Seahorses tagged in Britain for the first time

Louise Gray, The Telegraph 10 May 09;

Seahorses in Britain have been tagged for the first time in an effort to find out more about the elusive creatures.

Divers managed to capture one of the spiny seahorses, six or seven inches long, in Studland Bay, Dorset.

Little is known about Britain's two native species, the spiny and short-snouted seahorses, which are found around the south coast of England.

The largest population in the UK of around 40 seahorses, including pregnant males, was discovered in Studland Bay last summer. However there are already concerns that the species may be at threat from boats in the area ripping up eelgrass which the seahorses rely on.

The tagging project by the Seahorse Trust, supported by Natural England and funded by the National Lottery, is an effort to find out how endangered the marine animals are. It could also shed light on some of the mysteries surrounding the species, such as where they go during the winter months and whether they mate for life

Steve Trewalla, of the Seahorse Trust, who is recording the project, said the seahorses were easy to tag, even twirling a tail around the handler's finger.
"Studland Bay is a living lab for seahorses and it is very exciting for us to be able to go and study these exceptionally rare animals," he said. "We want to learn as much as possible about these animals so we can protect them."

The Seahorse Trust wants further protection for seahorses in Studland Bay. But Natural England point out boats cannot be banned without demonstrating a problem and are currently undertaking a survey into how damaging the boats are to the eelgrass meadows.

Divers managed to capture one of the spiny seahorses, six or seven inches long, in Studland Bay, Dorset.

The largest population in the UK of around 40 seahorses, including pregnant males, was discovered in Studland Bay last summer. However there are already concerns that the species may be at threat from boats in the area ripping up eelgrass which the seahorses rely on.

The tagging project by the Seahorse Trust, supported by Natural England and funded by the National Lottery, is an effort to find out how endangered the marine animals are. It could also shed light on some of the mysteries surrounding the species, such as where they go during the winter months and whether they mate for life

Steve Trewalla, of the Seahorse Trust, who is recording the project, said the seahorses were easy to tag, even twirling a tail around the handler's finger.

"Studland Bay is a living lab for seahorses and it is very exciting for us to be able to go and study these exceptionally rare animals," he said. "We want to learn as much as possible about these animals so we can protect them."

The Seahorse Trust wants further protection for seahorses in Studland Bay. But Natural England point out boats cannot be banned without demonstrating a problem and are currently undertaking a survey into how damaging the boats are to the eelgrass meadows.