WILDLIFE experts in Yorkshire are celebrating today after the Government named two areas in the county "Marine Conservation Zones".

The new Holderness Inshore zone takes in much of the East Riding of Yorkshire coastline, stretching from Skipsea to Spurn Point; while North Yorkshire has a new Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) in Runswick Bay, north of Whitby. The two patches are among 23 new zones created across the country.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's North Sea Marine Advocacy Officer Bex Lynam welcomed the news, saying: "Whilst many view the North Sea as a bleak, cold and lifeless the seafloor is in fact a rich tapestry of wonderful marine habitats from kelp forests and sandy plains to chalk reefs and deep rocky gullies."

Holderness Inshore is a "wonderful mosaic of cobble, mixed sediment, sand and chalk, alongside patches of peat and clay" the YWT has said, and home of a plethora of marine plants and animals.

The shallow rocky areas of Runswick Bay are dominated by kelps and red seaweeds, whilst deeper areas have a living turf of sponges, sea squirts, sea urchins and starfish. The area is also important for burrowing creatures like worms and the bay is an important spawning and nursery ground for herring, sprat, cod, whiting and plaice.

Harbour porpoises, minke whale, sunfish and seabirds like the declining kittiwake have also been spotted at the sites.