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To create evaluate and then protect delicate habitats for seahorses within Plymouth Sound. The Sound is both a delicate marine environment and a highly popular site for recreational water use and commercial shipping. This conflict has the potential of destroying Seahorse populations.

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Categories

  • Animals Animals
  • Education/Training/Employment Education/​Training/​Employment
  • Environment/Conservation Environment/​Conservation
  • Beneficiaries

    Situation

    A lack of public knowledge on the presence of native seahorses in Plymouth Sound means that these Biodiversity Action Plan Focus Species are threatened with habitat loss and destruction. The location and numbers of seahorses in the sound is not fully understood and a baseline survey needs to be undertaken to identify potential threats and also to identify actions that can be taken to protect this vulnerable species.

    Solution

    By carrying out an initial ROV led survey of Plymouth Sound for seahorse habitats then following this with detailed diver surveys of likely locations we will estimate seahorse numbers. By overlaying these habitats onto a shipping and recreational usage map we will identify threats to the habitats. The final stage of the project will be to form multi-stakeholder groups of all sound users to form a seahorse protection strategy and implementation scheme.

    100%
    Categories

  • Animals Animals
  • Education/Training/Employment Education/​Training/​Employment
  • Environment/Conservation Environment/​Conservation
  • Beneficiaries