Goodwin Sands MCZ

Site Overview

Goodwin Sands is a large MCZ that covers an area of 277km off Sandwich Bay on the Kent coast and extends beyond the Kent and Essex IFCA district. The site consists of dynamic, ever changing sandbanks which become exposed at low tide and provide valuable foraging grounds for birds and a haul out site for harbour and grey seals. In deeper areas of the site coarse sediment supports ross worm reefs and blue mussel beds whilst vertical rock faces are festooned in soft corals, pink sea fans, cup corals and sponges. The sandbanks attract a range of predatory fish and are used by some species such as the thornback ray as nursery grounds. .