A fold-out leaflet, which includes the Code of Conduct and a map of the Zoning Scheme is available on the island.
Day-to-day management of the MPA is conducted through the island’s Warden (the current incumbent being Joe Parker who has been in the role since November 2023) and Assistant Warden (currently Tara McEvoy-Wilding, who has been in the role since February 2024). Before their current roles, Joe had been the Bird Observatory Warden on the island (which he still is); and Tara had been a volunteer Marine Warden during the Marine Festival, which took place between July and September 2022.
The MPA's Code of Conduct
In order for all visitors and users of the MPA to understand how the MPA operates, a straightforward Code of Conduct is in place to which all are asked to adhere. It tells visitors which activities are permitted to take place (and within what zones of the MPA – see below) and which are not. It also acts as the first port of call for the Warden concerning any misdemeanour that might have occurred within the MPA before more stringent forms of redress (i.e. byelaws) are considered. Wherever possible, the MPA is run through self-policing: users of the MPA are encouraged to report any suspicious activity they may witness to the Warden, who can then investigate the matter further if necessary. The Warden is also able to relay observations of any suspected fishing-related infringements directly to the Devon & Severn IFCA.
The first Zoning Scheme (1995)
The MPA's Zoning Scheme
A Zoning Scheme for the statutory Marine Nature Reserve (as it was known then) was first introduced in 1993 as a pilot project, being officially adopted in 1995 after a two-year consultation period. The first revision of this Scheme took place in 2003 (taking into account the No Take Zone), with the latest revision introduced in 2019 (to take into account new byelaws introduced by the Devon & Severn IFCA). The Zoning Scheme allows one to see at a glance where a particular activity is permitted (or not permitted, as the case may be) within the MPA.
The current (2019) Zoning Scheme (including the No Take Zone in pink)
Referring to the 2019 iteration of the Zoning Scheme, the following relate to the numbered zones.
Spearfishing is prohibited by byelaw throughout the SAC and MCZ (white Zone.)
1. Features and species protected within the SAC and the MCZ are described here [link: 1.3 What makes Lundy’s marine life special?].
2. The No Netting area (blue Refuge Zone) is designated under D&SIFCA Netting Permit Byelaw (Annex 4).
3. The No Take Zone (pink) was established to protect sensitive and slow-growing reef communities and to enhance our understanding of the effects of these zones and their role in wildlife management. All extractive activities are prohibited from within the No Take Zone (unless under the auspices of a scientific licence).
4. The yellow area, centred on the Landing Bay, is recognised as the Recreational Zone where swimming, snorkelling and other water sports may take place. Boat traffic should be aware.
5. Area closed to demersal mobile gear (dredges and trawls) designated under D&SIFCA Mobile Fishing Permit Byelaw (Annex 1).
6. The orange Area is open to demersal trawls only designated under D&SIFCA Mobile Fishing Permit Byelaw (Annex 1a).
7. The green Area is open to demersal mobile gear (dredges and trawls) designated under D&SIFCA Mobile Fishing Permit Byelaw (Annex 1b) .
8. A No Anchoring/No Shot Lines Zone (red circle) extends for 100m around the Knoll Pins in order to protect the delicate marine life associated with these rock pinnacles.
9. Lundy has three heritage wrecks (indicated by small white circles). The Iona II and the Gull Rock wreck site were designated as Protected Wrecks in 1989. HMS Montagu was designated a Scheduled Monument in 2019. A licence is required to dive on a Protected Wreck, but not on a Scheduled Monument.
Fishermen accepted the introduction of the No Take Zone on the grounds it covered an area rarely potted, and the assurance that it would probably lead to increased catches of lobsters and crabs elsewhere around the island.
Chris Mandry wearing his own design of T-shirt, indicating the NTZ lay inside a distinct north-south boundary. © K Hiscock
MPA's No Take Zone
In January 2003, the MPA’s No Take Zone (NTZ) was designated through the introduction of a Devon & Severn IFCA byelaw. It is shown as the area in pink in the illustration above. Its main purpose was to provide added protection to the delicate, long-lived and slow-growing reef communities that were present on near-shore rocky areas, as well as the burrowing communities found in the soft sediments. No commercial or recreational fishing is allowed within the NTZ and visitors are asked to report any activity taking place within the NTZ of which they are suspicious to the Warden.
Monitoring studies of the NTZ have shown that the population of common lobster Homarus gammarus within the NTZ has increased four-to six-fold compared with other similar habitats outside the NTZ, leading to ‘spill-over’ of individuals into neighbouring areas. However, following the initial period of monitoring studies which took place in the years immediately following the NTZ’s designation, no significant changes were noted in the reef communities. More information about how the No Take Zone came into being can be found here and about the monitoring projects looking at the benefits of the NTZ here.
The Accreditation Scheme ‘badge of honour’.
North Devon Marine Wildlife Aware Accreditation Scheme
This scheme, which came about as a joint project between the Lundy MPA and the North Devon Biosphere, is an initiative aimed at recognising and promoting the businesses and organisations that demonstrate a commitment to both sustainable practices and the protection of marine wildlife within the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere. The accreditation scheme evaluates and certifies businesses based on their efforts to
- minimise environmental impact;s
- support marine conservation efforts; and
- promote responsible tourism practices.
The Scheme is fully recognised as a WiSe (Wildlife Safe) scheme, the UK standard for such courses. It offers free training and certification to anyone heading out onto North Devon’s coastal waters. For those participants taking their boats out as far as Lundy, the Scheme emphasises the importance of adhering to the MPA’s Code of Conduct. Once trained, boat operators can display the Scheme’s ‘badge of honour’ on their craft. You can find out more about the Scheme on the North Devon Biosphere’s website here.
