The Swale Estuary MCZ

Site Overview

The Swale Estuary MCZ covers 51km² of the Swale Estuary from the point at which it meets the Medway Estuary, south of the Isle of Sheppey, and extends towards the end of The Street at Whitstable. The site protects a rich estuarine ecosystem filled with diverse seabed habitat that supports many animals including sand mason worms, cockles, shrimp-like animals and bristleworms, which in turn provide abundant foraging grounds for birds. The estuary is also an important spawning and nursery area for several fish species.