R Y A IN A C TION
Seeds of hope for seabed habitats
Replanting vital seagrass beds is just one part of our recent environmental work
these areas. It offers advice on how best to navigate these sensitive habitats when launching, anchoring and mooring. It also aims to inspire boaters to minimise their impact on these areas. The guide includes information about
T
he RYA is about to begin major seagrass restoration work as part of our LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES
marine project. Launched last year, the four-year project aims to improve the condition of sensitive seabed habitats within five Special Areas of Conservation in southern England. Our project partners, Ocean Conservation Trust, and a team of volunteer divers are preparing to secure 25,000 seagrass seed bags and 5,000 seedling bags to the seabed in Plymouth Sound. This work to replant seagrass is a first for England at this scale. ‘Seagrass is a vital part of our marine
environment, providing a home for juvenile fish and protected creatures like seahorses and stalked jellyfish, as well as capturing and storing significant amounts of carbon,’ explains Fiona Crouch of Natural England, which manages the LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES Project. The project is funded by the LIFE programme and led by Natural England in partnership with the RYA, Marine Conservation Society, Ocean Conservation Trust and Plymouth City Council/Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum. As part of the project, the RYA has published The Green Guide to Anchoring and Moorings. Launched to help raise awareness of the importance of seagrass and other sensitive habitats, it explores the impact that anchoring can have on
Advanced Mooring Systems (AMS), too. AMS are currently being trialled near Yarmouth Harbour on the Isle of Wight. These have replaced existing chain moorings which can damage delicate seabed habitats. How they perform here will help inform how we introduce them to other areas. ‘The guide has been created to give practical advice to boaters, which we hope has a positive result for marine habitats,’ says Kate Fortnam, campaign manager for The Green Blue, the joint environmental awareness programme between the RYA and British Marine. ‘We’re encouraging clubs, centres and marine businesses to share the document online with members, clients and customers.’
The Green Guide To Anchoring And Moorings is available to view and download for free on thegreenblue.
org.uk. A hard copy will be available soon. You can follow the LIFE Recreation ReMEDIES work on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @ EULIFERemedies.
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RYA responds to Studland Bay consultation
he RYA has recommended a ‘voluntary approach’ to suggested new
management plans for Studland Bay. The Dorset site was awarded Marine Conservation Zone status in 2019 due to its seagrass beds. The Marine Management
Organisation (MMO) has suggested several protective measures for the bay, ranging from an increase in environmental monitoring to a ban on all watersports. The RYA recommended
voluntary protective measures following consultation with RYA-affiliated clubs and training centres in the area. These would include a joint management and engagement approach that would give autonomy to boaters and enable them to understand and promote protection to other boat users. ‘The RYA recognises the need
to create measures to protect sensitive marine habitats, but they must be proportionate,’ says RYA Environment and Planning Officer Richard Hill. ‘On behalf of our members, we recommend that protective measures are voluntary and sit alongside a clear programme of user engagement and promotion. Sensitive areas must also be clearly outlined on maps and in the water.’
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