The MMO meeting this week was really positive and thank you to everyone who voted on the MCS site, there were over 2,000 votes in the end with over 70% in favour of Studland becoming protected.
The meeting was positive despite being gate crashed by some very vocal antis to the conservation of the site but in the end everytime they spoke they just dropped themselves in it as they could not support their arguments with facts so they did us a favour.
Although it has not been confirmed it looks very positive that Studland will become a protected site; a Marine Protected Zone (MPZ). This does not mean a banning of everyone but it means that a stakeholder group will oversee the management of the bay and harmful activities will be stopped or changed to preserve the site for future generations, the seagrass and most importantly the seahorses.
The meeting was very well attended and the overall opinion was that Studland is too important a site not to be protected and if Studland does not recieve protection then it would make a mockery of the whole protected species and zones policy.
This is only step one of the process but a very positive step, we are hoping that there will be a second meeting in January and it will be strictly restricted to invited guests only;Â the anti lobby from Studland have been asked to put forward a representative to voice their views.
Here at the trust we feel it is vital that there is local involvement of this site and that we will happily work together to ensure the future of this amazing but under pressure site.
Thank you to one and all for your overwhelming support and dont forget keep voting your votes will and have made a difference.
