Have you EVER seen 350 boats in Studland Bay?

HissyFit

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What is needed is our own count of boats anchored off Studland. If his figures are a fabrication they will be shown as such by a consistent count across the season. I know it would take a long time, but if you discredit him on one aspect of his evidence then you discredit his reliability.
 

RJJ

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From an article in today's Times, by Environment Editor Ben Webster, quoting Neil Garrick-Maidment of the Seahorse Trust:

"Studland Bay is normally crowded with up to 350 leisure boats on a sunny day in May. Their engine noise disturbs marine life and their anchors tear up the seagrass where the seahorses shelter, feed and breed."

I'm as aware of and concerned about the environment as the next person, but isn't the phenomenal destruction of major global resources (e.g. the accelerated destruction of Brazil's rainforest) of greater concern - rather than one individual's pathalogical hatred of boaters in a single bay off the south coast of England?

Aside from the 350 boats (does that perhaps include every passing kayak or paddleboarder?). Is there a shred of evidence that engine noise disturbs marine life, in Studland or elsewhere?

I can well believe it's an issue for cetaceans, however I think it's a while since whales congregated in Studland.
 

Boathook

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What is needed is our own count of boats anchored off Studland. If his figures are a fabrication they will be shown as such by a consistent count across the season. I know it would take a long time, but if you discredit him on one aspect of his evidence then you discredit his reliability.
I seem to remember that one of his 'reports' had a large number of boats at anchor in Studland in late November. The large number was the same as a summer day.
Save Studland village / Bay did start to record boat numbers but got no where near the numbers of the seahorse huggers.
 

Robin

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Is he, though? Boats are still anchoring at Studland, even if he has managed to convince Chris Packham and a few equally naive and gullible journalists.

Lazy journalist that just publish press handouts without fact checking anything. Bournemouth Echo is another culprit along with BBC news and Countryfile the rest of the hacks pick it up from twatter
 

Concerto

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A while ago I forwarded a list of photos from Google images of Studland Bay to BORG. They covered a wide number of years and were taken by a variety of people. Not one has anything like 350 boats anchored. From memory the largest was about 75 boats and the average was about 20 boats. Just found found the PM with links.

http://blgln.murakamiphotography.co.uk/blog/2012/ln-old-harry-rocks-dorset-coast.jpg
http://www.ukcoastalwildlife.co.uk/...ts-anchored-in-eelgrass-Studland-bay-1250.jpg
http://www.swanageandwarehamvoice.co.uk/resources/images/3518635/
http://www.dorset2010.mikejackson.org.uk/Album/Studland Bay 5.JPG
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/07/16/article-2365731-1AD70A7C000005DC-735_634x286.jpg
http://medias.photodeck.com/5c769e90-340a-11e1-b772-dbf1a228e158/JasonHawkes-0344_xlarge.jpg
https://www.thepighotel.com/media/105006/main-image-front.jpg
http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/b4fe871b7...bay-near-swanage-dorset-england-uk-dd3pgc.jpg
http://www.ukweekendbreaks.net/assets/gallery/studland-poole-2.jpg
http://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2012/12/Studland_Bay.jpg
http://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2015/01/LRSF_studland.jpg
http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/d04dd134ed9e468f8bed2ebd92fb14bf/studland-bay-dorset-d47aex.jpg
http://www.harrywarrenhouse.com/photos/index/Wedding_Venue_12.jpg
http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/cc9a5047e...land-bay-nr-swanage-dorset-england-dd3phh.jpg
http://www.nationaltrustimages.org.uk/FilmLargeImageHandler.ashx?id=1038847
http://www.lazyjackscottage.co.uk/communities/3/004/008/272/723/images/4541591669.jpg
http://c8.alamy.com/comp/BD5KP4/dorset-studland-bay-middle-beach-and-old-harry-rocks-BD5KP4.jpg
http://www.onethousandwords.co.uk/w...5/04/Studland-beach-engagment-photographs.jpg
http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/stud...wanage-poole-located-bournemouth-48391410.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-xLAXwRfOY/TUBfviezEpI/AAAAAAAAFSI/wp06KRzLWZw/s1600/P1020541.JPG
http://keyassets.timeincuk.net/inspirewp/live/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/02/Studland.jpg
http://www.andrewswalks.co.uk/Studland-6.jpg
http://c8.alamy.com/comp/DEEPHD/kno...urbeck-with-view-towards-old-harry-DEEPHD.jpg
http://c8.alamy.com/comp/AMA7RD/uk-dorset-studland-bay-west-beach-crowds-of-visitors-AMA7RD.jpg
http://www.dorsettourist.co.uk/_images/studland/studlandwalks.jpg
https://ukactiveoutdoors.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/studlandbaysnorkel1.jpg
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03284/studland-from-ball_3284934b.jpg
http://www.lymington.org/image/beach1/CIMG6615.jpg
http://www.islandcottageholidays.co...oads/2015/08/studland_20150823_20150823-2.jpg
https://www.oratory.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/DSC01250.jpg
http://www.coolplaces.co.uk/system/images/11266/middle-beach-see-do-beaches-large.jpg
http://www.pooleharbourguide.co.uk/images/old-harry-rocks-studland/old-harry-rocks-dorset-28.jpg
http://www.pooleharbourguide.co.uk/.../poole-harbour-aerial-photos-2009_0731_04.jpg
http://www.dhcottages.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/church-holiday-cottage-in-studland-view.jpg
http://www.picturesofengland.com/img/L/1118424.jpg
http://sailboatproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/studlandcrop.jpg
http://www.richardholway.com/B194 Studland Bay GOOD.JPG
http://www.seagrasscottages.co.uk/new/new/seaview.jpg
https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/04/b0/1d/01/old-harry-bed-breakfast.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aDTzXxwbMWA/maxresdefault.jpg

http://www.picturesofengland.com/user/Grastart/pictures//England/Dorset/Studland
 

DJE

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From an article in today's Times, by Environment Editor Ben Webster, quoting Neil Garrick-Maidment of the Seahorse Trust:

"Studland Bay is normally crowded with up to 350 leisure boats on a sunny day in May. Their engine noise disturbs marine life and their anchors tear up the seagrass where the seahorses shelter, feed and breed."

I'm as aware of and concerned about the environment as the next person, but isn't the phenomenal destruction of major global resources (e.g. the accelerated destruction of Brazil's rainforest) of greater concern - rather than one individual's pathalogical hatred of boaters in a single bay off the south coast of England?

And yesterday's Times repeats the claim in one of their leading articles!

I wonder if the lack of divers in during March and April had any effect on seahorse numbers.
 

oldharry

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See Boat Owners Response Group for a full breakdown of the extent of NGMs propaganda campaign. And a reasoned scientific analysis of the reality of the situation there. Boat numbers never have Been counted at Studland, tho NGM did claim seeing 350 boats in mid November, and even more amazingly over 90 boats were counted between 28th and 30th February some years ago.
 

Sea-Fever

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I've reported the post to the moderators. Hopefully they will give @Long-John Saliva some shore leave.
Sandy, I think that's going a bit far. I don't subscribe to censorship and to me it makes more sense to leave a questionable post where it is for others to read and see the reaction.

I read the initial comment about Chris Packham and smiled thinking 'yes he is somewhat fanatical'. Then reading on I was reminded by yourself he has aspergers and realised we have to take this into co consideration. The subsequent post by Long John was surprising and I didn't agree with it but why not just reply and leave it at that? Why does he need shore leave? I dont think he needs to be led outside and shot. It's fine to call someone out but telling teacher......little bit too far in my eyes. Only my opinion obviously.
 

Babylon

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Sea-Fever, I agree with you about censorship, but I don't think its a question of Saliva being 'led outside and shot'. Just a fair and justifiable report regarding deliberately offensive comments. Its then up to the admins to take such action as they see fit - I imagine just a warning (unless he has previous).

In the meantime, let's see if he has the maturity to recognise that Scuttlebutt isn't a free-for-all cesspit and apologise.

PS: just for the record, I've never myself reported anything or anyone, but I've noticed that this forum has in general become a more civilised place in recent years, and believe that the function exists is a good thing. If someone came on here with blatantly racist comments (exactly the same as being offensive about people with, say, Aspergers), would it not be reasonable that the offender be reported?
 
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Sea-Fever

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Sea-Fever, I agree with you about censorship, but I don't think its a question of Saliva being 'led outside and shot'. Just a fair and justifiable report regarding deliberately offensive comments. Its then up to the admins to take such action as they see fit - I imagine just a warning (unless he has previous).

In the meantime, let's see if he has the maturity to recognise that Scuttlebutt isn't a free-for-all cesspit and apologise.

PS: just for the record, I've never myself reported anything or anyone, but I've noticed that this forum has in general become a more civilised place in recent years, and believe that the function exists is a good thing. If someone came on here with blatantly racist comments (exactly the same as being offensive about people with, say, Aspergers), would it not be reasonable that the offender be reported?
My tuppence is that if a contributor's comments get in the way of the proper functioning of the fora by way of volume or offensive nature they should be removed. Maybe other stuff can be dealt with by listening and responding.... I consider the forum to be a family where sometimes odd views or comments are aired. My own Dad said something properly sexist a couple of days ago. I was quite surprised and responded appropriately...and that was it.

Maybe I would feel differently if I was directly affected by Long John's comment. Fair do's to anyone who struggles with a mental health condition, must be hard.
 

Stemar

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H My estimation of him has taken a dive, but it's helpful to know what sort of person we're dealing with, but my attitude is to let those with unpleasant or offensive opinions expose themselves, then simply not feed the trolls. If we all did the same, there'd be a lot fewer. A forum where you're being ignored would be a very lonely place.
 
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