‘Incredibly encouraging’: healing the scars of traditional anchors in Dorset’s seagrass meadows
Summary
Dorset’s seagrass meadows are healing because of new "eco moorings" that stop anchors from digging into the seabed. This recovery is helping marine life like seahorses grow and shows promise for protecting seagrass in other parts of the UK.Key Facts
- Traditional boat anchors caused scars that damaged seagrass in Studland Bay, Dorset.
- Eco moorings were installed starting in 2021 to protect the seabed from anchor damage.
- Areas with eco moorings showed a 94% reduction in bare patches in the seagrass by 2025.
- Areas with traditional moorings had a 65% reduction in scars after 2023.
- Seagrass meadows support wildlife, store carbon, and protect coastlines from erosion.
- Studland Bay is a marine conservation zone home to protected species, including spiny and short-snouted seahorses.
- Eco moorings use a screw anchor and elastic riser that moves with tides to avoid seabed damage.
- Volunteers observed more seahorses and other marine creatures after eco mooring installation.
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