Skomer Marine Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
Skomer Marine Nature Reserve is one of only two such sites in Britain
. It is located off the coast of Pembrokeshire
.
The reserve completely surrounds the islands of Skomer
and Middleholm
and encompasses the mainland coastline around the end of the Marloes peninsula, including the small bay of Martin's Haven
.
The sea bed and rocky shelves of the island are teeming with life. Common eelgrass, Zostera marina
, one of the very few plants that flower underwater, grows on beds of sand and gravel in sheltered waters and its long, grass-like leaves form underwater lawns that provide food and shelter for other plants and animals. Species of lobsters, crabs and other crustaceans abound, and grey seal
s give birth on the coast in October and November.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is located off the coast of Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
.
The reserve completely surrounds the islands of Skomer
Skomer
Skomer is a 2.92 km² island off the coast of southwest Wales, one of a chain lying within a kilometre off the Pembrokeshire coast and separated from the mainland by the treacherous waters of Jack Sound....
and Middleholm
Middleholm
Middleholm, also known as Midland Island, is a small island lying off southwest Pembrokeshire in Wales, southeast of Skomer.The island is known for its seabirds, including Manx Shearwaters and Atlantic Puffins, and for its plants, including Red Fescue, Sea Beet and Common Tree-mallow....
and encompasses the mainland coastline around the end of the Marloes peninsula, including the small bay of Martin's Haven
Martin's Haven
Martin’s Haven is a small bay in Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK. It is located on the Dale Peninsula, with views across St Bride's Bay towards St David's. Its tiny pebble and shingle beach has a stone slipway which acts as an embarkation point for the ferry which visits the nearby island of Skomer, a...
.
The sea bed and rocky shelves of the island are teeming with life. Common eelgrass, Zostera marina
Zostera
Zostera is a small genus of widely distributed seagrass, commonly called marine eelgrass or simply eelgrass . The genus Zostera contains sixteen species.-Ecology:Zostera is found on sandy substrates or in estuaries submerged or partially floating...
, one of the very few plants that flower underwater, grows on beds of sand and gravel in sheltered waters and its long, grass-like leaves form underwater lawns that provide food and shelter for other plants and animals. Species of lobsters, crabs and other crustaceans abound, and grey seal
Grey Seal
The grey seal is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a large seal of the family Phocidae or "true seals". It is the only species classified in the genus Halichoerus...
s give birth on the coast in October and November.