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 partnernership 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 inquiries but for more detailed inquiries the following list can be used.

Local contacts for estuaries

• Avon Estuary: Nigel Mortimer. Nigel.Mortimer@south-hams-dc.gov.uk; Tel 01548  843791
• Axe Estuary: Charlie Plowden (Recreation, access and countryside issues). cplowden@eastdevon.gov.uk; Tel 01395 516551.  Amanda Newsome (English Nature). amanda.newsome@English-Nature.org.uk; 01392 889770
• Dart Estuary: Ray Humphreys. ray@dartestuary.org; Tel 01803 835801
• Erme Estuary: Nigel Mortimer Nigel. Mortimer@south-hams-dc.gov.uk; Tel 01548  843791
• Exe Estuary: Natasha Barker, exeestua@devon.gov.uk; Tel 01392 382663
• Otter Estuary: Charlie Plowden (Recreation, access and countryside issues). cplowden@eastdevon.gov.uk; Tel 01395 516551. Amanda Newsome (English Nature). amanda.newsome@English-Nature.org.uk; 01392 889770
• Salcombe-Kingsbridge Estuary: Nigel Mortimer. Nigel.Mortimer@south-hams-dc.gov.uk; Tel 01548  843791
• Sid Estuary: Charlie Plowden (Recreation, access and countryside issues).  cplowden@eastdevon.gov.uk; Tel 01395 516551. Amanda Newsome (English Nature); amanda.newsome@English-Nature.org.uk; 01392 889770
• Tamar and associated estuaries: Maeve Nightingale, Maeve.Nightingale@plymouth.gov.uk Tel 01752 304339
• Tavy and Upper Tamar Estuary (AONB): Tim Selman. info@tamarvalley.org.uk; Tel 01822 610676
• Taw-Torridge Estuary: Andy Bell (Biosphere). andrew.bell@devon.gov.uk; Tel 01237 423655. Chris Davis (English Nature) chris.davis@English-Nature.org.uk; 01392 889770
• Teign Estuary: Greame Smith. gssmith@teignbridge.gov.uk 01626 215748
• Yealm Estuary: Nigel Mortimer. 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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