County Wildife Site Criteria for Cornwall Appendices

SUBTIDAL SANDS AND GRAVELS PHTGeneral DescriptionSubtidal sand and gravel sediments are the most common habitats found below the level of the lowestlow tide around the coast of the United Kingdom. The sands and gravels found to the west of Britain(English Channel and Irish Sea) are largely shell derived, whereas those from the North Sea are largelyformed from rock material.Many of the inshore habitats are important nursery grounds for juvenile commercial species such asflatfishes and bass. Offshore, sand and gravel habitats support internationally important fish andshellfish fisheries while SE have recently carried out a comprehensive survey of benthic communitiesin the Greater Minch.National ContextDetailed information on the distribution of biotopes found within the PHT is generally restricted toan area less than 3 km from the shore. The survey resolution of these communities decreases atgreater distances offshore.Certain surveys of benthic communities have been undertaken at various times and in various areasincluding the North Sea and the English Channel but some are at broad scale habitat mapping only.There appears to be no detailed comprehensive overview of the national resource.The extent of this habitat in Cornwall is not currently known.For this habitat we will take all areasAppendix 4 - Information Relating to Priority Habitat TypesCounty Wildlife Sites Criteria