Jennycliff Bay anchoring restrictions

[eddystone]

I've not had a need to anchor there myself but noticed a QHM Plymouth NTM this morning with a chartlet attached asking mariners to avoid anchoring in a marked area whilst newly planted seagrass is establishing. Comparing this to the RWYC Guide to Anchorages in Plymouth Harbour, there is still some space south of the green buoy but north of the marked area. As I've hardly ever seen more than a few boats at a time anchored here I wouldn't have thought it would be a big issue.

 

[doug748]

Here is the piece in question:







As above, not too many boats anchor in the lower section, the bit that tends towards the South West. However in S - SE conditions the best shelter may be found there. The upper segment is reasonably popular however.

I have no doubt that most sailors will try and steer clear where they can, As they traditionally have when requested in other areas of the Sound.

.

 

[eddystone]

Like south of the Hoe but I think that was more than a "request"

 

[Adios]

More land grabbing. It starts off polite sounding and then it will be written in stone.

 

[Seven Spades]

if it is a success they will plant more

 

[doug748]

if it is a success they will plant more

They will.

We have to bear in mind we are not dealing with science or truth. Many of these people are politically motivated, dedicated activists, so......

- If the plants flourish, it will be because there was no anchoring.
- If they do badly, it will be because an anchor anchor ban is needed.

When they plant more it will be the same story.

Write to the Queens Harbourmaster: Longroom, Stonehouse Plymouth PL1 3RT:
Mention your concern, suggest a less sensitive spot could have been chosen. Point out that S Jennycliff Bay is one of the few spots with shelter for small craft in Southerly conditions. Tell them that the Ocean Conservation Trust seems to be building a narrative that small boat activity is at fault for loss of seagrass which is totally at odds with what we know about the Science. The linked OCT site says nothing about the knowledge we do have about loss but only mentions small craft activity, which they seem to be targeting without any justification. They have put this message out to the media.

Send a copy to your MP and the RYA. Or don't, leave it to others.

I will because it is the least when compared with the huge efforts made by oldharry and Marlin Spike and the rest.


.

 

[oldharry]

The RYA are actually in partnership with this scheme. Arent they supposed to be speaking up for us to minimise this erosion of our access to anchorages in the name of conservation? Which is more important - to be seen to be 'green' or to protect the interests of their members?

Ask them. I have.

England’s largest seagrass planting programme underway

 

[oldharry]

They will.

We have to bear in mind we are not dealing with science or truth. Many of these people are politically motivated, dedicated activists, so......

- If the plants flourish, it will be because there was no anchoring.
- If they do badly, it will be because an anchor anchor ban is needed.

When they plant more it will be the same story.

Write to the Queens Harbourmaster: Longroom, Stonehouse Plymouth PL1 3RT:
Mention your concern, suggest a less sensitive spot could have been chosen. Point out that S Jennycliff Bay is one of the few spots with shelter for small craft in Southerly conditions. Tell them that the Ocean Conservation Trust seems to be building a narrative that small boat activity is at fault for loss of seagrass which is totally at odds with what we know about the Science. The linked OCT site says nothing about the knowledge we do have about loss but only mentions small craft activity, which they seem to be targeting without any justification. They have put this message out to the media.

Send a copy to your MP and the RYA. Or don't, leave it to others.

I will because it is the least when compared with the huge efforts made by oldharry and Marlin Spike and the rest.


.

"92% loss of seagrass round uk because of disease and anchoring", is the usual headline. This is a tota lie. Eelgrass was destroyed right across european waters by a wasting disease 90 years ago. It has been recovering ever since. In 1953 Studland had one small patch, perhpas 200 sq m of eelgrass. By 2010 it had grown to 96 hectares and nearly all that time it has been a very popular anchorage Yes say NE, but how much better it would it have been if boats had not been there? Nobody knows, its in pretty good shape now, and now covers almost the entire anchorage. But boats have anchored there, so NE 'know' it needs to recover from that. No need to look at it. It must be in poor shape. Anyway, Collins says so in his 2012 report, and NGM has been telling us for 10 years how bad it is.

We did a video drop investigation throught he centre of the anchorage. Emmy award for the most boring video of the year. Acre after acre of healthy eelgrass. Marlynspyke checked multiple frames, scaling them then measuring the normal eelgrass health parameters. all well within range for healthy eelgrass! No fragmentation. No anchor scars.

And that is how the 'recovery' status was decided on. All wrapped in many pages of literature abut seagrass borrowed from other entirely dissimilar locations, using other species to demonstrate what must have happened at Studland.

92%? How do they know? It hadn't been accurately mapped in those days. It was just a nuisance then because it fouled anchors. That figure is another piece of guesswork about how things might have been.

 

[clyst]

What next ? Planting the same in Cawsand Bay ? Then there won't be any decent anchorages left in Plymouth sound .

 

[oldmanofthehills]

They will.

We have to bear in mind we are not dealing with science or truth. Many of these people are politically motivated, dedicated activists, so......

- If the plants flourish, it will be because there was no anchoring.
- If they do badly, it will be because an anchor anchor ban is needed.

When they plant more it will be the same story.

Write to the Queens Harbourmaster: Longroom, Stonehouse Plymouth PL1 3RT:
Mention your concern, suggest a less sensitive spot could have been chosen. Point out that S Jennycliff Bay is one of the few spots with shelter for small craft in Southerly conditions. Tell them that the Ocean Conservation Trust seems to be building a narrative that small boat activity is at fault for loss of seagrass which is totally at odds with what we know about the Science. The linked OCT site says nothing about the knowledge we do have about loss but only mentions small craft activity, which they seem to be targeting without any justification. They have put this message out to the media.

Send a copy to your MP and the RYA. Or don't, leave it to others.

I will because it is the least when compared with the huge efforts made by oldharry and Marlin Spike and the rest.


.

Do you not think we should be better custodians of our land and sea?

There are other places to anchor nearby with similar shelter, so why risk such a fragile and biologically essential habit. Its not like Studland which is the only sheltered anchorage when western winds blow

 

[eddystone]

Do you not think we should be better custodians of our land and sea?

There are other places to anchor nearby with similar shelter, so why risk such a fragile and biologically essential habit. Its not like Studland which is the only sheltered anchorage when western winds blow

Care to tell me where?

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Care to tell me where?

Coming from the east in SE one can get excellent shelter in the Yealm as we did the previous wednesday. We had thought about the middle part of Jenny Cliff for last thursday but decided that it would be a pain to row ashore, though I accept its not so sheltered from SE as the south end.

However once inside the breakwater there can be few circumstances that would prevent one seeking shelter somewhere, even one of the many splendid but expensive marinas, or picking up a spare mooring of Turnchapel.

One may have to pay a small price to enable our planet to thrive and leave something for our descendants

 

[dom]

One may have to pay a small price to enable our planet to thrive and leave something for our descendants

It will be more than a small price to pay. Few deny or even complain about that.

But to work, it must be led by hard science, not prejudice, personal beliefs, and shrill voices.

Allow those shrill voices and personal hobby horses to dominate and the public at large will feel excluded from and consequently lose interest in the whole topic and return to maximising their own personal interests. Vital decades will be lost if that happens.

The pandemic response has taught us how dangerous it is when politics and personal belief is allowed to trump hard science.

 

[doug748]

Coming from the east in SE one can get excellent shelter in the Yealm as we did the previous wednesday. We had thought about the middle part of Jenny Cliff for last thursday but decided that it would be a pain to row ashore, though I accept its not so sheltered from SE as the south end. ...

Unfortunately there are four monitored beds of Zostera Marina in the mouth of the Yealm, which will, doubtless be next. The programme is promising planting eight hectares of new seagrass.
Cawsand Bay will be on the agenda as there are established beds there, as there are in the anchorage off Drakes Island and North Jennycliff Bay

Your visits may be less jolly if you have to row ashore from behind the Breakwater. People who find pleasure in moving from one marina to another may well not be inconvenienced at all.

.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Unfortunately there are four monitored beds of Zostera Marina in the mouth of the Yealm, which will, doubtless be next. The programme is promising planting eight hectares of new seagrass.
Cawsand Bay will be on the agenda as there are established beds there, as there are in the anchorage off Drakes Island and North Jennycliff Bay

Your visits may be less jolly if you have to row ashore from behind the Breakwater. People who find pleasure in moving from one marina to another may well not be inconvenienced at all.

Eel grass / sea grass is a vital nursery area for coastal fisheries. Hard science not rumour.

I like fish to eat as do other parts of the food chain so if I want fish and a living ocean I might have to give up something. I also dont want to leave a dying ocean and thus doomed planet to my grandchildren.

Yes it might be inconvenient to have anchorages excluded but fish stocks are crashing. See the fishing life in cornwall series. The exact importance of each bed in preserving or increasing stock may be debated.

It is also possible that mooring buoys could be added in some vulnerable areas as done in Skomer Island North Haven so one can visit without anchoring. A relatively simple technological solution though the maintenance costs must be borne by harbour dues, club mooring fees etc.

By fighting all planned change you doom yourself to a lost battle, and become in the eyes of authority another grumpy old man favouring nimybyism.

Better to engage and take each proposal on its merits

On your last point, if our boats ever go electric with diesel banned, our powered craft will be doomed to recharge in marinas anyway. Sailors on moorings will have to learn to do without engines when making passage. A challenge for the next generation.

 

[Matador]

A few years ago we had a talk at our club from a marine biologist from Plymouth University on eel grass. He gave us lots of brand new Admiralty charts of the South West showing where the grass beds are and a setchi disc to record water clarity near the beds which we tried to do but could never transmit the results to the lab, no signal. I asked him about anchoring in the places mentioned, Cawsands, Cellar Bay, Jennycliffe etc , he didn't seem to think it was much of a problem. I find it strange that the grass beds are where there is most anchoring, if anchoring caused the damage there wouldn't be any eel grass. I care about the state of our ocean but I don't see why recreational boaters should take all the blame. In Plymouth you have lots of commercial anchoring , don't they and the Navy still use TBT antifouling? What about all the thousands of tons of spoil dumped in Whitsand bay ruining that marine habitat. Isn't over fishing the main cause of declining fish stocks?

 

[penfold]

Isn't over fishing the main cause of declining fish stocks?

And habitat despoilment by bottom trawling, invertebrate dredging and pollution from fish farm factory effluvia; the idea leisure anchors are having a significant or measurable impact(not that anyone has tried to measure it) is quite a joke.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

I think it comes down to the simple principle that ultimately you are part of the solution or you are part of the problem.

As a father, grandfather and builder of this nations transport infrastructure, I would sooner make sure I was part of the solution.

There are many a fish I would prefer to some of my human neighbours - keep off the grass

 

[eddystone]

On your last point, if our boats ever go electric with diesel banned, our powered craft will be doomed to recharge in marinas anyway. Sailors on moorings will have to learn to do without engines when making passage. A challenge for the next generation.

Yes leisure cruising as we know it will disappear, which will make some people very contented.

 

[Seven Spades]

Eel grass / sea grass is a vital nursery area for coastal fisheries. Hard science not rumour.

I like fish to eat as do other parts of the food chain so if I want fish and a living ocean I might have to give up something. I also dont want to leave a dying ocean and thus doomed planet to my grandchildren.

Yes it might be inconvenient to have anchorages excluded but fish stocks are crashing. See the fishing life in cornwall series. The exact importance of each bed in preserving or increasing stock may be debated.

It is also possible that mooring buoys could be added in some vulnerable areas as done in Skomer Island North Haven so one can visit without anchoring. A relatively simple technological solution though the maintenance costs must be borne by harbour dues, club mooring fees etc.

By fighting all planned change you doom yourself to a lost battle, and become in the eyes of authority another grumpy old man favouring nimybyism.

Better to engage and take each proposal on its merits

On your last point, if our boats ever go electric with diesel banned, our powered craft will be doomed to recharge in marinas anyway. Sailors on moorings will have to learn to do without engines when making passage. A challenge for the next generation.

The thing is that you are overlooking the fact that anchoring is not damaging to the type of eelgrass that grows here.