Devon is a County that has many valuable and beautiful estuaries. There are twelve in all plus the Tamar which is shared with Plymouth and Cornwall. Estuaries have long been the focus of commerce, fishing, transportation settlement, maritime biodiversity and more recently, recreation and tourism.

All the estuaries in Devon are examples of good practice and integrated management. All of the medium and large estuaries have agreed management plans and are fortunate to have had a partnership formed to co-ordinate activity and communication. Four of these estuaries have an Estuary Officer employed to work with local people, local organisations and the official organisations that have responsibility for various aspects of their management. Where a specific estuary plan does not exist, management issues for the area are covered in other plans.

The County Council’s Coastal Officer coast@devon.gov.uk can be contacted for general enquiries but for more detailed inquiries the following list can be used.

Local contacts for estuaries

• Avon Estuary:
  Nigel Mortimer - Email: Nigel.Mortimer@south-hams-dc.gov.uk; Tel: 01548 843791
• Axe Estuary:
  Charlie Plowden - Email: cplowden@eastdevon.gov.uk; Tel: 01395 516551
• Dart Estuary:
  Nigel Mortimer - Email: Nigel.Mortimer@south-hams-dc.gov.uk; Tel: 01548 843791
• Erme Estuary:
  Nigel Mortimer - Email: Nigel.Mortimer@south-hams-dc.gov.uk; Tel: 01548 843791
• Exe Estuary:
  Jenny Lockett - Email: exeestua@devon.gov.uk; Tel: 01392 382236
• Otter Estuary:
  Charlie Plowden - Email: cplowden@eastdevon.gov.uk; Tel: 01395 516551
• Salcombe-Kingsbridge Estuary:
  Nigel Mortimer - Email: Nigel.Mortimer@south-hams-dc.gov.uk; Tel: 01548 843791
• Sid Estuary:
  Charlie Plowden - Email: cplowden@eastdevon.gov.uk; Tel: 01395 516551
• Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum:
  Kaja Curry - Email: kaja.curry@plymouth.gov.uk; Tel: 01752 304339
• Tavy and Upper Tamar Estuary (AONB):
  Tim Selman - Email: info@tamarvalley.org.uk; Tel: 01822 610676
• Taw-Torridge Estuary:
  Andy Bell (Biosphere) - Email: andrew.bell@devon.gov.uk; Tel: 01237 423655
• Teign Estuary:
  Graeme Smith – Email: gssmith@teignbridge.gov.uk; Tel: 01626 215748
• Yealm Estuary:
  Nigel Mortimer - Email: Nigel.Mortimer@south-hams-dc.gov.uk; Tel: 01548 843791  

Devon County Council, through its Maritime Role and Action programme (1.22MB - pdf help)  is committed to supporting an integrated approach to estuary management.

Also on devon.gov.uk

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