all • It is good practice to keep your dog on a lead when around farm • Clean up after your dog to keep the animals and horses. coast safe and clean for others – “bag it and bin it”. • Keep noise down. • Take all of your litter home and recycle or dispose of it responsibly. Leave gates and property as you find them *www.sustrans.org.uk/what-you-can-do/cycling/cycling-safety-and-rules Bird Watching Protect feeding, roosting and breeding birds by avoiding disturbance • Keep out of sight of flocks of birds Enjoy the if you can and do not approach estuary’s them if you are visible to them, famous nature particularly when groups of birds reserves gather at high water. High tide is • Take opportunities a critical rest time for birds - with to use facilities like hides repeated disturbances they may provided at sites such as stop using these roost sites. Slimbridge, Steart Marshes • Use binoculars/telescopes to watch and Newport Wetlands. and enjoy birdlife from a distance. Follow the RSPB • Keep your distance from breeding Birdwatchers’ Code* birds – many estuary birds nest on open ground. Take all of your litter home • Be patient – let the birds adjust to and recycle or dispose of it you sharing their environment. responsibly Protect habitats • Keep to designated routes, avoiding walking on wetter saltmarsh if you can – some of these areas are delicate and easily damaged. Be aware that wildfowling occurs around the Severn Estuary *www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/read-and-learn/watching-birds/code/ Recreational Angling Be a responsible angler • Make sure you know what species you are allowed to catch and the local size limits- always return undersized fish with care. See minimum sizes here: www.devonandsevernifca.gov.uk. • Never gaff a fish to land it. Always use a net. Handle the fish as little as • If you intend to eat any fish you possible, ideally using wet catch then make sure you dispatch hands or gloves them quickly and humanely. • Be prepared to weigh, photograph • Release or return fish responsibly, and return fish quickly. allowing them time to recover if necessary. Respect your personal safety and that of others at all times Protect wildlife and marine heritage by avoiding disturbance • Always check the tide times before you leave – remember how quickly • Approach the estuary using the tide moves in the Severn. established paths. • See guidance on Safety on • Keep your distance from the Estuary. groups of birds. • Walk around saltmarsh and reefs of Take all of your waste Sabellaria (honeycomb tubeworm). and old tackle home • Keep your dog under effective control to protect breeding, feeding and roosting birds. • Cut line into short lengths before disposal. Bait Digging Be a responsible bait digger • Do not take more worms than you can use. • Take limited numbers of lugworm Check and do not take green spawning permissions worms or king rag. These are the - landowner future supply of bait! permission and • The ragworm population is more other consents may vulnerable to exploitation than be required lugworm – be careful to leave plenty Follow any local byelaws and of adult worms to enable them to regulations which affect the use recover or consider buying ragworm. of the Severn Estuary Protect wildlife and marine • Respect private land ownership. heritage by avoiding disturbance • There is no legal right to collect • Approach the estuary using bait commercially without the established paths. permission of the landowner. • Keep your distance from For your safety groups of birds. • Always check the tide times before • Walk around saltmarsh and reefs of you leave – remember how quickly Sabellaria (honeycomb tubeworm). the tide moves in the Severn. • Report any suspected discovery • Be aware of the mudflats – of archaeological material to your the risk of getting stuck is real. local Finds Liaison Officer: https://finds.org.uk/contacts. • Avoid digging alone or let others know where you are and your Backfill holes to maintain the expected return time and carry intertidal habitat and for a charged mobile phone. safety of others • See guidance on Safety Take all of your litter home on the Estuary. and recycle or dispose of it responsibly Recreational Boating Protect feeding, roosting and breeding birds, and marine This will mammals by avoiding disturbance help to • Keep your distance and noise to a protect wildlife minimum, particularly near important and vegetation, bird roost sites in sheltered creeks particularly in and rivers. shallow waters and over intertidal habitats. • Certain areas, e.g. Bridgwater Bay, are important for breeding waders Share the water – be and moulting shelduck who cannot considerate to other coastal and fly and are particularly sensitive to boat users, particularly swimmers disturbance in the summer months. and children in the water • Keep your distance from marine Never throw litter or waste mammals that sometimes travel overboard – bag it and take further up the estuary. it home with you Check permissions – slipway Protect habitats permits and other consents • Approach the estuary using may be required established paths and use recognised landing and Follow The Green Blue’s guidance launching points. for boat users and RYA Safe Boating advice* • Observe speed limits and slow down to keep your wake to a minimum Follow “You, Your Canoe and the near to the shore, particularly in pills, Marine Environment”** creeks and rivers and near mooring See guidance on INNS and areas.