WILDLIFE
SAILING FOR A WILDER SOLENT WITH HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT WILDLIFE TRUST
Tim Ferrero
The Solent is a special place, home to internationally important wildlife and habitats. There are wonderful seagrass meadows and intricate chalk reefs, as well as fascinating species like mantis shrimp, thresher sharks, and cuttlefish. As a recreational boater, you may be lucky enough to spot some of our strait’s most charismatic animals, from seals and seabirds to sharks and dolphins. These encounters are enriching and memorable, so it’s important to ensure that others can enjoy similar experiences for generations to come. To help safeguard our region’s extraordinary waters, we’ve outlined three simple steps to help you get the best out of your wildlife encounters while keeping your environmental impact to a minimum. 1. Keep it clean Being out on the water is a great way to connect with nature. But it’s important to be careful not to leave any trace of your presence behind as fuel, waste, cleaning products and antifoul can directly impact wildlife. By protecting against oil and fuel leaks, disposing of waste appropriately and preventing chemicals from reaching the water, you can enjoy your time at sea while also helping to preserve a healthy marine environment. It’s also good practice to regularly bring your boat ashore to remove any fouling, as this helps to prevent the spread of aquatic Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) around our coastal waters.
solenthandbook.com
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