Conservation and protection status

Conservation status
Region Status
OSPAR area Not assessed
Wadded Sea Not present
UK Probability of significant decline in extent (depending on future level of maerl extraction)

Not significantly declined in quality (but some decline in quality)
Other sub-regions Not assessed

Protected status
Protection mechanism Habitat
EC Habitats Directive Phymatolithon calcareum and Lithothamnion corallioides are listed on the EC Habitats Directive Annex Vb. Sites for maerl beds can be designated as the Annex I habitat Sandbanks slightly covered by seawater all of the time, occur within Large shallow inlets and bays and may be present in some (Scottish) Lagoons.
UK Biodiversity Action Plan Maerl beds (Habitat Action Plan)

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