Daedelus
Well-known member
Seahorse trust claiming that there are now loads of seahorses in evidence as a direct result of boats not anchoring in Studland. (Is it possible he broke lock down to gather the information ?)
Seahorse trust claiming that there are now loads of seahorses in evidence as a direct result of boats not anchoring in Studland. (Is it possible he broke lock down to gather the information ?)
So an infestation of the seabed. Time for another equine cull.Seahorse trust claiming that there are now loads of seahorses in evidence as a direct result of boats not anchoring in Studland. (Is it possible he broke lock down to gather the information ?)
If everything that was ugly became extinct, these forums would be a very lonely place.I think the little blighters are ugly. I don't care if they become extinct next week. Is there some sort of Seahorse Hugger organisation out there?
Yes, The Seahorse Trust a one man band run by one Neil Garrick Maidment. He has been paddling around in the shallows in Studland since the 1990's chasing the critturs. He and his mates got very excited because they found one particular variety of seahorse breeding there around 2007. in 2008 he claimed to have seen over 40 seahorses in Studland. Hundreds of divers went to look, and scared them away. However SHT decided that it was the number of boats anchoring that had destroyed the colony. There's simply no evidence of this, and with help from this forum since 2009 have worked to present the Boaters point of view. Our main objection is that there are clear basic flaws in SHT arguments, and we have built up a big library of verified scientific observations proving our point. Boat Owners resposne group is well known to Natural England, the Wildlife Trusts, Defra and the MMO, and even the House of Commons Science Committee has accepted our reports and views.. Is there some sort of Seahorse Hugger organisation out there?
Yes: look at the quote: In the last century.... The reality is that nearly all European seagrass was killed off by disease in the 1930's. What we have now has nearly all grown back since then. Studland had one small patch perhaps 100Sqm in 1952. It now has 96 hectares. Since the boating boom started in the late 50s it has been one of the country's most popular sea anchorages, with 1000's of boats visiting and anchoring there each summer since the mid 60s. Aerial photography shows that the eelgrass is continuing to spread across the bay. The evidence is there and the only comprehensive eelgrass survey done there could find no significant difference between eelgrass that is anchored in regualrly and that which is not!MDL have just sent out this link on all their facebook accounts:
Seagrass is a key seabed habitat, but it is also one of the most rapidly declining on earth due to coastal development, damage from boat propellers, chain moorings and pollution. Project Seagrass states on its website that “as much as 92% of the UK’s seagrass has been lost.”
Seagrass restoration project for the UK
Yes: look at the quote: In the last century.... The reality is that nearly all European seagrass was killed off by disease in the 1930's. What we have now has nearly all grown back since then. Studland had one small patch perhaps 100Sqm in 1952. It now has 96 hectares. Since the boating boom started in the late 50s it has been one of the country's most popular sea anchorages, with 1000's of boats visiting and anchoring there each summer since the mid 60s. Aerial photography shows that the eelgrass is continuing to spread across the bay. The evidence is there and the only comprehensive eelgrass survey done there could find no significant difference between eelgrass that is anchored in regualrly and that which is not!
That seagrass is a key seabed habitat and needs protecting we do not dispute, and yes we do need to be careful not to disturb it either by allowing our anchors to drag in it, or by excessive use of engines when we run aground, following the advice in the RYA 'Anchoring with Care' leaflet, the study group for which i was Chair.