AN ONLINE petition opposing Defra’s decision not to put Studland Bay forward as a potential Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) has attracted almost 125,000 responses.

The Daily Echo reported in February how protected marine status had been shelved at Studland Bay, largely because of the effects it would have had on fishermen and recreation yachting.

That decision split opinion – environmentalists had been eager to secure MCZ status, as they believed it would help conserve the bay’s delicate eelgrass habitat. However, some members of local boating associations welcomed the government’s stance.

The eelgrass meadows are home to a number of rare marine species including the UK’s only native seahorse.

Neil Garrick-Maidment, of the Seahorse Trust, says the eelgrass is damaged when yachts lower their anchors, and he established the petition to try to force Defra officials into making a U-turn. Experts say Studland Bay provides important habitat for both the spiny seahorse and the short-snouted seahorse.

“In 2008 both species were listed under the Wildlife and Countryside Act as threatened,” Mr Garrick-Maidment added.

Studland Bay was one of 14 potential MCZ areas shelved by Defra. Consultations will now go ahead on establishing just 23 more zones across the UK.

After learning of the initial decision not to press ahead with MCZ status at Studland earlier this year, Dorset Wildlife Trust living seas manager Peter Tinsley voiced his concerns.

He said: “We are obviously very disappointed as Studland is one of our key sites and something that we should be very proud of, and something everybody should be proud of.

“We don’t really believe that anybody is going to lose out from designation. There is so much to gain from it. It is by far the most supported site in the country, but also one of the areas with the most people opposed to it as well.”