One of the main reasons that many people come to this beautiful part of Dorset is the sea. Protecting our coasts, and the species that live along them, is essential. Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) provide protected areas that not only benefit the myriad forms of life that live in, on, and next to, the sea, but also have a huge impact on the coastal communities of which we are very much a part. Studland Bay is home to the most extensive seagrass meadow in Dorset, however this important habitat is currently in an unfavourable condition. Seagrass beds provide a number of vital ecological functions. Seagrass beds stabilise sediments, provide habitat for species such as commercially important fish and seahorses, and act as a sink for atmospheric carbon. It is also home to bass and endangered undulate rays. Long-snouted seahorses are a designated feature of the MCZ and a protected species.
An example of seabed scouring. Photo credit CWTThe seagrass however is at risk from boat anchors which can scour the seabed and permanently damage this fragile habitat. In 2021 with the support of the local community, a voluntary no anchor zone (VANZ) was introduced to help protect the seagrass and the eco-system it supports.
The sheltered conditions of the bay not only provide protection for sensitive habitats and species but is highly valued by boat and water users, and local businesses as an attractive environment for tourism and recreation. Also, importantly providing a sheltered refuge for both local boat users and those travelling long distances.
Locally most people recognise that conserving the seagrass habitat is essential, but it will be difficult to implement a Voluntary No Anchoring Zone (VNAZ) if there are no alternatives for boat users to use the bay, so the Studland Bay Marine Partnership are working together to achieve these key outcomes:
Produce a mooring plan for Studland Bay by bringing stakeholders to gain agreement on location, timescale and proposed options for long-term funding.
Create a draft management strategy and vision for the next 10 years that all users of Studland Bay can believe in and work towards, to incorporate:
a. an eco-mooring management plan,
b. a plan of how to transition away from anchoring and conventional moorings,
c. potential seagrass restoration projects.
Future governance options paper for the bay including roles and responsibilities to deliver the strategy.
This work has been funded by the Championing Coastal Coordination (3Cs) project which is an Environment Agency initiative with support from Natural England, the Marine Management Organisation and the Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities.
Studland Bay Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ)
Anchor chain scouring the seabed and lifting the seagrass roots
Photo credit Neil Garrick-Maidment
Since the Studland Bay Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) was established in May 2019, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) held a call for evidence seeking views on a draft Studland Bay MCZ marine non-licensable activity assessment and a range of management options. Feedback concluded that management measures would be developed for anchoring, due to the pressure it causes at current levels towards the designated features of the MCZ.
#ProtectOurBeds
Studland Bay has become the first UK contributor to a global campaign, #ProtectOurBeds, supporting efforts to protect seagrass by providing eco-mooring data, as alternatives to anchoring.
#ProtectOurBeds is a new campaign between not-for-profit, Clean Sailors, the Ocean Conservation Trust and all-in-one navigation app, savvy navvy, supporting boaters to combat climate change by digitally mapping sensitive seabeds and eco-moorings across boating hotspots around the world.
The aim of ‘#ProtectOurBeds´ is to help stop vital seagrass being destroyed. By bringing greater awareness to water-users on where sensitive seabeds lie and encouraging them to use eco-moorings where available, the campaign aims to educate, inspire and encourage the boating community to make more informed anchoring choices when out on the water. As the first UK contributor, the Studland Bay Marine Partnership has provided the campaign with geo-location data of its 87 eco-mooring facilities in Studland Bay.
Seagrasses combat climate change by absorbing and storing huge amounts of carbon, but are estimated to be the fastest disappearing habitat on the planet mainly due to avoidable human activity.
