Looe Harbour Commissioners and the Ocean Conservation Trust have collaborated to protect one of the largest seagrass meadows in the South West by installing specialized marker buoys in Looe Bay.
These buoys are intended to highlight sensitive seagrass areas and encourage water users to avoid anchoring, thereby reducing damage to the seabed. The initiative aims to protect the seagrass habitats, which have seen declining numbers.
Eden Stevens from the Ocean Conservation Trust described the habitat as "remarkable." The new markers establish a voluntary no-anchor zone. In addition to the buoys, three Advanced Mooring Systems (AMS) have been fitted. These systems are designed as a low-impact alternative to traditional anchoring, utilizing mid-water floats to suspend chains above the seabed and prevent disturbance to sensitive ecosystems.