Conservation at Sea
Poole Rocks MCZ
How we work to conserve Dorset's seas
A magical kingdom lies unseen and unappreciated beneath the Dorset waves. Our submarine landscapes and habitats are more than a match for those we are more familiar with on land, supporting as many, or even more, different wildlife species. Our waters have many different habitats, which support a myriad of marine creatures. These include meadows of Seagrass meadows, kelp forests, coral gardens, rocky reefs and ledges, tide-scoured submarine cliffs and gravel dunes sculpted by tidal currents.
However, protection of marine habitats is lagging about 50 years behind those on land and marine species have continued to decline. Being mostly out of sight puts undersea habitats at greater risk. They are less understood, less appreciated and damage can go unnoticed for a long time. Dorset Wildlife Trust wants to see a return to Living Seas - marine wildlife thriving in our coastal waters, recovering from past decline as we use the sea’s resources more wisely and learn to value the sea for the many ways in which it supports our quality of life. You can read all about the Wildlife Trust's marine strategy here.
Marine Protected Areas and Wildlife
Like national parks on land, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are one tool we use to safeguard vulnerable or important ecosystems, habitats and species. Here in the UK, an MPA network is being created around our coastline. Capturing every aspect of our marine biodiversity gives this network the best chance of success. The role of MPAs is to help achieve the right balance between the needs of everyone that uses the sea. This year the Government announced 41 new MPAs around the UK, including in Dorset. Read more here.

A female spiny seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) shelters is a meadow of common eelgrass (Zostera marina). Photographed in summer (August) in Studland Bay, Dorset, England. British Isles. English Channel. - Alexander Mustard/2020VISION
Fisheries and Fishing
Advances in technology and industry have made accessing the catch more efficient, yet the fishing methods used in Dorset have remained virtually unchanged; the inshore fishery is predominately traditional. Boats under 12m in length use pots and traps, hand-lines and static nets which are generally more selective and create little impact upon the seabed. This contrasts to the intensive and high impact mobile trawls and dredges which can damage sensitive seabed habitats of seagrass and rocky reefs. These vulnerable habitats are now protected within Marine Protected Areas through a byelaw enforced by Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA). This amounts to 31% of the Dorset inshore area
Traditional inshore fishing boat © Steve Davis
Sea Angling
Recreational sea angling is one of the UK’s most popular participation sports. The Southern IFCA Recreational Sea Angling Strategy estimates that some 884,000 people participate in sea angling and spend £1.23 billion annually supporting 10,400 full time equivalent jobs. Sea angling is popular in Dorset amongst residents and the Dorset coast is a popular sea angling visitor destination. The Dorset sea angling community is therefore a major stakeholder in the marine environment.
Sea angler © JHatcher
Understanding the Sea
Underpinning the work in marine conservation is our longstanding effort to better understand the marine habitats of Dorset. With the help of remote sensing techniques from DORIS and an army of Seasearch volunteer divers and shore-walkers we now have one of the best understood areas of seabed in the UK.

DORIS map of the seabed
Development at sea
New proposals for developments at sea must be sustainable and include provisions to safeguard important marine habitats and wildlife. We endeavour to respond to any such applications to ensure the marine environment is fully considered. Recent high-profile development proposals in Poole bay have included the Navitus Bay windfarm and the offshore exploratory oil well proposal.
Are you concerned about a local development? Let us know. Visit the Wildlife Trust's page here for more details.
Inspiring people
The marine environment is no longer considered to be out of sight, out of mind or even inaccessible. And as the sea continues to inspire so grows our urge to protect.
We want to bring people closer to marine wildlife and offer a wide variety of conservation education through public events and school programmes at our visitor centres at Kimmeridge, Chesil and Brownsea. These locations also provide opportunities for volunteers to get active in marine conservation! However, if you prefer, why not become a DWT member and join your local group or request a talk from the Living Seas team?

Archie rockpooling at Kimmeridge © Futerra
The Seashore Code - what to do and how to act at the seaside
Our vision for the future
We believe it is possible to achieve Living Seas within a single generation but only if we act now. Please consider helping us, you can get active and help volunteer your time for marine conservation.