The British Seahorse
It comes as a surprise to many that seahorses thrive not only in tropical seas, but also in the cool, murky waters surrounding the UK and Ireland. Britain is home to two remarkable species: the Spiny or long-snouted Seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) and the Short-snouted Seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus). Perfectly adapted to life in temperate waters, they are most often found clinging to seagrass beds or sheltering among muddy seabeds, where their excellent camouflage keeps them hidden from view.
These two seahorse species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it illegal to disturb or take them - a vital safeguard for some of the UK’s most enchanting marine residents.
Seahorse Surveys
Since 2023, our team has conducted two census surveys a year, along the Dorset coast to monitor native seahorse populations. The census results are combined with monthly volunteer dive surveys as part of a SEA LIFE supported PhD research project that plays a vital role in building our understanding of local seahorse species, their distribution, and habitat use. By continuing this long-term monitoring, we can better inform conservation efforts and help protect these remarkable animals. To date, the surveys have recorded over 230 seahorse sightings, providing valuable insight into the health and presence of this important species.
Seahorse Habitat Monitoring
We work independently and in partnership with Project Seagrass to monitor and restore seagrass beds along the coast, a vital habitat for native seahorse species. By studying seahorse habitat preferences, we can identify the most important areas for protection and target conservation efforts where they will have the greatest impact.
Habitat Restoration Solutions
Our habitat surveys have revealed damage to seabeds caused by chain scarring from traditional moorings, which can severely affect seagrass meadows. In response, eco‑moorings are being installed to reduce seabed disturbance and protect this essential ecosystem.
The deployment of these eco‑moorings is led by The Seahorse Trust, with support from our team and researchers, working together to safeguard seahorse habitats for the future.
Education & Community Engagement
Community engagement is a vital part of effective conservation, and we are committed to sharing knowledge and raising awareness locally and beyond.
We support The Seahorse Trust by helping to promote awareness of their work and the global reporting of seahorse sightings, which plays a crucial role in seahorse conservation worldwide.
We also engage and educate the public through our aquariums, delivering local conservation evenings at SEA LIFE sites, creating dedicated information zones across UK locations, and sharing our work through industry events and community presentations.
Further Research Projects
We are also supporting further research through a range of academic collaborations. This includes:
- MSc project at the University of Essex exploring AI recognition of seahorses using spot patterns
- PhD project focused on seahorse populations
- MSc project at the University of Bangor identifying the ages of seahorses from otoliths
In addition, we support a number of undergraduate research projects, helping to build skills and experience for the next generation of marine researchers.
