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Studland Bay seagrass shows dramatic recovery as MMO backed eco-moorings prove effective

New scientific evidence has shown that seagrass scars caused by traditional anchoring in Studland Bay have shrunk by more than 90% since eco-moorings were introduced.

From:
Marine Management Organisation
Published:
19 October 2026

Studland Bay, Image Credit @National Trust, Brad Wakefield

Evidence of seagrass recovery in Studland Bay, demonstrates the success of conservation work led by local partners and supported by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

Studland Bay, off the Dorset coast, was designated a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) in 2019 and is home to one of the UK’s most significant seagrass beds. These beds serve as a vital habitat for protected species, including seahorses, pipefish and rays, as well as serving as nursery grounds for commercially important fish species.

The MMO introduced a voluntary no anchor zone (VNAZ) in the bay in 2021, working alongside the Studland Bay Marine Partnership (SBMP) to find innovative solutions to reduce pressure on the sensitive seagrass habitat. This partnership approach led to an initial installation of eco-moorings to enable boaters to continue to use the bay without impacting the health of the seagrass.

Traditional moorings can move across the seabed, as vessel moves with the wind and tide, and can scour or damage sensitive seabed habitats. Eco-moorings however are an environmentally friendly form of Advanced Mooring System (AMS) and use a helical screw drilled into the seabed with an elasticated riser that connects to a surface buoy. In Studland Bay, the partnership was required to apply for marine licence before carrying out the installation of the eco-moorings and was supported by the MMO through this process.  

Furthermore in 2023, MMO awarded a £186,000 Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS) grant to SBMP to support a larger £248,000 conservation project, which included an additional 57 eco-moorings. Bringing the total number of eco-moorings in the bay up to 87.

Research carried out by Kira Dunn from the University of Southampton has since analysed five years of monitoring data collected since the first installed eco-moorings. Using side-scan sonar surveys, historical satellite imagery and annual monitoring, the study tracked recovery across 39 damaged areas of seabed and found that every anchor chain scar examined showed signs of healing once disturbance had stopped.

In the area where the first trial eco-moorings were installed, bare patches in the seagrass shrank by an average of 93.6% between 2021 and 2025, with an area of around 57 square metres recovering each year. In a second area, where traditional chain moorings remained in place until 2023, scars still reduced by 65.4% once alternatives became available, but recovery only began after the switch away from traditional anchoring, at around 15.9 square metres a year.

The findings align with MMOs recent call on coastal communities across England to contribute to Your Coast – Explore, Enjoy, Protect, a new campaign and call for evidence seeking views and evidence on how marine recreational activities, including anchoring, affect protected features in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Studland Bay stands as a clear example of what can be achieved when evidence leads to action, and the MMO is encouraging anyone with experience, data or views to have their say.

Jessica Churchill- Bissett, Head of Marine Conservation (Wildlife) at MMO, said:

Studland Bay is a case study for how MMO can support coastal communities to deliver proportionate, practical and effective conservation initiatives.

This new research shows what’s possible and we’re proud to have had teams from across MMO, including our conservation, grants and licensing teams, play a part in supporting this important work. We’ll continue to back schemes like this, which show how we can protect precious habitats for future generations while supporting those who rely on and enjoy our seas.

David Brown, Chair of the Studland Bay Marine Partnership steering group, and Restore Nature lead for the National Trust, said:

Southampton University’s findings are incredibly exciting, and a huge encouragement to all the organisations and individuals who have given so much time and support to the partnership. We had previously mapped all the anchor scars in the seagrass, and this research shows that every one of them is healing, with new seagrass growing back.

The impact has been beyond our expectations, and thanks to robust monitoring and research, we have the science to prove how the eco-moorings benefit seagrass and all the species that rely on it.

Find out more about the Studland Bay Marine Partnership and their recent research project.

Additional Information