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Water en land

North Sea   Southern North Sea   Frisian Front   Central Oystergrounds   Doggersbank   Cleaverbank   

Mens en Milieu

Fishery policy   Protected areas   Plaice box   
Dead men's fingers, Photo Edgar Sidaan, http://home.hetnet.nl/~edgar24

Cleaverbank

Gravel regions are rare in the North Sea. The Cleaverbank is the largest gravel-rich region. A small part lies on the Dutch Continental Plate. In addition to this bottom feature, the relatively quiet tidal currents also characterize this area.

  • Rich benthic life
    Brittlestar, foto fitis, sytske dijksen

    The Cleaverbank has the greatest diversity in benthic fauna on the Dutch Continental Plate. This benthic fauna contains many species that are dependent upon a hard substrate, such as sea anemones and polyps. The worm fauna is different that that in soft bottoms in the vicinity and shellfish are numerous and heavy in weight. Rare species here are the Thracia convexa and the rayed artemis. Snails, brittle stars, sea cucumbers and sea urchins, as well as fish such as lesser sandeel, are present in large numbers, in and above the gravel floor. Herring use the Cleaverbank for spawning.