Our Mission “The proposed scheme sets out not only to protect the ecosystem of Lyme Bay but also, crucially, to create some value for local fishermen through the process of conservation.”

2015 News

Vain spider crab steals the limelight from a foraging dogfish.
11th December, 2015

This remote video footage was filmed by the Plymouth University Marine Institute as part of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve Scientific Potting Study. For more details about the study head over to: http://www.lymebayreserve.co.uk/download-centre/files/12693_MB52042PageSummary.pdf

Starfish party!
4th December, 2015

An unusual and unexplained aggregation of common starfish (Asterias rubens) in Lyme Bay See how many you can count! This video footage was taken by the Plymouth University Marine Institute as part of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve Scientific Potting Study.

Busy Dogfish
27th November, 2015

Busy dogfish captured on camera during the recent Plymouth Marine Institute Scientific Potting Study analysis.

Underwater video footage is collected from 16 experimental seabed areas of different potting levels in Lyme Bay Reserve and analysed in order to see if there is a difference in the impacts between areas that are potted a lot against those that are potted a little, or not at all. The aim is to establish the most appropriate potting level, which would provide local fishermen with a sustainable livelihood, without causing damage to the seabed.

Conservation is Catch of the Day
19th November, 2015

Read how fishermen from the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve are supplying sustainable 'Reserve Seafood' for London diners under new scheme.

Blue & Green Tomorrow

Remote Underwater Survey
18th November, 2015

Analysis of recent remote underwater survey work as part for the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve Scientific Potting Study has started.

This piece of video footage features a Tub Gurnard being inquisitive around the bait box as part of the baited remote underwater video system. More uncommon than the typical Red Gurnard this specie tends to be bigger in size with impressive pectoral fins. Keep an eye out for their amazing bright blue edging.

For more details about the Scientific Potting Study visit:
www.lymebayreserve.co.uk/conservation-and-science/research.php

Scientific Potting Study Update
13th November, 2015

The recent Working Group Meeting in Lyme Regis saw PhD student Adam Rees from Plymouth University's Marine Institute report on the Scientific Potting Study group meeting that took place earlier in the day and included stakeholders from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Among the items discussed was the Scientific Potting Study update, milestones and outputs to date. Adam said he had now taken all the video footage and it would now be analysed. Adam has to sits through hours of video footage and records every mobile organism that comes into view. Here you can see a rather large conger eel being inquisitive of the bait!

The Scientific Potting Study is a collaborative project, which involved fishermen from the Lyme Bay Reserve working closely with scientists to establish a sustainable future in Lyme Bay.

Reserve Seafood Brand
6th November, 2015

One of our aims at the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve is to help fishermen achieve top pricing for their catch. To do this we have created the 'Reserve Seafood' scheme, which markets the sustainable, premium quality, provenance-assured seafood of Lyme Bay.

Watch the video to discover how the scheme is helping Lyme Bay Reserve fishermen Jim Newton from Beer and Gavin Zieman from Axmouth Harbour.

Scientific Potting Study Update
20th October, 2015

Scientific knowledge is crucial to understand the effects of fishing on the marine environment and to ensure the long-term health of Lyme Bay.

Read the summary report of the ongoing Plymouth University Lyme Bay Experimental Potting Project funded by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to discover how commercial potting activity impacts the underwater reef habitats, what the aims of the project are, which policy areas the research will inform and what the results from the project are to date and how they will be used.

The proof is in the fishing...
7th October, 2015

Read James Trevett from Honiton Sea Angling Club account of just how well Lyme Bay Reserve is doing:

"First off I'm glad to hear that there is action in place to protect our inshore grounds at the Lyme Bay Reserve, and that you are taking the time to listen to what the anglers think is happening out there. I've been a boat angler for the last 15 years and have seen huge changes in the last 4-5 years. I take part in around 2 trips a month on a charter boat from Beer beach. I also launch my own small boat from Lyme harbour where I've had a yearly launch pass for the last 8 years. In this time I've noticed huge improvements in the varieties of fish, and sizes! Catch reports for our Club have also improved not just from the boat but also from the shore in and around the area. The plaice fishing this year has been the best ever! Good numbers being landed all season and some large fish amongst then too! Undulate Ray's numbers have again improved from Seaton all the way to Chesil beach, and with nearly all the local clubs encouraging 'catch and release' it's easy for us to record and release the fish alive. Lastly the sea bed seems healthier than ever as well. The brittle star fish beds are loaded (and have been all year) providing great feeding grounds for the Bream and Cod. Both seem plentiful in numbers again and of a good size."

Photos show a selection of fish caught in Lyme Bay Reserve this year. A big thank you to Mike Spiller for the photos.

Signed, sealed and delivering!
2nd October, 2015

Some great photos from our trip to Axmouth harbour yesterday en route to a meeting at the Seaton Jurassic Centre about the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation's involvement within the Centre. Exciting times ahead as we work alongside the Centre's talented copywriters and exhibition designers to shine light on the pioneering marine conservation work here in Lyme Bay. As you can see the chiller-room in Axmouth is up and running and being used to great success along with the insulated fish boxes - all part funded by the European Fisheries Fund and the BLUE Marine Foundation.

Reserve Seafood
25th September, 2015

Sustainably caught fish from Jim Newton's day boat 'Serene' from Beer in Devon, fishing in the Lyme Bay Reserve. Iced and ready for collection from the chiller-room in Axmouth by Murray's Fresh Fish for a demanding London market. The chiller-room in Axmouth, which includes an ice-making machine and thermal insulated fish boxes leads to an increased competitiveness and improved quality of the fishermen's catch. In turn this will lead to increased value on their existing catch from existing markets. Photos by Marc Newton.

Seaton Jurassic Centre
21st September, 2015

Exciting times ahead for us and our facilitators, the BLUE Marine Foundation, as work begins with the interpretation designs for the new Seaton Jurassic interpretation centre in Seaton, Devon, to bring you insight in to the workings of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve. The Centre, which is opening in 2016, is a community-led centre that will engage thousands of people with East Devon’s unique geological, coastal and marine heritage. They are the first Devon Wildlife Trust flagship visitor centre and aim to transform mind-sets about the natural world, through the story of life. Aspects of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve work will be intertwined into the stories they are telling within the Centre. Stay tuned as this exciting story unfolds.

Food Rocks Festival, Lyme Regis
5th & 6th September, 2015

A sun packed weekend was had at the Food Rocks Festival in Lyme Regis to raise money for the RNLI, Fishermen's Mission and the BLUE Marine Foundation. The beaches were packed and the Marine Parade was bustling with people out to enjoy the sun, music and fine food. Many took interest in our stand, which was publicising the pioneering marine conservation work happening on their doorstep in Lyme Bay.

Great Outdoors Festival, Seaton
23rd August, 2015

The rain clouds cleared just in time for the start of the inaugural Great Outdoors Festival in Seaton, which the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve attended. The crowds soon started to fill the Esplanade, Marine Place, Jubilee Gardens and beach with interest about Lyme Bay Reserve from many visitors.

We were joined by fishermen Angus and Gavin from Axmouth, who's tales of fishing out in Lyme Bay went down well with the intrigued public.

We have to say a big thank you to the event organisers and marshals who battled against the elements in the early hours of Sunday morning in some rather wet conditions to bring what was a fabulous event - thank you!

One of the limitations of baited remote underwater video… animal close ups!
29th July, 2015

Some great footage has been captured so far from this years baited remote underwater video survey filmed by PhD student Adam Rees of the Plymouth University Marine Institute, as part of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve Experimental Potting Study. Good to see they are around in some of our experimental potting areas.

The quantitative data obtain from the HD videos on the mobile organisms in each of the experimental potting areas forms part of the on going investigation into the impacts of potting and to establish sustainable fishing levels and the effects on the seabed. This data will then be used to underpin the management of the Reserve.

Adam has to sits through hours of video footage and records every mobile organisms that comes into view.

Head over to our video gallery, to watch the footage where you can see a rather large conger eel being inquisitive of the bait!

Up and running facilities in Axmouth
20th July, 2015

The cladding is now complete on Axmouth's exciting new chiller room, which includes an ice making machine and thermal insulated fish boxes as part of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserves aim to improve existing port facilities with the provision of ice making equipment that will improve the quality, durability and value of the landed catches for fishermen. As fishermen have agreed to a reduction in gear levels in the interests of the environment, it is therefore desirable to help them achieve an optimum price for their catch by way of providing basic ice facilities within their port. The availability of on-site ice will lead to increased competitiveness and improved quality of the fishermen's catch. In turn this will lead to increased value on their existing catch from existing markets. 

The chiller room is part funded by the BLUE Marine Foundation (facilitators of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve) and the European Fisheries Fund. Beer fishing port already has their chiller room and is being used to great success. Work is currently underway in the remaining ports of West Bay and Lyme Regis. Stay tuned here for latest developments.

Pictured here is proud Axmouth fisherman Angus Walker and BLUE's UK Projects Director Tim Glover. 

Weymouth Seafood Festival, 2015
11th & 12th July, 2015

A successful weekend was had at this year's Dorset Seafood Festival in Weymouth, with many people, both young and old, visiting our stand to take a closer look at our marine tank, which featured crabs, lobsters, scallops and starfish from Lyme Bay. Lyme Bay fishermen Angus Walker from Axmouth, Jim Newton from Beer and Dave Sales from West Bay were on hand to answer inquisitive fishy questions from the engaged public about the pioneering marine conservation work happening in Lyme Bay.

Our next festival is Food Rocks in Lyme Regis on the 6th September www.foodrocks.co.uk. We hope to see you there.

Seaton Jurassic Centre Site Tour
10th July, 2015

Hard hats and hi-vis jackets were put on as we were lucky enough to take a tour around the new Seaton Jurassic Centre, which is currently under development and set to open in 2016. BLUE Marine Foundation (facilitators of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve) are currently in talks with the Centre to establish how BLUE can demonstrate and communicate the achievements made through this pioneering marine conservation project in Lyme Bay and to help the public understand the value and long-term positive impact of a managed Reserve.

For more details about this amazing centre visit:
http://seatonjurassic.org/

Pictured from left to right: Neville Copperthwaite (Project Co-ordinator), Rowena Taylor (Lyme Bay Reserve Communications Co-ordinator) and Tim Glover (UK Projects Director).

Improving Port Facilities in Axmouth
13th May, 2015

Axmouth fishing port has just taken delivery of an exciting new chiller room, which includes an ice making machine and thermal insulated fish boxes as part of the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserves aim to improve existing port facilities with the provision of ice making equipment that will improve the quality, durability and value of the landed catches for fishermen.

As fishermen have agreed to a reduction in gear levels in the interests of the environment, it is therefore desirable to help them achieve an optimum price for their catch by way of providing basic ice facilities within their port. The availability of on-site ice will lead to increased competitiveness and improved quality of the fishermen's catch. In turn this will lead to increased value on their existing catch from existing markets. The chiller room and ice making machine is situated along the harbour side and will be clad in wood with a pitched roof and will be maintained by the Axmouth Fishermen's Association.

The chiller room is part funded by BLUE Marine Foundation (50%) and the EFF (50%). Beer fishing port already has their chiller room and is being used to great success. Work is currently underway in the remaining ports of West Bay and Lyme Regis. Stay tuned here for latest developments.

Pictured here is Axmouth fisherman Angus Walker.

Lyme Bay Feature in Marks and Spencer Bi-monthly Magazine
5th February, 2015

On Thursday the 5th February on a rather cold and frosty morning Rebecca from Seven.EC1, a London based PR company working for Marks and Spencer (M&S) visited the fishing ports of Beer and Axmouth to interview local Lyme Bay fishermen Jim and Angus for the Marks and Spencer bi-monthly magazine which is distributed to their staff in stores throughout the UK.

M&S provided funding towards the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation, a ground-breaking initiative developed with the BLUE Marine Foundation to achieve a well-managed marine conservation area that will benefit fishermen and conservationists alike. The learnings from this project will be used to inform best practice fisheries management, so while the direct impact is small, the influence is significant.

Joining Rebecca were freelance photographers Anya Rice and Ben Mostyn. Keep tuned here as we'll be one of the first to get our hands on a copy!

Beyond certification: the next step for sustainable supply chains
20th January, 2015

Read how Mike Barry, Director of Sustainable Business Marks and Spencer is involved with the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve and other practical examples of sustainable supply chains. "We’ve been supporting a project at Lyme Bay in the South of England that seeks to engage these small scale fishermen in managing the whole marine ecosystem in the area…"

https://www.2degreesnetwork.com/groups/2degrees-community/resources/beyond-certification-next-step-sustainable-supply-chains/

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