Studland - MMO Management protocols for the MCZ in place from 17th December

[oldharry]

ARE THE ECO MOORINGS IN STUDLAND SAFE?

Bearing in mind that Marine Insurers require evidence of profssional installation and maintenance, the question arises who would be liable for any Insurance claim resulting from the use or failure of one of these moorings owned by Seahorse Trust. I raised the question fo public liability Insurance from a very early time, and have been consistently ignored by the conservation do-gooders. Maybe this will yet blow up in their faces....?

I agree that availability of visitor moorings is useful to many who struggle to find a clear patch in which to anchor safely. But only if they are properly installed, safe for use, and have adequate public liability insurance. Quatestions which cannot be answered simply by looking at them,,,,,

The professionalism of the original installation is at the very least questionable:

Notices served - Enforcement notices public

 

[nortada]

Reservoir fluid leaks into water with 'oil' reported near Sandbanks

Trust this doesn’t reach the eelgrass or the seahorses.

 

[finestgreen]

I agree that availability of visitor moorings is useful to many who struggle to find a clear patch in which to anchor safely. But only if they are properly installed, safe for use, and have adequate public liability insurance. Quatestions which cannot be answered simply by looking at them,,,,,

Do you scrutinise all visitor moorings as thoroughly?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Do you scrutinise all visitor moorings as thoroughly?

It’s usually obvious who owns and maintains them.

 

[oldharry]

Do you scrutinise all visitor moorings as thoroughly?

I never left my boat on a mooring of unknown provenance. Eco moorings in particular are more vulnerable to abuse and lack of maintenance, so I think its entirely reasonable for us to ask about them.

Bear in mind with an eco mooring you dont have a quarter ton or more block sunk in the seabed, nor hefty chain risers. All that secures your boat on an eco mooring is a screw in spike: if thats been overloaded and part uprooted, or the seabed has eroded around it, it will have significantly reduced holding properties.

Once it loses its grip its about as much use as an anchor as a beach bucket! Also the elastic element needs careful monitoring. Rubber bungees need regular cleaning to remove particularly shellfish which can cut through it in a season. Other spring loaded types are not much better and the mechanism can be jammed by marine growth.

 

[John R B]

Portland Marina have posted on Facebook here about a contractor getting ready to install the next batch of eco-moorings in Studland Bay.

 

[oldharry]

We are working hard to persuade them that moorings need to be MUCH closer inshore. There have been fatalities in the past directly due to the long row in across an area where the SW can funnel down with considerable force, enough to flip an inflatable. If eco moorings do not damage eelgrass, why do they not put them in where we want to be? Specially if we need to get kids etc ashore safely for beach time.

 

[oldharry]

The Head of Conservation at MMO clarified to us the legal position about anchoring in any MCZ area:

'People have the right to anchor within any marine protected area under emergency conditions, or in order to avoid an emergency. We encourage boat users to use their judgement and only anchor in areas where it is safe.'

My emphasis, as this is the key point of their statement, and one of the fundamental issues I have had with the whole MCZ process over many years. I am happy that MMO at least have got the message and are actively promoting it.

 

[John R B]

We are working hard to persuade them that moorings need to be MUCH closer inshore. There have been fatalities in the past directly due to the long row in across an area where the SW can funnel down with considerable force, enough to flip an inflatable. If eco moorings do not damage eelgrass, why do they not put them in where we want to be? Specially if we need to get kids etc ashore safely for beach time.

I have some sympathy with this. However, when using the first tranche of eco moorings I have found that with a draught of 1.8m there's not a huge amount of water under the keel at LWS. Is there a deeper patch closer in?

 

[oldharry]

I have some sympathy with this. However, when using the first tranche of eco moorings I have found that with a draught of 1.8m there's not a huge amount of water under the keel at LWS. Is there a deeper patch closer in?

The depth can vary sigificantly in the Bay both by location and over time. Each string oinshore breeze seesm to shift sand around. I have had my depth alarm sounding well out beyond the present mooring position on LW springs. The following year there was at least 1.5m in the same area. Doesnt bode well for screw in mooring points longer term either..

 

[oldharry]

MMO have published their review of the Studland Bay VNAZ, lots of verbiage, but some essential and interesting reading. Dont forget that with the fast growing movement towards conservation of Marine Life generally, what happens at Studland will set the model and standards for all English waters. MMO's jursidiction is only over English coastal waters. Other regions have their own autonomous organisations for dealing with Marine affairs.

https://assets.publishing.service.g.../2022_Studland_Bay_MCZ_VNAZ_Review_Report.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.g...untary_No_Anchor_Zone_2022_Review_Summary.pdf

 

[vyv_cox]

Sorry if this has been discussed earlier, I have not been monitoring. I have been trying to look at the BORG website but it has a 'critical error'. Has its address changed?

 

[oldharry]

Sorry Vyv, we have been having probs with it. Thought it was up and running again, but obviously not. I will check.

Maybe getting clogged with eelgrass....!

 

[PWLS08]

The plan for long-term management is for the SBMP to take ownership and management responsibility for all eco-moorings, funded through daily mooring fees as well as private sponsorship.

Dozens of eco-moorings installed along Studland to help nature

 

[Boathook]

Quite a few eco moorings now but they are still to far from the shore for me with my draft, and mean it isn't a paddle ashore, which makes it bad for the environment from my view as a outboard will be used.

 

[Ian_Rob]

Quite a few eco moorings now but they are still to far from the shore for me with my draft, and mean it isn't a paddle ashore, which makes it bad for the environment from my view as a outboard will be used.

Any idea how many there are now? It was initially 5 and I read an article saying there would be another 22 by April/May 2023.

Are they restricted to 24 hours?

 

[Boathook]

Any idea how many there are now? It was initially 5 and I read an article saying there would be another 22 by April/May 2023.

Are they restricted to 24 hours?

Possibly around 22 plus moorings but I can't comment on time restrictions. Either way, once the easterly winds stop and the summer holidays start, all the buoys will be in use and boats will be anchoring close to the beach as usual as that is where the kids can swim ashore and paddle in safety.

 

[Seven Spades]

Will they be installing moorings for bigger vessels? If so they will need to be marked minimum 20 tons or 15m+ otherwise small boast will pick up the big boat moorings.

 

[Boathook]

I was at Studland the other weekend. Very busy there with a gentle SW'ly wind and sunny. Majority of the ecco buoys taken, the couple left being at the outer edge furthest away from the beach. Lots of boats at anchor close in with people swimming around. They will need to put a lot more buoys in close to the shore as that is where people want to be; but we are talking about 1m or less depth at LW.

@Seven Spades even if the buoys were marked they could still be taken by smaller boats if that is where they want to be. The majority would avoid, as for a smaller boat the buoys would be in an 'exposed' area.

 

[greg131187]

There is a line of sand off the beach. If the tide is right you can be there all day it does dry on springs but can stay at about 1.8m and beautiful clear water. I take the Med view that anchor in sand is fine if I can't otherwise take a buoy.