Responsible Anchoring

Seagrass provides habitat, nursery areas, coastal protection and carbon storage. Current MMO guidance explains that an anchor and chain can uproot plants, expose roots, leave scars and fragment a bed. The risk is not only the point where the anchor lands: a swinging yacht can sweep chain across a wider area and a dragging anchor can extend the damage.

Before arriving, check current charts, notices, harbour information and available habitat mapping. Respect formal or voluntary no-anchor zones and use an appropriate visitor or advanced mooring system where provided. A mooring is not automatically suitable merely because it is empty; confirm its permission, capacity and condition in the normal way.

If anchoring is allowed and necessary, select a mapped or visibly clear bare substrate with enough depth, shelter, holding and swinging room. Lower the anchor under control, avoid searching for a clear patch by dragging, monitor the set and recover vertically as far as conditions and the boat allow. Safety remains decisive: habitat protection does not require accepting an unsafe berth, but it does require planning another safe location rather than knowingly damaging the bed for convenience.