John Davies and his crew unload a catch.
- Credit: Archant
Every year thousands of visitors flock to Cromer to walk along the pier, build sandcastles and to enjoy its famous crabs.
But what many do not see are the Cromer Shoal chalk beds, a unique marine environment that is home to the town’s famous crabs and is currently at the centre of a debate involving the fishing community, conservationists and Natural England.
The chalk beds, located off the coast between Weybourne and Happisburgh, were designated a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) in 2016.
Since the MCZ was created, Natural England (NE) has been investigating the health of the chalk beds and the effect of potting - the method of using pots to fish for crabs and lobsters - on them.