Division 7.11.2

The inshore reefs comprise coastal reef associated with the extension of the exposed terrestrial ecology out into the sublittoral zone and large areas of outcropping bedrock, boulders and cobbles in the offshore extents of the area. The Eddystone and surrounding reefs represent unusual features within the study area in that they lie in deep water and rise steeply, and in the case of the Eddystone, break the water’s surface. These host a rich biological community that exhibit classic rocky zonation from deep to shallow water. A wide range of species are found here including soft corals), sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sponges jewel anemones, sea squirts and kelp forests. The sea fan anemone and sunset cup coral (both nationally rare species) and the pink sea fan have been observed (Axelsson et al, 2006; Royal Haskoning, 2008; University of Plymouth, 2011)^f1.