Tor Bay Harbour

The waters of Tor Bay are blessed with some amazing places, wildlife and marine life.

Seabirds

Spring and summer are a busy time for Torbay’s seabirds. At Berry Head the South Coasts’ largest colony of Guillemots can be seen from the headland or from reputable cruises.

Cormorants and Shags are found in good numbers on Thatcher’s Rock and the Ore Stone, whilst small numbers of Kittiwake can still be found.

An area of coastal waters lying to the south of Berry Head headland has been designated as an area of special protection for the seabird colony. It is a statutory requirement that boats stay out of the area of special protection between the 25th March and 31st July to avoid disturbing the nesting seabirds.

Marine Life

Tor Bay has an amazing diversity of marine life. The sheltered limestone and sandstone shores, unusual geology and warm climate provide a home to an exceptional array of species.

Within Tor Bay’s blue waters you may discover burrowing anemones, brittle starfish, heart urchins and meadows of seagrass. The rockpools are rich with shore crabs, pipefish, sea squirts, sea slugs and the ferocious velvet swimming crab! Goodrington Sands, Corbyn’s Head, Shoalstone, Preston and Meadfoot are ideal spots for rockpooling.

If you do go out rockpooling please remember the Seashore Code:

• Always check the tide times, go in pairs and tell someone where you are going
• Wear suitable clothing and be very careful under cliffs
• Always treat the animals with respect - take photos not animals home with you
• Take rubbish home with you

Dolphins, Porpoises and Basking Sharks

Dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks are frequent visitors to the sheltered waters of the Bay. Please follow this code of conduct when watching marine mammals:

• Keep a safe distance of 100m away (200m if other boats are present)
• Don’t scare dolphins by driving erratically head on to them
• Never move between, scatter or separate dolphins
• Keep your speed down to under 5 knots
• Keep away if there are lots of boats in the area already
• Please spend no longer than 15 minutes near the dolphins - they need a rest

Please be aware that under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, it is an offence to disturb or endanger dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks.