Supporting seagrass through responsible boating
A solution to prevent and alleviate physical seabed damage, disturbance, and seagrass scarring caused from traditional anchorage
Seagrass meadows typically occur in shallow, sheltered, coastal waters where light reaches the seabed, co-existing alongside locations popular for boating and other marine activities. Boating can result in damage to seagrass if anchors, chains or propellors scour or damage the seagrass, with repeated disturbances fragmenting long-established seagrass meadows, thus also reducing an important marine habitat and diminishing the ecosystem services provided by the seagrass.
However, with a few changes, impacts from boating can be reduced and even completely avoided, allowing seagrass to thrive alongside busy boating communities.
There are a number of ways that recreational and commercial boat users can help seagrass and become a Seagrass Safe Sailor:
In locations such as harbours and marinas traditional swing moorings are often used. These moorings are comprised of an anchor block and buoy attached by a chain (rode).
The mooring anchor has been designed to be effective at a range of tidal states. As the tide falls the static anchor block remains in place, but the chain lies across the seabed and is pulled in the direction of the prevailing tide or wind, scouring the seabed. This can leave scars within a seagrass meadow, leading to isolated and fragmented habitats, reducing habitat functionality.
Seagrass meadows exist in sheltered areas and can often be found in waters with large amounts of boating traffic and activity such as harbours, marinas, and lagoons. However, we know that seagrass can co-exist with a thriving marine economy. For example, seagrass can be found in and around Cowes Harbour in The Solent.
UAV imagery depicting mooring scars within seagrass meadow at Seaview, Isle of Wight. Photo Credit: Anouska Mendzil
Advanced Mooring Systems are also referred to as: Environmentally Friendly Moorings (EFMs), eco-moorings, conservation moorings, sustainable moorings and/or low impact mooring systems.
Advanced Mooring Systems (AMS) are a simple solution to prevent and alleviate physical seabed damage, disturbance, and seagrass scarring caused from traditional anchorage. AMS are being trialled globally and supported across a large number of organisations within the conservation and recreational industries.
AMS work to minimise contact with the seabed. The two points of contact in a traditional mooring include the anchor and its chain. Some AMS designs work to minimise the footprint of the anchor point via a helical screw that drills into the seabed.
Additional features of AMS include the suspension of the chain; either via an elastic system that allows for the changing tidal levels, or, by suspending the chain with riser buoys.
With recreational boating activities happening around the length of the UK there will be times that mooring systems (AMS or otherwise) will not be available. It is times like this the effective and continued mapping of our seagrass ecosystems needs to be shared publicly to support positive environmentally guided decisions. To locate seagrass meadows quickly and easily within the UK and overseas whilst passage planning, our SeagrassSpotter app and website is available. Knowing where seagrass is can help to guide decisions when anchoring.
Visit SeagrassSpotter website or download the app on the App Store or Google Play Store.
There will be occasions when AMS isn’t available and anchoring is necessary. This is why we are working collaboratively with The Green Blue and RYA to promote their Green Guide to Anchoring and Moorings. This guide includes best practices for anchoring and how to avoid further damage to sensitive marine habitats.
Click here for more sustainable boating advice, information and resources.
If anchoring does place within seagrass, and this information was not included on SeagrassSpotter, take a photo of your anchor in seagrass from the boat (if safe to do so) and upload with the location anchored to highlight the location. This information is useful for other boat users and a new seagrass meadow may have been identified.
There are other ways that boaters can help to reduce their impact on seagrass and other sensitive marine habitats. These includes things such as using a drip tray when re-fuelling, choosing less damaging antifouls, and disposing of blackwater and sewage safely. Please see The Green Blue for more information and guides.
We support The Green Blue sustainable anchoring initiatives – Take the Pledge and join the sustainable boating community!
Project Seagrass work with a number of organisations trialling AMS systems around the UK
Seasonal moorings, Priory Bay, Isle of Wight
In collaboration with Blue Parameters and WarrenBoats, two Mermaid K systems have being installed on a trial basis at Seaview funded by Seacology. We recognise that it is important that we undertake extensive monitoring of the marine habitat including the seagrass meadows in which the moorings are located to ascertain any changes on the marine environment. You can read more about this work here.
Visitor moorings, Porthdinllaen
Porthdinllaen moorings are managed by the National Trust, and are Advanced Mooring Systems Safemoor and Seaflex.
The moorings have been supported by the Natur am Byth! Project, with the mooring section of the project being led by Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau Special Area of Conservation.
There are several AMS moorings installed within Porthdinllaen by the National Trust, to protect the extensive seagrass meadow here.
Regular monitoring of these moorings are undertaken, and there are plans for more to be installed.
Project Seagrass supported the Natur am Byth! project by writing two reports to aid the development:
Additional work is now being undertaken in North Wales to explore further installation of AMS in Porthdinllaen, Rhoscolyn and Pwhelli.
Visitor moorings, Dale Bay, Pembrokeshire
In Pembrokeshire, we assisted with the installation of visitor moorings in Dale Bay, alongside our restoration project here.
These are traditional moorings, however are located outside of the restoration area to discourage anchoring within the restoration area and damaging the seagrass growing. Dale Seagrass Stakeholder Group is instrumental in managing the moorings, and visitors are encouraged to donate when using the moorings – find out more here
Protecting seagrass in Priory Bay, Isle of Wight
Priory Bay supports an important seagrass meadow that provides a home for marine life and supports healthy coastlines. The bay is also of great value for boating and recreation. Project Seagrass is currently exploring options with the local community on the best ways to protect seagrass alongside maintaining access and supporting the boating community. Options include installation of sensitive habitat marker buoys, education and promotion of gentle anchoring, and/or installation of subtidal visitor moorings. A survey is still open until the 11th August and can be completed here. A workshop is also being held this summer to map out next steps for the project. Find out more about this project here.
