Studland Seahorses - Seagrass Survey

LadyInBed

LadyInBed

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montymariner.co.uk
Picked up this leaflet from the Banks Arms this W/E

Link mentioned:
http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/studland_bay_seagrass_project.pdf

seaGrass.jpg
 
EXTRACT FROM LINK:

To help gather sufficient evidence The Crown Estate and Natural England have agreed to fund an independent scientific study aimed at quantifying the impacts of anchoring and mooring on eelgrass health.
A key element of this study is to establish a voluntary no-anchoring zone (100m * 100m) in order to monitor the health of the seagrass and populations of key associated flora and fauna, including seahorses, to help determine the potential rate of recovery in this area. Boaters will be asked to avoid anchoring in this area which will be marked by four yellow marker buoys on each corner as well as two red marker buoys in the centre of the zone. Monitoring will also take place in unmarked areas to assess the rate of decline in areas where management remains unchanged. The study is expected to commence in June 2009 and the timescale will be a minimum of two years although the study could be extended to three years depending on whether the results warrant further investigation. Part of the study will also consider the practicality of replacing several existing swinging mooring chains with new eco-friendly riser systems and the long term status of moorings in Studland Bay.

But will ANYONE stick to a VOLUNTARY dont anchor here sign ? Traditionally most of the inhabitants of the harbour evacuate to Studland on a weekend and i cant see that changing so unless they patrol it and enforce it, its business as usual i would imagine .

can someone on here post a chart with the affected area marked out ?
 
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But will ANYONE stick to a VOLUNTARY dont anchor here sign ? Traditionally most of the inhabitants of the harbour evacuate to Studland on a weekend and i cant see that changing so unless they patrol it and enforce it, its business as usual i would imagine .


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We are talking a fairly small area, most boat owners don't want to deliberately antagonize environmentalists or anyone else, (i still believe that despite evidence on here to the contrary) so I would expect most would respect the no anchoring zone. I have put a couple of links to stories which to show that there is local opposition. I feel that the approach of Steve Trewhella as a lot to do with this, he clearly believes no one should be anchoring in Studland Bay. This is not the view of many who support finding out the true situation.

Echo Report

BBC Report .
 
The most sinister part of the document is the first and second paragraph of page 2.

<span style="color:blue">"Whilst the photographic evidence suggests that damage might be occurring through the anchoring of vessels or moorings used from time to time by local people it is very difficult to demonstrate that this activity is damaging the seahorses, or that this damage is deliberate and reckless as would need to be shown for a prosecution to succeed. Until this link is proven, Natural England is unable to take action.

To help gather sufficient evidence The Crown Estate and Natural England have agreed to fund an independent scientific study aimed at quantifying the impacts of anchoring and mooring on eelgrass health." </span>

To me, this reads that the survey will take place to gather evidence against anchoring to aid future prosecutions.
 
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The most sinister part of the document is the first and second paragraph of page 2.

"Whilst the photographic evidence suggests that damage might be occurring through the anchoring of vessels or moorings used from time to time by local people it is very difficult to demonstrate that this activity is damaging the seahorses, or that this damage is deliberate and reckless as would need to be shown for a prosecution to succeed. Until this link is proven, Natural England is unable to take action.

To help gather sufficient evidence The Crown Estate and Natural England have agreed to fund an independent scientific study aimed at quantifying the impacts of anchoring and mooring on eelgrass health."

To me, this reads that the survey will take place to gather evidence against anchoring to aid future prosecutions.

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The problem is that the Crown Estates/ Natural England are being put under pressure to do something, I think there are few you think a complete ban on anchoring is workable however if opinions become polarized bad decisions can be the result. I believe we should support the survey and if necessary support more environmentally friendly moorings.

This google earth image shows the zone.

Studland.jpg
 
The designated area shown on the google earth map on this thread, is i believe in an area predominantly used by small power boats.

can they really be doing any damage to that area? is it really possible to prevent people anchoring there ? will people recognise the buoys for what they are or use them as swinging moorings as they do the speed limit buoys /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

im all in favour of preserving the wildlife but is it actually that bad ? 1 weekend in 4 we get some sunshine and 6 small boats anchor in that area..... has anyone actually seen any badly scarred sea horses washed up on the beach, they sell petrified ones on the quay to use as ornaments !

perhaps thats where they are all going !

Oh and weren't the national trust planning to charge for anchoring in the area ? and then get told it wasnt possible ? Now we have some greater crested lesser spotted sea newt that is being killed off by anchored boats.

thin end of an approaching wedge me thinks.......
 
The environmentalists would do better spending their time showing the damage trawling is doing to the whole of our coastlines fish and shellfish. Reading about this at the weekend makes some very scary reading about what we are doing to our world.

I think I ought to stop eating fish caught in this way....
 
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I believe we should support the survey and if necessary support more environmentally friendly moorings.

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So you already have biased view that anchoring does damage the environment, rather than the other view that anchoring may actually stimulate the regeneration and regrowth of eelgrass, thereby sustaining the seahorses' environment.

Of course, there is a third view that anchoring neither destroys or nurtures eelgrass.
 
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im all in favour of preserving the wildlife but is it actually that bad ?

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That's the question and why a survey is being organized, there are plenty of anecdotal accounts of damage/ no damage but very little proper scientific research, and by all means put that research to stringent examination, but opposition to the survey on principle, IMHO weakens the case for a sensible compromise.
 
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So you already have biased view that anchoring does damage the environment, rather than the other view that anchoring may actually stimulate the regeneration and regrowth of eelgrass, thereby sustaining the seahorses' environment.

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No,

I await the results of the survey, but if anchoring is proved to damage the eelgrass then a way forward could be environmentally friendly moorings.
 
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So you already have biased view that anchoring does damage the environment, rather than the other view that anchoring may actually stimulate the regeneration and regrowth of eelgrass, thereby sustaining the seahorses' environment.

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No,

I await the results of the survey, but if anchoring is proved to damage the eelgrass then a way forward could be environmentally friendly moorings.

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I was just highlighting the use of your words and the words in the pdf, as there is some evidence that 'damage' to eelgrass and the seabed by anchors may stimulate/sustain/spread its growth, thereby enhancing the seahorses habitat.
 
Looking at that aerial shot it looks as though the zone is too close to the shore to affect most boats. All the yachts are anchored are further offshore. This makes the experiment interesting for two reasons

1. It looks at though the intention is to monitor the area with no change of use pattern.

2. The survey area is a different depth to the majority of the anchorage.

One would assume that there will be different results in the differing environments.

I would not expect that the result of this survey will prove anything at all.
 
Ken,

no, it is not prejudging the result, it is probably a bad formulation of the hypothesis being tested...

To be honest I cannot understand this wave of antagonism against the seahorse huggers. Let the research get underway. And then we can all comply with the recommendations... Well at least those who sail in the area.
It really does not seem to me as though the handkerchief of seabed been looked at is going to disturb our leisure activities.

There is a ban in the Helford river, but there are alternatives and it has not prevented raggies from going there...
 
Probably the thing to do is to make sure the eelgrass doesn't grow in that area, weedkiller anyone?

There's no possible upside to this for boaters.
 
That is not the case. If you do a search to the original thread you will find reference to published studies on the impact of anchoring on Eel Grass in the South of France. Pretty good evidence that anchoring tears out the roots of the grass. If you want confirmation have a look at my anchor which has Eel Grass including roots on it after anchoring in Studland last week.

What is not clear is firstly whether this damage is harmful to the "grass" overall - good evidence that the beds have increased in size over the last few years which suggests not. Secondly there is so little known about the relationship between the Seahorse population and its habitat. All we seem to know is that the observed population seems to have increased significantly in Studland in recent years. This may of course because there is more activity looking for them - we don't know, because we don't know what the population was before people started looking for them except anecdotal stories.

I have difficulty in accepting that this survey will show up anything. As others have pointed out it is not an area of choice for anchoring. If it is being used as a "control" what is the data on number and type of anchoring events currently and who is going to monitor future anchoring activity so that a comparison over time can be made?

This survey is anything but "scientific" - it is just a knee jerk reaction to be seen to be "doing something". No "results" are going to have any credibility, so probably best to let it happen.
 
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