No Take Swim - Lundy

2 years ago I watched the BBC Wild Isles and was inspired by David Attenborough’s call to arms around the importance of no take zones 👍 These zones are areas of the ocean where all fishing and extractive activity is banned 🎣 This allows fish stocks to recover and creates overspill which benefits local fishing community’s 🐟 In addition, the additional protection for marine life allows them to thrive and creates wildlife tourism opportunities 🦭

What is a No Take Zone?

A no-take zone is an area set aside by the government where no extractive activity is allowed. Extractive activity is any action that removes, or extracts, any resource. Extractive activities include fishing, hunting, logging, mining, and drilling. In this case, for marine No Take Zones, the prohibited activities are any and all kinds of fishing, including, pole, rod, trawling etc. Inside these zones no extractive activities are taking place, therefore leaving ecosystems mostly undisturbed. Studies have found that full protection from extractive activities will likely generate greater ecological, economic and social benefits than if protection is only partial, never mind absent entirely. These zones are critical for the recovery of marine life as well as for supporting local fishing communities by creating overspill and allowing fish and shellfish stock to recover.

What is a No Take Swim?

A no-take swim is a swim across a no-take zone. Simple.

In September 2024 we set off to swim across the Lundy No Take Zone. The Lundy No Take Zone is a marine protected area around Lundy Island in the Bristol Channel, located off the coast of North Devon, England. The No Take Zone (NTZ) was established in 2003 as part of efforts to conserve marine biodiversity and ecosystems. In this area, all forms of extraction, including fishing and shellfish harvesting, are prohibited. The goal of the NTZ is to allow marine life to thrive without human interference, leading to healthier ecosystems and enhanced biodiversity.

The Lundy No Take Zone covers a significant portion of the waters around Lundy Island, which is part of a larger Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). The NTZ has been a subject of scientific study to understand the effects of such a protected area on marine populations, including species like fish, shellfish, and seaweed. Evidence has shown that such zones can lead to increased populations of marine species within the boundaries, as well as spillover benefits to adjacent areas where fishing is allowed.

I set off with Gemma and the @lundydiving team to swim across the Lundy No Take Zone 🌊 Sitting 20 miles off the Devon Coast this marine haven is an iconic destination and a once-in-a-lifetime place to swim 🏊‍♂️

With sunny skies, 18-degree water and a nice swell, the conditions were perfect ☀️ With the arrival of my son Erik 3 months ago, my training has been obliterated and I found the waves hard going 😥 I also felt lonely swimming without Robbie and Jack, we’ve done so many of these swims together that it always feels strange to be in the water on my own. It is also really reassuring to have another body with you in the water. It really helps limit the heeby-jeebies and keeps your mind focused on the fact that you are swimming as a pod. But also for this swim, I was a lonely brother! But it felt incredible to be out there in the No Take Zone, crashing through the surf and keeping an eye out for Grey Seals and Basking Sharks 🦭

I also felt so privileged and grateful to be supported by my wife Serena Wild back on land with Erik and it felt so special to be able to swim across such an important marine zone 🌊 I hope to inspire Erik in sharing a passion for protecting wildlife and it felt great to have him be part of the expedition 👶🏽 As the swim continued the waves picked up making for limited visibility. But just knowing that those denizens of the deep could be below was a magic feeling 🐟 🦈 🦭 🦀 🦞

So a huge thank you to the Lundy Diving team and here’s looking forward to the creation of the next No Take Zone wherever that may be…