Seahorse habitats 'healing' thanks to eco-moorings
Scars in Studland Bay's seagrass meadows, caused by boat anchor chains, are healing, a study finds.
The installation of eco-moorings in Studland Bay, off the Dorset coast, is proving to be effective in healing the scars caused by boat anchors on rare seahorse habitats. A new scientific study has found that in areas where eco-moorings were installed, the size of bare patches in the seagrass decreased by an average of 93.6% between 2021 and 2025, shrinking by around 57 square meters each year.
This is significantly higher than the 65.4% reduction in scars in areas where traditional chain moorings were still in use. The study, conducted by Kira Dunn as part of her MSc in Marine Biology with Oceanography at the University of Southampton, analysed monitoring data collected since the first eco-moorings were installed. The research highlights the importance of practical conservation measures in reversing habitat damage and delivering measurable environmental improvements.
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