DEFRA announced today that 60 miles of Lyme Bay will be closed to all bottom trawling and scallop-dredging to protect features important to the area's marine ecology.

Ministers today banned damaging types of fishing in 60 square nautical miles of sea off the South West coast to protect threatened sea life.

About ten per cent of Lyme Bay from West Bay to Beer Head will be permanently closed to scallop dredgers and bottom trawlers which drag nets along the seabed, to safeguard the area's rich marine life and habitats.

Lyme Bay is home to world-renowned reefs as well as important species including pink sea fans, sunset cup corals and several rare sponges.

After public consultation and a full assessment of the impacts, the government has ordered that the area be closed from early July.

Fishing using nets nearer the surface or static nets and lines will still be allowed, as will diving for scallops, scuba diving and sea angling.