| The Celtic Sea is an area that, until fairly recently in | | | | waters on Cornwall's north and west coast, and seals |
| oceanic designation terms didn't have a name. It was | | | | off one end of the English Channel, which makes up |
| simply another part of the Southwest Approaches. | | | | Cornwall's southern coast. The various phases of |
| However, people began to recognise that there were | | | | spawning and migration that take place in the Celtic |
| significant similarities in the area encompassing the | | | | sea will be one of the main factors in determining |
| Atlantic Ocean off the south coast of Ireland, all the | | | | what types of seafood you'll find available in |
| way up to Saint George's Channel, the Bristol Channel | | | | restaurants around Cornwall. |
| and the English Channel, then down Ushant off the | | | | Another interesting fact about the Celtic Sea is how |
| coast of France, and then following the continental | | | | well it demonstrates the similarity of languages |
| shelf back around to Ireland. The area has a common | | | | throughout Europe. In Irish it's 'An Mhuir Cheilteach', in |
| marine biology, geology and hydrology, and so it | | | | Welsh 'Y Môr Celtaidd', in Cornish 'An Mor Keltek', in |
| came to need a name to describe it. | | | | Breton 'Ar Mor Keltiek' and in French 'La Mer Celtique'. |
| The reasoning for the name came about due to the | | | | The influences from Latin (where sea is 'mare') are |
| area of ocean bordering countries or areas with | | | | clear, even in the western-most reaches of Europe. |
| inhabitants of Celtic origin, namely Ireland, Wales and | | | | So, when you go to one of Cornwall's famous |
| Cornwall. This name then extends to the seabed | | | | beaches and enjoy paddling in the waters there, |
| beneath it, called the Celtic shelf, which is part of the | | | | remember that it's more than just part of the |
| continental European shelf. | | | | Atlantic Ocean, it's a whole area that has a number |
| The existence of the Celtic sea is very important for | | | | of factors which are similar throughout it that's |
| the type of marine life you can expect to find all | | | | important for marine biodiversity around the British |
| around Cornwall, as it makes up the entirety of the | | | | Isles. |