[jonothetigger]

just skimming other forums and come across this report !!!

RARE SEAHORSES SWIM THROUGH UK’s HIDDEN MEADOWS

Just a few metres away from holiday makers on the Devon and Cornwall coasts are secret
undersea meadows of rippling seagrass, home to numerous species of animal, including two
species of rare seahorse, and vital to commercial fisheries.
It is not just tourists that have the missed the importance of seagrass. Students at the
University of Plymouth only discovered one meadow a few years ago as marine ecologist
Martin Attrill explains: ‘We had some students working on a diving project at Looe in
Cornwall and they discovered a large bed of these plants growing under the sea not far from
the main tourist beach. Seagrass (Zostera marina) are not related to seaweeds instead they are
true plants, look like reeds and have fine, soft leaves about half a metre long.’
‘Seagrass meadows are important because many species are dependent on them for all or part
of their life cycle and they have a much higher biodiversity than surrounding habitats. The
most exciting inhabitant I think is the seahorse. We have two rare species in the UK, one of
which is hardly ever seen and was found by accident. Other species of interest are shellfish,
cuttlefish, crabs, pipefish and commercial fish such as sea bream.’
‘Seagrass beds also have other important roles such as protecting the coastline from the
buffering of waves and in some places binding the sand together to stop its erosion.’
‘Seagrasses can be seen at low tide and as they grow in shallow water, but are easily damaged
by dragging anchors and amenity fishing. I would like more people to know about seagrass to
help us to conserve this vital ecosystem and the species that are dependent upon it.’
The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth has some examples of the species that depend on
seagrasses,including the Long Snouted Seahorse Hippocampus ramulosus and H.
hippocampus which is mainly found in the Channel Isles with an occasional find in Plymouth.
Seagrass meadows can be seen in resorts such as Salcombe and Torquay in Devon and even in
Plymouth Sound.
- ENDS -

[ben]

i didnt know we had pipefish here until i went snorkeling a couple of years ago, and saw them at godrevy. i even managed to hold one without it swimming away

[Dave.I]

The pipefish are very abundant at the moment! I catch them most trips to the exe estuary when collecting mysis.Our native seahorses are on display at the seahorse trust hq in devon.They are closer to you than you think ! If you are lucky enough to see one however please dont touch and remember it is illegal to remove them,they are protected species.Thanks for the post jono!

[jonothetigger]

you would not believe where i got the post from !!!

[Dave.I]

Do tell !

[jonothetigger]

off a car forum !!!

[Matt]

We have lots of suitable habitat for seahorses around the cornish coast!
I snorkelled over some pretty healthy looking eel grass in the Percuil estuary earlier this year - The Fal, Helford, Fowey and Tamar estuaries all potentialy have sea horse populations - no one knows how many are out there because it is so hard to find them when you are looking for them! I have never seen one. We mainly get Hippocampus guttulatus around these parts. Last year was a bumper year for sea horses though with loads being found all up the South Coast of england - Fishermen brought in so many to Blue Reef Portsmouth that they have been able to start up their own breeding program for Hippocampus hippocampus.
Matt
Blue Reef Newquay