CONCERNS have been expressed by members of the boating community, who fear a raft of water activities at Studland Bay may be set to become strictly controlled or even banned to protect seahorses living on the seabed.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is currently consulting on proposals for managing Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ), which include the recently-formed MCZ at Studland Bay.

Under the consultation, which closes on December 15, the MMO says it is seeking evidence and views on its draft assessment of the 'impacts of marine non-licensable activity on the conservation objectives of Studland Bay MCZ'.

Marine non-licensable activity is explained by the MMO as any activity currently not requiring a marine licence, with the exception of fishing activities.

The consultation highlights kayaking, windsurfing, dinghies, recreational diving and snorkelling among these activities, alongside power-boating and sailing with or without an engine.

Thousands of people flock to Studland Bay each year, many are windsurfers, kayakers, boaters and other watercraft users.

Many have been at odds with environmentalists working to protect the endangered sea horses for years.

Linda Wood, writing to the MMO, said: "We are a seafaring nation and we all want to nurture our environment and national heritage but the sea is for all of us to use and there needs to be a balance.

"Is the welfare and mental health of thousands of people that use Studland Bay less important than eel grass and sea horses?

"In this dreadful year we have all just experienced one of the greatest pleasures after lockdown was to sail to Studland and spend the day anchored feeling safe.

"You must be aware of how many thousands of miles the British coastline is and how many bays there are.

"Many of these bays are not accessible to people and not safe anchorage’s for boats so when making this decision please appreciate that Studland is unique and very important to the human population.

"But the mere suggestion this could be a possible route forward for the area has astonished many residents."

However, according to The Seahorse Trust charity seahorses have been thriving at Studland Bay under lockdown.

In the summer the trust says it discovered 16 seahorses in one dive, which is the biggest number since it began monitoring the site in 2008.

• The Seahorse Trust calls for extra care to be taken when visiting Studland Bay

Both of the UK’s native seahorse species – the Spiny and the Short Snouted - gained protected status in 2008 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act following data collection and campaigning by The Seahorse Trust.

Studland Bay was formally designated a MCZ in May 31, 2019, and among its protected features include the seagrass beds and the long-snouted seahorse which lives within them.

The draft MMO assessment concludes: "The seagrass bed feature is sensitive to impacts from mooring and anchoring (all vessels) and powerboating and sailing with an engine and long-snouted seahorse are sensitive to impacts from mooring and anchoring (all vessels) and powerboating and sailing with/without an engine.

"It is therefore MMO’s current opinion that the conservation objectives for these features may not be achieved due to their vulnerability to these activities.

"Management of marine non-licensable activity may therefore be required to support the achievement of the conservation objectives for the MCZ.

"The purpose of this call for evidence is to seek additional evidence and views to inform the draft assessment and the associated management options."

To take part in the consultation visit https://consult.defra.gov.uk/mmo/call-for-evidence-mmo-mpa-assessments/