OF MARINAS

THE CHANGING FACE OF MARINAS

The marine environment is facing unprecedented change as a direct result of human activity and climate change. We talk to boatfolk about why the boating community should step up, take responsibility, and some of the things it is already doing to make positive changes.

Biohut cage systems have been installed at Haslar Marina. Image: Jenna Foxton

It is no surprise to anyone that the boating industry has an impact on the environment and that not enough is being done to raise awareness and change behaviours.

Operating 11 marinas nationwide, boatfolk’s goal is not to stop people boating. In fact, it is the opposite. By making changes now, boatfolk wants to ensure that the coastline and oceans remain a place that can be enjoyed for generations to come.

To protect our precious coastline and minimise our impact on the environment, boatfolk launched Coastline Deadline, a platform designed to back projects which have a real, positive and measurable impact.

It is currently focusing on key areas including marine wildlife conservation; minimising ocean plastics; providing easy, cost-free pump out solutionsto ensure cleaner water and switching to renewable energy.

War on plastics In the UK 5,000 items of marine plastic are found per mile of beach, and plastic in the ocean is projected to treble between 2015 and 2025.

We are in a unique position to make a change to how things are done in our sector and help eliminate plastic pollution. Whether it is preventative by changing behaviour, or running regular beach cleans to clear up the plastics already littering the coastline, this is not something we should take lightly. Wildlife conservation The business has joined forces with the Seahorse Trust and Portsmouth University as part of a not-for-profit re-wilding project which aims to create a safe habitat for one of the UK’s native seahorse species, the protected Short Snouted Seahorse, along with a variety of other vibrant marine wildlife. Both of the UK’s native seahorse species – the Spiny and the Short Snouted – were granted protected status in 2008 under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.

Biohut cage systems were installed at Haslar Marina in Portsmouth. The Biohut is an artificial marine aquatic nursery which provides food and shelter to many juvenile species. It restores the ecological nursery function that is lost when natural shallow coastal waters become urban environments. A specialist gauge rope has also been added to give the Short Snouted Seahorse the ideal environment to thrive, hunt and hide from prey.

Ben Lippiett, marina manager at Haslar, said: “We are thrilled to be working with our partners at Portsmouth University and The Seahorse Trust to create these wonderfully beneficial Biohuts under our pontoons.Re-wilding projects like this make a real difference by providing juvenile species with a safe place to thrive, which can be a challenge in urban harbours like ours.

“Through our underwater cameras, we hope this project will educate and inspire people about the huge amount of biodiversity within our seas. We

A number of free-to-use eco-moorings have been positioned at Studland Bay

are also pleased to name the Short Snouted Seahorse as the new mascot for Haslar Marina!The innovative Biohut systems have been specifically designed to help these majestic and protected creatures thrive.”

Beside its ecological benefits, the Biohut is a useful tool to collect scientific data on coastal colonisation by juvenile Here is a Seabin installed on River Soar fish, as well as raising public awareness about marine biodiversity.

Dr Ian Hendy, from The Institute of Marine Sciences at Portsmouth University, added: “Whilst many studies report on the decline of coastal biodiversity, we will be reporting on how the Biohuts have created new and rich safe habitats for a vast number of baby, rare and endangered aquatic animals in the marinas of the Solent. This project will greatly improve the vibrant wildlife, the environment and will benefit communities local to the Solent.”

Eco-moorings Environmentalists have highlighted how anchoring has damaging consequences for seagrass meadows, which are not only an essential habitat for species including seahorses, but also store up to twice as much carbon per hectare as terrestrial forests.

In 2018 Studland’s Bay became a designated Marine Conservation Zone due to its rare seagrass meadows. To save Studland’s seagrass and seahorses, boatfolk and The Seahorse Trust worked together to install 10 free-to-use ecomoorings at the site.

Neil Garrick-Maidment, of The Seahorse Trust, and Michael Prideaux, managing director at boatfolk, said: “The Seahorse Trust and boatfolk are united in a clear belief that eco-moorings are the way forward for Studland, allowing boaters to continue enjoying the site while seagrass and seahorses thrive alongside.”

For further information about boatfolk and its sustainability initiative visit www.coastlinedeadline.co.uk.