Conservation measures for non-licensable activities including anchoring and mooring in the Studland Bay Marine Conservation Zone were the subject of a call for evidence from the Marine Management Organisation earlier this year Click here
Following a consultation meeting chaired by the Dorset Coast Forum the RYA has published a position statement on the issue. This recognises the scientific consensus around damage caused to seagrass by some boating activities, primarily anchoring and mooring and that monitoring will be needed to ensure conservation measures at the site are an efficient use of resources. Importantly, monitoring will be required to enable inefficient practices (e.g. in the operation of No Anchoring Areas) to be identified and management adapted to allow improvement. The RYA recommends that measures introduced should be voluntary, alongside a clear programme of user engagement and promotion that recognises how boaters receive information and act on navigation and conservation issues. This should include clear, visible marking of sensitive areas both on charts and on the water, alongside provision of conservation information.
The RYA considers that banning boating activity at Studland Bay is counterproductive, as it would lead to resentment and not inspire recreational user support for wider conservation of habitats and species. It then may lead to conservation measures being ignored. It could obstruct education to promote the protection of the environment that recreational users enjoy, as it will not enable users to gain experience of using sensitive areas. Any approach to safeguard the habitats of Studland Bay must lead to wider user support for their protection. Conservation measures need to address the threat to the site and implement efficient protection that addresses the vulnerability of the seagrass habitats.
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