Practical Boat Owner – August 2019

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News and current affairs from the world of boating

News

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Email news editor Katy Stickland at

[email protected], tel: 01252 555213

SEND US YOUR STORIES

Email news editor Katy Stickland at

[email protected], tel: 01252 555213

T

he RYA says it will
continue to campaign
against anchoring
restrictions at Marine
Conservation Zones (MCZs)
following the designation of 41
new MCZs in English waters.
The third tranche of MCZs
includes Studland Bay in
Dorset and Bembridge on the
Isle of Wight, with the
Government announcing that
anchoring and mooring at both
of these sites would need to be
managed to protect the
eelgrass and maerl beds. In
total, there are now 91 MCZs
around the coast of England.
The RYA’s planning and
environmental offi cer, Duncan
Savage, said to date there had
been no managed anchoring
introduced at MCZs and it
would be pushing for no
anchoring restrictions at
Studland Bay and Bembridge.
“As we said in our consultation
response to Government,
anchoring restrictions can be
avoided as long as boaters
follow best anchoring practice,”
Savage said.
Management options being

Up to £10 million is to be
invested in coastal marinas
around the UK, following the
announcement that Dean &
Reddyhoff and Quay Marinas
are to merge.
The deal involves 11 marinas

• Conwy Quays, Bangor,
  Deacons on the River Hamble,
  East Cowes, Haslar, Penarth in
  South Wales, Portishead,
  Portland, Weymouth, Rhu on
  the Firth of Clyde and Royal
  Quays in Newcastle.
  The managing director of

Dean & Reddyhoff, Michael

Prideaux, told PBO that there

would be no planned staff

changes at any of the marinas.

He said the deal was very

much about growth and

expansion, and alongside 11

marinas, 4,000 berths and 150

staff, the new business would

operate boat yards, boat repair

and maintenance and boat

sales. The investment

programme will be rolled out

over fi ve years

“The focus will be about the

Anchoring restrictions considered

for Studland and Bembridge

Dean & Reddyhoff and

Quay Marinas to merge

JWOI/Alamy

Castle Vision Photographic

Management options for

anchoring and mooring

are being considered for

Studland Bay

considered in Studland Bay

include replacing the 51

existing moorings with

eco-moorings, the introduction

of a no-anchoring zone in areas

with eelgrass or the removal of

moorings and banning

anchoring across the main

extent of the eelgrass beds.

In Bembridge, voluntary or

legislated zoned closures to

anchoring over seagrass along

the western edge of Priory Bay

and maerl beds on Culver Spit

could be introduced along with

the re-siting of moorings. Any

restrictions at either site would

not impact on boats seeking a

port of refuge.

Savage said there was not

enough evidence on the use

and security of eco-moorings

for them to be used in the short

term, although work was being

done which could enable their

use in the future.

The Boat Owners Response

Group (BORG), which promotes

the right of navigation,

anchoring and mooring for

boaters in the context of MCZs

and other legislation, is also

against anchoring restrictions.

Spokesman Jon Reed said

little research had been done

on the effect of anchoring in

eelgrass, but best anchoring

practice could mitigate the

impact. The group, along with

the RYA, Natural England,

Hampshire & Isle of Wight

Wildlife Trust and the Dorset

Wildlife Trust, has already

produced a best anchoring

practice leafl et.

“Nobody suggests that

anchoring does not cause

some disturbance. It is a

question of degree. The

purpose of the MCZ is to

‘restore and maintain’ the

eelgrass in good condition.

Our observation [at Studland]

is that it is already in good

condition, and meets the

criteria laid down by Natural

England. Limiting or stopping

anchoring will make little

difference,”stressed Reed.

Studland is one of the most

heavily used sea anchorages

in the UK. Reed said the

enforcement of any ban could

also impact on the local

economy.

Conwy Marina is

one of 11 marinas

involved in the deal

Current berth holders can

already take part in berth

swaps between the marinas

and free nights for those

cruising between destinations.

The marinas will be operated

under one brand once the

merger is complete..

customer experience and the

needs of existing customers and

our future customers. With the

merged portfolios we will have a

necklace of marinas around the

UK which no-one else has and

we will be welcoming all and

every type of boater,” he said.