Studland and BORG needs your support right now....

oldharry said:
The head Of Conservation is under no illusions about this, but being a govt quango has to be seen to be acting properly. That's why I asked for facts that they can use, not opinions. He can hardly tell ngm he won't act because he thinks he is an idiot - even if that is the truth!
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OK Harry well put :D I just wish I could think of something factual to add but I've never visited the place & have relied on my own past experience of Nature generally to see that along with the facts exposed here over the years that NGM spouts continual rubbish.Worse than that he seems to be in it all for entirely selfish reasons.:disgust:
 
MarlynSpyke said:
I make it currently about 4750 boats in marinas and on moorings: see http://boatownersresponse.org.uk/Marine-economy-Poole.pdf .

This is a new post on the website which tries to put some numbers on the possible costs to the Poole economy in the event of possible MCZ restrictions.
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Very useful. The figures quoted do not include the river Frome which has many trot moorings and a small marina at Ridge, nor the RMYC marina on Sandbanks.

Thankfully (for me) the estimate for berthing charges at PYC are way out - it is substantially less than the figure quoted!

My observation is that the number of boats on swinging moorings has declined significantly over the years, partly the result of the new marinas built in the last 20 years. Many swinging moorings are empty.
 
I doubt that even 5% of Poole boats are in use on any one day.

I can't recall the figures above, but suppsing that most of the boats in Studland are anchored there for an overnight or day trip or similar from Poole, that represents an unlikely proportion of all the Poole boats to be in use at one time, and mostly going to Studland.
Even padded out by boats from elsewhere it could challenge his high occupancy claims.

Does anyone have any facts to flesh that out?
 
As I understand it we have friends nearby.

How about a wildlife camera-the sort they use for elusive animals- fixed to a point that covers the area in question that comes on for a minute every hour?

Should give authorotive data with time and date shown on screen.

Perhaps let NGM think that we have one in place already. He may stop publishing total bolleaux in the future..........................
 
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rotrax said:
As I understand it we have friends nearby.


Perhaps let NGM think that we have one in place already. He may stop publishing total bolleaux in the future..........................
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Nothing as inconclusive as a photo stops him: see our photo series showing the growth of eelgrass' in Studland. He still says it's declining... even though we can all see otherwise. I guess the laughter goes right up to Whitehall!
 
rotrax said:
How about a wildlife camera-the sort they use for elusive animals- fixed to a point that covers the area in question that comes on for a minute every hour?

Should give authorotive data with time and date shown on screen..
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I was thinking that, or a webcam over the bay.

How about we all get together an organise a count/survey for a peak weekend in the summer - maybe an hourly count in Studland backed up with photos (Old Harry would be a good place) or a traffic count at Sandbanks ferry, thus showing how few Poole boats actually only go round the corner?

I'm also trained in survey for marine mammals so hopefully carry some credibility.

It's also possible the National Trust team down there would help if the study was shown to be neutral.

Happy to try and organise if we have enough volunteers?
 
There has already been a similar survey, in fact by one of his supporters who got funding to count boats in the bay. Inevitably it proved very difficult to get any realistic figures for logistical and time reasons, but what data they did collect did not support the figures bandied around by SHT, so it all got quietly dropped!

Anybody who knows the bay will appreciate how difficult it is to even estimate how many anchoring events might take place on any day (and night) because of the constant comings and goings ranging from people anchoring for a whole day (and possibly night) to boats on passage east/west or north/south, dropping the hook, usually on the eastern and southern fringes of the eel grass beds, for a couple of hours. Plus, of course the bay is regularly used by the SBS for exercises and for parachute drops!
 
Just a thought.........in what little spare time I have, I am the Eastern Region Planning and Environment Co-ordinator for the RYA (ERPEC). Its fun when someone writes back Dear Mr Erpec......

But to be serious, the RYA is in constant touch with the MMO and if anyone from an RYA Affiliated Club (or indeed any personal member) wishes to raise the issue with the RYA I am sure they will throw their weight behind the negotiations and representations.
 
Thanks, and yes RYA is very fully involved with the whole wider process. We remain in regular touch with Emma Barton, Head of Environmental and Planning at RYA HQ, and find her most helpful. We have also had several meetings with Gus Lewis, RYA Head of legal who was very fully involved with the shaping of the mcaa legislation, and continues to monitor the progress of the mcz legislation. We also link.up with John Pockett The RYA Southern area man, in whose patch Studland falls. They are all actively involved, and will willingly advise any member on issues to do with the mcz process.
 
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