Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust launches boater survey

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has launched a survey to gather valuable insights from boaters regarding mooring and anchoring in the Solent.

Boating practices can have a significant impact on the health of marine ecosystems. The Solent Boating Survey seeks to understand and build a clearer picture of how boating can impact the Solent’s vital seagrass meadows.

“We are passionate about helping people connect with nature, which includes our local seas.” said Emily Stroud, Senior Engagement Officer (Solent Seascape) at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

“Getting out on the waves in a boat is a great way to do this. However, traditional anchoring and mooring systems can cause damage to the Solent’s delicate seagrass meadows. The Solent Boating Survey is vital in helping us understand the mindsets and motivations regarding how boats are secured in and around these precious habitats. 

“The views and actions of boaters will ultimately help guide us in developing conservation strategies, with boating communities, that protects these important habitats whilst safeguarding community values.” Emily adds.

The survey has been launched during National Marine Week. This year’s theme is Sea the Connection, and the Trust is celebrating this connection by highlighting why a healthy, thriving marine environment – including seagrass meadows – matters. The annual celebration of the sea runs from Saturday 27th July until Sunday 11th August 2024 (it spans a fortnight due to the varying tidal conditions around the UK).

The Trust is urging all boaters to participate in the survey and would like to hear from anyone who regularly takes to the water in the Solent, this includes on sail and motor yachts to dinghies, powerboats and RIBs, plus personal water crafts.

The survey can be found on the Hampshire & Isle of Wight website – www.hiwwt.org.uk/solent-boating-survey

There are several fantastic prizes up for grabs upon completion of the survey: an exclusive guided shore walk with a marine biologist for up to eight people, a year’s free membership to the Trust, and a £20 voucher for Fatface Foundation Store.

The survey closes on 31 December 2024. The survey guarantees anonymity, ensuring that the data collected remains confidential. There is also the option to sign up to receive the results.

The sheltered conditions of the Solent’s seagrass meadows provide a home for a wealth of wildlife, including rare stalked jellyfish and both of the UK’s native species of seahorse. The swaying leaves are also perfect nursery grounds for young flatfish. Seagrasses also have a highly important role in tackling climate change. Seagrass plants and meadows have the potential to sequester and store huge amounts of carbon. Seagrass captures carbon at a rate 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, making them one of our most important natural solutions to the climate change crisis.

The UK has lost approximately 90% of its seagrass meadows, half of which has been lost in the past three decades. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, in conjunction with the Solent Seascape Project and Solent Seagrass Restoration Project, works to restore seagrass habitats in the Solent to their historical levels.

Steve Backshall, TV presenter and supporter of National Marine Week, says:  “We’re so lucky to have waters around our Great British Isles which are teeming with life, with treasures equalling anywhere else on this planet. I distinctly remember swimming in a seagrass meadow off the coast of Cornwall with spiny seahorses bumping into my mask! Even if you don’t live on the coast, you can still get involved with National Marine Week by learning about the deadly impact of pollution on our seas and doing a litter pick to make sure less plastic makes its way downstream.”