Find out more about research and monitoring work in Lyme Bay with a day of activities and guided walks.

West Bay Discovery Centre will host Plymouth University marine experts on Wednesday, July 26.

Amy Cartwright and Chloe Wilson will be talking to visitors about the marine Institute’s research and monitoring work in the Lyme Bay Marine Protected Area.

They will have a range of activities focused on fishing and the species in Lyme Bay with fun activities for all ages.

They will also be leading two guided walks one at 11.30am and another at 2pm if there is sufficient interest, no advance booking will be required.

Lyme Bay is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) and is home to impressive reef communities, including sea fans, sponges and corals.

Its reefs are also home to many species with high economic value including fish, crustaceans and scallops.

The bay was first given protection from bottom trawling in 2008, due to the damage that was being caused to the reefs and the plant, animal and fish communities that they support. A voluntary agreement was reached with local fishers that added further protection.

Following the granting of protection for the Lyme Bay reefs the University’s Marine Institute was commissioned to establish whether the reefs could recover, and if so, over what timescale.

The team found a way of monitoring vast areas of the seabed by flying a towed HD camera to capture video footage of the reef animal and plant communities.

They have now been monitoring the bay annually for around 15 years. At first the reefs were slow to respond but they have now recovered well, although pressures from fishing haven’t completely been removed.

The knowledge the university gathers helps aid management and monitoring in other Marine Conservation Zones in the UK and world-wide.