Northwest
Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds: A Major Marine Protected Area Off the Norfolk Coastline
Subtidal chalk reefs and biodiverse marine landscapes.
Spanning roughly 320 square kilometres of seabed, the Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds form a remarkable marine environment known for its massive chalk reef structures. This protected zone preserves a complex mosaic of marine life, including unique sponge species and diverse invertebrates that thrive on the rare hard chalk substrate found beneath the southern North Sea waters.
- Area
- 321 km²
- Established
- 2016
- Relief
- Lowland
- Climate
- Temperate



