FEARS have been raised that illegal clam fishermen in Poole Harbour could be responsible for the deaths of protected seahorses.

With unusually high numbers being washed up on Hamworthy beaches, it is believed there could be a common cause which should be investigated.

It is widely known that unlicensed boats operate illegally in the harbour near Rockley, gathering up clams from the seabed.

There is a significant population of seahorses in the harbour and another spiny Seahorse was washed up dead at Hamworthy last weekend.

“Three have been reported to us over the last month from this beach. Another two were reported from Rockley slipway,” said Steve Trewhella of the Seahorse Trust.

“I find it strange that so many seahorses would wash up in such a small area, in calm conditions.”

A spokesman for Natural England, the “public champion” of the natural environment, said: “This is something Natural England will be looking into.”

However, Ian Carrier, chief fisheries officer for Southern Sea Fisheries, was sceptical that the deaths could be caused by illegal clammers.

“Clam fishermen don’t fish where the seagrass (seahorse habitat) is,” he said. “It’s not the same habitat as where the clams live.”

He acknowledged that illegal fishing took place and said: “We do our best, with the resources we have, to try and stop it”.

When patrols stopped boats suspected of illegal activity, the catch often went over the side, leaving no evidence, he said. But one prosecution did result in a man being sentenced to three months in jail, suspended for 12 months.

The legal clam season ran from October 5 to December 31 last year, but there is a market for undersized shellfish.

Borough of Poole’s environmental and consumer protection service monitors the bacteriological quality of shellfish in the harbour to ensure they are safe to be collected.

“Procedures are in place to prevent these shellfish reaching the food chain if levels are unsafe,” said Jeff Morley, regulatory team manager.

“We work with Southern Sea Fisheries, the Marine and Fisheries Agency and Dorset Police in monitoring boats not holding a licence issued by fisheries agencies.

“We have prosecuted for illegal shell fishing in the harbour and continue to assess the need for further legal action,” he added.

* Any washed-up seahorses should be reported to The Seahorse Trust or the Wildlife Trust.