Public Consultation

Public Consultation

Dorset Coast Forum have been providing the Studland Bay Marine Partnership with community, partner and stakeholder consultation since March 2021 when a facilitated formal engagement period to gain further input from stakeholders about three draft anchoring management options. A summary of the engagement can be found in the Studland Bay MCZ Engagement Feedback Report 2021. During the summer of 2022 public opinion on the draft 10-year management strategy, moorings plan and future governance options for Studland Bay was gathered and the Community Consultation Feedback Report 2022 was completed by DCF in November 2022 and reviewed by the Studland Bay Marine Partnership group to inform next steps.

This extensive engagement period with local residents and boat users was designed to understand their views on awareness and usage of the eco-moorings and the Voluntary No Anchor Zone. Of those surveyed, 58% of respondents said they were interested in the conservation of the seagrass habitat.

SBMP Steering Group member Howard talking eco-moorings at South Beach, August 2023

Raising public awareness and greater understanding of marine conservation at Studland and how everyone can work together to achieve this, is at the heart of the partnership and we will continue to host engagement events, particularly during the boating season, both at Studland and the Poole Harbour area as a whole. We welcome opportunities to talk to the boating community, local organisations, educators and stakeholders and are always happy to bring our display eco-mooring with us - as seen on BBC Springwatch in 2023!