Key facts
- Dorset's seagrass meadows are recovering due to "eco-moorings" designed to prevent seabed damage.
- Bare patches in seagrass at Studland Bay shrank by 94% in areas with eco-moorings between 2021 and 2025.
- Areas with traditional moorings saw scars reduce by 65% in the same period.
- Seagrass meadows store carbon and protect coastlines from erosion.
- Eco-moorings use a helical screw and an elasticated riser to avoid seabed scouring.
- Volunteer divers have reported increases in seahorse numbers since eco-moorings were introduced.
Seagrass meadows in Dorset's Studland Bay are showing significant recovery, with scars from traditional boat anchors almost entirely vanishing in some areas, according to a new study. The research, conducted by Kira Dunn as part of her masters degree at the University of Southampton, analysed data collected since the Studland Bay Marine Partnership installed 10 trial eco-moorings in 2021.
In areas where the eco-moorings were implemented, bare patches in the seagrass shrank by an average of 94% between 2021 and 2025. In a comparative study area where traditional chain moorings remained until 2023, the scars reduced by 65%. This indicates a rapid regeneration of the habitat when physical disturbance is removed.
Seagrass meadows are globally recognized as valuable ecosystems for their ability to store carbon, protect coastlines from erosion, and support diverse marine life, including protected species like the spiny seahorse. Studland Bay, home to one of the UK's largest seagrass meadows, is a popular location for leisure boaters, making it particularly vulnerable to anchor damage.
Eco-moorings consist of a 2-meter helical screw securely drilled into the seabed, connected to a 2-meter elasticated riser that attaches to a surface buoy. This design allows the riser to stretch and retract with tidal changes, preventing the scouring of the seabed.
David Brown, chair of the Studland Bay Marine Partnership, stated that the impact of the eco-moorings has exceeded expectations, supported by robust monitoring and research. Ken Collins, an emeritus research fellow at the University of Southampton, confirmed that the research provides strong scientific evidence for the effectiveness of eco-moorings in seagrass conservation and restoration, suggesting their continued use and expansion in other sensitive marine environments.