No-Anchor Zone Hold-Up At Studland Hits Fight To Save Seahorse

September 4, 2009

Release from: Steven Smith
Bournemouth Echo (UK)

A conservationist says another year has been wasted in efforts to protect a Purbeck seahorse habitat.

Volunteer Dorset diver Steve Trewhella has been lobbying authorities to protect the eelgrass – also known as seagrass – in Studland Bay, home to the largest breeding seahorse colony in the country.

Seabed owner Crown Estates has commissioned a survey into the damage, which includes a voluntary no-anchor zone in the bay.

It was meant to come into effect earlier this year, but as autumn nears, Mr Trewhella says it is now too late to gather any meaningful data.

He said the latest reason given for delays was weather conditions, while planning permission had also held things up.

Mr Trewhella said: “If they let it go on, summer will be over. It’s not worth doing now, it’s nearly autumn, eelgrass stops growing and the seahorses will be moving on.”

He said the survey would only prove what was already known – that anchors damage the eelgrass – and added: “It’s another year of the seahorses not being protected that’s been and gone.”

The issue has been contentious this summer, with Mr Trewhella saying he had filmed and photographed anchors damaging the habitats, while Studland villagers cast doubts over how much damage was done.

Crown Estates and Natural England have appointed SeaStar Survey to carry out the examination, where experts will photograph the no-anchor zone and compare data from that to a zone where boats can anchor.

A Crown Estates spokesman said: “This is in response to the need for hard evidence in light of the conflicting claims surrounding potential damage to seagrass and seahorses in Studland Bay.

“Installing the zone is weather permitting; unfortunately the current weather has not given us, either last week or this week, three clear days to do the work required.

“We have extended the survey timescale to have two full seasons’ data, so installing the zone now does not impact on the objective of the survey.”