Seahorses and seagrass FAQ
Answers to frequently asked questions about seahorses.
Who enforces the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) in England?
What is Natural England's role in the protection of the marine environment?
What is the Studland Seagrass and Seahorse Study Group (SSSSG) and what does it do?
What is the Crown Estate's role regarding seahorses in Studland?
What work is Natural England doing for seahorses in Studland?
Introduction
What are seahorses?
Seahorses are fish and belong to the same family as seadragons and pipefish. They have been around for at least 40 million years. There are many species of seahorses around the world, most found in shallow, warmer waters. Seahorses swim in an upright position and have dorsal fins for propulsion, pectoral fins near the gills for stabilization and steering, and a small anal fin. They are able to hang on to sea grass and seaweed by wrapping their tails around the stems which helps them to avoid being swept away by strong currents. Instead of scales, seahorses have skin stretched over a series of bony plates, which are visible as rings around the body. This bony armour helps protect them and there are very few animals that can eat them. Seahorses can move each eye independently and are unique in the animal kingdom in that it is the male seahorse, and only the male, that becomes pregnant. The seahorse’s long tube-like mouth, which has no teeth, acts like a vacuum cleaner for food, sucking up tiny crustaceans and other plankton.
For more information about seahorses, visit The Seahorse Trust
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More about short snouted seahorse.
More about long snouted seahorse (also known as 'spiny seahorse').
Where are seahorses found around the English coast?
Two species of seahorse can be found in UK waters, the Short-snouted Seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus, and the Long-snouted Seahorse (also known as Spiny Seahorse) H.guttulatus. The name ‘Hippocampus’ comes from the Greek hippos for horse and their heads are certainly horse-like. As seahorses are small creatures and difficult to spot by the inexperienced eye, it is not known how common they are in this country. This is one reason seahorse research is important. The Short-snouted Seahorse is found along the coast of Southern England and the Channel Islands. The Spiny Seahorse is also found along the south coast but its distribution extends up the west coast to the Shetland Isles. Seahorses live in shallow, weedy areas generally in beds of seagrass, although they are also found in seaweeds and rocky outcrops with algae on, so their distribution depends on the presence of these plants. In winter, it is thought that seahorses move into deeper water to escape rough seas as they are rarely found but their behaviour is poorly understood and recent sightings have suggested some could be permanent residents.
What are seagrasses and where are they found?
Seagrasses (also known as Eel Grass) are grass-like flowering plants with dark green, long, narrow, ribbon shaped leaves. They are one of the very few flowering plants that live in the sea and there are three species of seagrass found in England. They grow in sheltered waters such as shallow inlets, bays, estuaries and saline lagoons. Common seagrass Zostera marina is the only species that occurs below the low water mark. It grows mainly on sand, but also fine gravel, typically down to a depth of 5 metres and forms dense swards. Seagrass beds also provide important food for wildfowl, such as Brent Geese, and nutrients to support seabed communities. They help trap sediments, act as a nursery area for young fish and shellfish, provide a habitat for many other plants and animals, as well as acting as a carbon trap. The national importance of seagrass beds for biodiversity has been recognised. There is a Biodiversity Action Plan for seagrass beds and mudflats. For more information visit the UK BAP website.
Have seahorses always been here?
Probably, but past records are mostly anecdotal. There are many more sightings now, but this could be due to heightened awareness and because more people are looking for them. It was once thought that seahorses were seasonal visitors to our waters, but recent sightings have shown that they are permanent residents here.
How can I view seahorses?
Seahorses are small, extremely well camouflaged and very difficult to spot, whilst snorkelling or diving. To avoid disturbing them in their natural environment, the easiest way to view seahorses is to visit an aquarium where seahorses are kept and bred from captivity.
Impacts and Protection
How does the law protect Seahorses?
Protection for Spiny and Short-snouted Seahorses was added to the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) in 2008. This protection means that it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly harm or disturb any seahorse. They are protected against killing, injuring or taking; possession or control; damage or destruction of their places of shelter, or disturbance while such animals are occupying places of shelter and sale, possession or transport for the purpose of sale, and advertising the buying or selling of such animals.
Who enforces the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) in England?
Previously, Natural England could issue licences for activities that would otherwise be illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. In July 2010 the licensing duties were handed over to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to administer but in consultation with Natural England. Such licences would normally only be issued if there is a conservation, educational or scientific benefit. Where licences are breached, the MMO is responsible for investigating and taking enforcement action. Where offences are committed by those without a licence, investigations and enforcement action is the responsibility of the police and Crown Prosecution Service. If you think seahorses or their habitat are being harmed, you should contact the police. Contact details for wildlife crime liaison officers are available here.
What activities might harm Seahorses?
A range of activities can potentially impact on the habitat where seahorses are found. Handling of, removal from water, disturbance in the water, and habitat destruction could all cause a serious impact to seahorses.
Fishing
Important habitats such as seagrass beds are damaged in areas where bottom dredges are used in shallow water to capture fish and shellfish.
Boating
Seahorses live near the seabed, so sailing above should not disturb them. However, anchoring that takes place on seagrass beds can affect seagrass root systems which can become dislodged and broken up. Roots and stems then wash up on the beach and die. The exposed sand is then scoured by currents, leaving barren craters in the seagrass meadow and further exposing roots to erosion. It is unclear how this process affects the seahorses themselves.
Traditional moorings can also create localised damage to seagrass beds from the scouring action of chains but again the impact of this on seahorses is uncertain. ‘Eco-moorings’, with spring-loaded riser systems can reduce this scouring effect. Although these are relatively untested for reliability in the UK, they are well demonstrated and commonly used in other countries, and could provide a solution to seagrass damage fragmentation in popular mooring sites in the UK.
Diving/Swimming
Diving in shallow areas requires good buoyancy control in order to avoid stirring up the seabed and causing damage which could disturb seahorses. Where possible, people should try to avoid swimming in the vicinity of seagrass beds as trampling can have an impact on the habitat and all the plants and animals that depend on it including seahorses.
Can I handle or photograph a Seahorse?
If you are lucky enough to see a seahorse in the wild, please do not touch it. They are extremely fragile and easily stressed. The use of flash photography or filming could disturb seahorses especially if repeated on a regular basis and may constitute an offence. If possible, restrict photography of seahorses to one photo and avoid using flash or lights. Natural England will consider issuing photography licences to individuals who can demonstrate they have good conservation reasons to take more than an incidential photograph.
If I see a seahorse should I report it?
Please report sightings to The Seahorse Trust or the Marine Conservation Society, both underwater sightings and those of seahorses washed up on the beach. Every detail you can give is important (e.g. size, distinguishing marks, species, habitat, sex, depth). If you are interested in seahorses and would like to help find out more about them, why not take part in a survey? For more information visit The British Seahorse Survey.
Natural England and Seahorses
What is Natural England’s role in the protection of the marine environment?
Natural England is responsible for advising Government and industry on marine conservation and seascape issues in England’s territorial waters (from the coast out to 12 nautical miles offshore).
Through its Marine work and through research it is helping people to understand and appreciate the marine environment. Natural England helped in the development of the Marine Bill, now enacted into the Marine and Coastal Access Act, which seeks to introduce strong new conservation measures, including Marine Conservation Zones and Marine Spacial Planning. Combining these new zones with existing designated areas, such as European Marine Sites and the Lundy Marine Nature Reserve, will provide an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas.
Natural England also wants to ensure that the use and management of the marine environment, outside protected areas, is more sustainable. It works directly with sea fisheries and other industries, such as marine renewable energy and extractive industries to secure this objective. It also influences policies and mechanisms, including the marine planning system.
Natural England is currently progressing draft Special Areas of Conservation and potential Special Protection Areas in the inshore zone. More information on these sites can be found on these sites can be found here.
How is Natural England involved in Seahorse conservation?
Natural England has regulatory powers with regard to licensing of activities that may affect seahorses. We are consulted by the MMO in licensing apllications and may be called upon to advise the police or other authorities on the protection of seahorses and their habitats. We support projects furthering seahorse conservation and may be partners in these projects. We also campaign for greater protection of the marine environment.
Focus on Studland Bay
Where is Studland Bay?
Studland Bay is a popular sandy beach on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. This three mile beach stretches from the entrance of Poole Harbour in the north to Handfast Point, dominated by the famous chalk stacks, Old Harry Rocks, in the south. The beach and its access is owned and managed by the National Trust and the beach is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The seabed is owned by The Crown Estate.
The rocky, underwater reefs off the south coast of the Isle of Purbeck have recently been identified as a Draft Marine Special Area of Conservation. Studland Bay has not been included because sites are selected for certain habitats of European significance, in this case, reef and sea cave habitats.
What are the issues concerning Seahorses at Studland?
Studland is an important site for seagrass and seahorses. It is also a traditional and popular area for recreation offering an attractive, safe, shallow, sandy anchorage for boats and some seasonal moorings. It is generally regarded by mariners as a ‘safe haven’ as it is protected from prevailing South West winds. On summer days over 300 boats can be anchored and moored at Studland.
There are many differing views on the protection needs of seahorses in this area. Some advocate total protection of seahorses and seagrass from the risks of disturbance or damage while others maintain that existing recreational activities can continue or even expand alongside thriving seahorse populations.
What is the Studland Seagrass and Seahorse Study Group (SSSSG) and what does it do?
The SSSSG is a partnership of stakeholders, including local community representatives and relevant statutory and non-statutory organisations, including Natural England. Its primary aims are to make all users of Studland Bay aware of the importance of seagrass for seahorses and a diversity of marine life, engage them in its conservation and encourage respect for the sensitive seagrass meadow. The SSSSG would like to see seahorses and their habitat continue to thrive whilst maintaining recreational enjoyment of Studland Bay.
A communications project, recommended and advised by the SSSSG has been implemented for the first year alongside scientific studies. This work was carried out by the Dorset Wildlife Trust, funded by Natural England. It raised public awareness of the sensitivity of seagrass to physical damage, the presence of seahorses and ways in which people can minimise the impact of their activities on seagrass and by implication, seahorses. Work included the production of a leaflet and website and the employment of seasonal wardens who talked to people about seahorse conservation issues on the beach during the summer months.
What Seahorse studies are being carried out at Studland?
The Voluntary No Anchor Zone (VNAZ) research project is funded by The Crown Estate, with a contribution from Natural England. A key element of this study is to establish a VNAZ and a comparative control area to assess the recovery of seagrass in an area that is not anchored, over two years. A baseline study and subsequent surveys will monitor the distribution and health of the seagrass over a two year period.
The VNAZ is a small area (100m x 100m) located off South Beach, Studland which is marked by four yellow marker buoys, on each corner, as well as two yellow marker buoys in the centre of the zone. Following extensive consultation, consent was granted by the Marine and Fisheries Agency for the placement of the buoys to mark the VNAZ and the baseline survey took place in October 2009.
Boat-owners are asked to respect this voluntary area and not anchor there. Also, when anchoring in other shallow, sandy areas, they should try to avoid seagrass beds. When raising an anchor they are advised to motor towards it and raise it vertically to reduce damaging the seabed.
Unfortunately since the VNAZ was installed in October 2009 these marker buoys have suffered from movement. It is thought that some of this may be due to tampering (an issue which has been discussed with the Police) and also because they have been mistaken by visiting boats as mooring buoys. The size, shape and colour of the buoys was a condition of the statutory licence granted by the Marine & Fisheries Agency (now the Marine Management Organisation, or “MMO”). However, in light of the difficulties that have been experienced, it has been proposed that the buoys are changed to pillar shaped ones to make them more distinguishable from mooring buoys. This change has been approved by the MMO. In conjunction with this alteration to the way the zone is marked our contractor will replace the current weights on the seabed with a fixed mooring system along with eco-rodes (a resistant elasticated rope that prevents scouring of the seabed).
Further information about the study is available on the SSSSG pages of the Dorset Wildlife Trust website.
Studland and Marine Conservation Zones
All of this work is being done ahead of the government’s implementation of the Marine & Coastal Access Act which will lead to the creation of Marine Conservation Zones by 2012. The final network will be based on evidence and approved by the national Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP). The network will be based on the Ecological Network Guidance (ENG), developed by Natural England for DEFRA which lists the species and habitats that need to be included. The ENG does list both seahorses and seagrass as important features of conservation interest (FOCI), but it is the best sites nationally which avoid socio-economic impacts as far as possible. This means there is no certainty that Studland will be part of the final network.
Regardless, the experimental voluntary no anchoring zone (VNAZ) at Studland will help to inform the way we manage such sites, in Studland or elsewhere, when the MCZs are in place. There are a number of things that Natural England hopes to achieve by participating in this VNAZ research project:
1. Learning how Studland seagrass beds respond when anchoring is restricted or reduced.
2. Learning about influencing recreational boating at a popular anchoring site.
3. Learning how best to raise attention to the need for management of some parts of the seabed for its wildlife.
What is the Seahorse Tagging Project in Studland Bay?
The project is being undertaken by the Seahorse Trust and is licensed by Natural England and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Seahorses are tagged to identify individuals to build up a database of information about the population of seahorses at Studland. For more information visit The Seahorse Trust website.
What is The Crown Estate’s role in the issue regarding seahorses in Studland?
Although The Crown Estate owns the seabed in Studland Bay its ownership is subject to the public rights of fishing and of navigation (which includes anchoring). This means that the landowner cannot take unilateral action to prevent anchoring and any associated damage to seagrass that this may, or may not cause, because it does not have any legal basis upon which to do so. The Crown Estate is joint funding the Voluntary No Anchor Zone research project with Natural England.
Further information is available from The Crown Estate.
What work is Natural England doing with regard to the seahorses at Studland?
Studland Bay in Dorset is a traditional anchorage for leisure craft but it also has significant areas of seagrass which support the seahorses. The discovery of pregnant seahorses there also suggests it is particularly important site for them. In order to help determine the impacts of anchoring on the seagrass, the Crown Estate, which owns the seabed, and Natural England, the government’s statutory nature conservation agency, agreed to trial a Voluntary No Anchor Zone (VNAZ) to collect site specific information in Studland Bay.
Following an open competitive tender, a professional marine survey company, SeaStar Survey, was contracted to undertake an independent scientific study aimed at quantifying any possible impacts on seagrass health and associated marine life. The study is funded by The Crown Estate, with a contribution from Natural England, and is being overseen by a steering group comprising representatives of The Crown Estate, Natural England, Royal Yachting Association and the Chair of the Studland Seagrass and Seahorse Study Group (SSSSG). An independent reviewer, Project Seahorse, has been appointed to join this steering group, advise on the project and review its findings. The SSSSG is an informal, non-statutory, focus and discussion group which Natural England supports and sits on along with other interested parties including: Dorset Wildlife Trust, local residents, National Trust, Poole yacht clubs, Royal Yachting Association, Southampton University, Studland Parish Council, The Seahorse Trust, and The Crown Estate.
Natural England has also assessed and provided licenses for photography and the tagging project by The Seahorse Trust.
How can local people get involved?
Local people can support the Studland Bay Seagrass Project by telling friends and family about the Voluntary No Anchor Zone. They can distribute the SSSSG awareness raising leaflet on the issue and are encouraged to talk to their representatives on the SSSSG. If you are a diver interested in seahorses and would like to help find out more about them, why not take part in The British Seahorse Survey or the Dorset Seasearch survey?
If you are a user of Studland bay, there are codes of conduct that can be followed to reduce disturbance to seahorses. More information can be found on the SSSSG pages of the Dorset Wildlife Trust website.
