THE majority of visiting boat owners have given the green light to protection for Studland Bay’s stunning wildlife, according to a new study.

The Studland Seagrass and Seahorse Project Report, produced by Dorset Wildlife Trust with funding from Natural England, reveals the majority of boat owners visiting the popular anchorage are keen to preserve its habitat and wildlife.

A questionnaire survey was carried out by wardens in kayaks who approached 238 boats moored in the bay and visited 11 marinas.

Results showed that four out of five boat visitors to Studland come from within Dorset and most visit Studland more than five times, while more than a quarter visit at least 15 times, each year.

The survey found that awareness raising campaigns have been successful as the majority of boating visitors were aware of the voluntary no anchor zone, set up last year to monitor the effects on the seagrass habitat of seahorses.

“This project has given boat visitors the opportunity to find out more about the seagrass meadows and other marine life of this nationally important site and also share their views on its future management,” said Julie Hatcher, marine awareness officer for the trust.

“Boat users are not only supportive of the wildlife but have shown that they are keen to suggest and co-operate with measures to protect the habitat while still allowing people to enjoy the bay.”

The most frequent suggestions on how the bay could be managed for the benefit of marine life were to increase the number of mooring buoys, with 66 per cent preferring that to dropping anchor.

Other suggestions included increasing the size of the voluntary no anchor zone and enforcement of the existing speed limit.

Studland Bay has been recommended for protection as one of the new Marine Conservation Zones promised by the government for 2012, because of its variety of habitats, short-snouted seahorses, undulate ray and native oyster.

It is also home to spiny seahorses, making it the only known breeding site for both British species.