Wildlife: with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

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.

SAILING FOR A WILDER SOLENT

Harbour seal © Stefan Johansson

2. Keep it wild

For many, wildlife watching is a highlight of recreational boating. Though it might be tempting to get a little closer to see more, try to stay at least 100 m away from wildlife in the water and at least 50 m away from animals on cliffs and rocks. If you suddenly spot something close by, slow down to reduce noise and give yourself time to stop if necessary. A pair of binoculars are an excellent addition to any watercraft and will allow you to get a better view while remaining at a safe distance. To keep disturbance to a minimum, it’s best to limit your observation to a maximum of 15 minutes.

3. Keep it cool

Climate change is now an accepted fact by the world’s scientists. As a boater, you can help reduce your carbon emissions by switching to low energy electrics like solar or wind energy where possible and considering fossil fuel alternatives like electric and biodiesel engines. It’s also vital to consider how and where you anchor, as important carbon-storing plants like seagrass and maerl can be easily damaged by dragging and scouring. The RYA Green Blue website offers a fantastic free guide to sustainable anchoring and mooring practices.

At Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, we’re on a mission to make our two counties wilder, and Wilder Solent is exploring what this looks like for our region’s waters. We’re working hard to protect the marine environment, from monitoring vulnerable species to campaigning for legal protections, but we need your help to tip the balance in nature’s favour.

Seagrass bed © Paul Naylor

To get involved visit www.hiwwt.org.uk/WilderSolent