The UK's largest population of seahorses is in danger of being wiped out, according to conservationists.
Louise Gray, The Telegraph 6 May 09;
More than 40 seahorses, of both the spiny and short-snouted species, were discovered by divers in the popular boating area of Studland Bay in Dorset last summer. Many of the males, which carry the young, were pregnant.
The Seahorse Trust immediately called for the colony to be protected under the new Wildlife and Countryside Act.
However almost a year later, the charity claim nothing has been done to ensure the endangered animals are protected.
Seahorses rely on eelgrass which can be ripped up by boats and loose anchors.
Steve Trewalla, of the Seahorse Trust, who discovered the 40 sea horses in the area in June last year, said the population could be wiped out in a generation and is calling for a ban on boats.
"Unfortunately the site at Studland suffers huge amounts of damage from boat anchors and fixed moorings, which scour and rip up the eelgrass that the seahorses live on," he said. "Rather than take a precautionary approach to the problem, Natural England who's job it is to enforce the Act have done nothing to protect this habitat or the animals that live there."
Natural England point out a ban cannot be put in place without demonstrating a problem and are currently undertaking a survey into how damaging the boats are to the eelgrass meadows.
