HomePagetext00

Welcome to the Isle of Wight Estuaries Project

Estuaries are complex and highly productive ecosystems supporting a wide range of habitats and species. They extend from the river’s upper tidal limit to the sea and form a constantly changing environment where freshwater and marine systems interact.
Traditionally places of human settlement, estuaries provided sheltered harbours, transport and trade routes and the natural resources for industry. Such history provides a backdrop of rich cultural and maritime heritage for today’s activities.
The many different activities taking place on estuaries can sometimes have an impact on the environment and on each other. In order to prevent damage and conflict, management of the estuary as a whole is often the best solution.

The Isle of Wight Estuaries Project is a joint collaboration between Cowes Harbour Commissioners, Natural England, the Environment Agency, the Isle of Wight Council and Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners. The current focus of the project is the management of the Medina Estuary and the Western Yar Estuary. Both have management plans developed in the late 1990s and more recently reviewed which set out recommendations and objectives devised through extensive consultation.



Page last updated on: 24/03/2009