Seahorse habitats in Studland Bay, Dorset, are showing signs of recovery due to the installation of eco-moorings, according to a new scientific study. The study, conducted by Kira Dunn as part of her MSc in Marine Biology with Oceanography at the University of Southampton, analyzed monitoring data collected since the first eco-moorings were installed in 2021 by the Studland Bay Marine Partnership. The research tracked recovery across 39 damaged areas of seabed using sonar surveys, historical satellite imagery, and five years of monitoring data. In the area where 10 trial eco-moorings were installed in 2021, the size of bare patches in the seagrass decreased by an average of 93.6% between 2021 and 2025, shrinking by around 57 square meters each year. In a second study area, where traditional chain moorings remained until 2023, the scars reduced by 65.4%, around 15.9 square meters a year. These findings suggest that eco-moorings are more effective in promoting seagrass recovery than traditional anchoring methods. Studland Bay has been a designated Marine Conservation Zone since 2019 and is home to one of the UK's largest seagrass meadows, supporting species such as the protected spiny seahorse and short-snouted seahorse. The bay also became a voluntary no-anchor zone in 2021. Seagrass meadows are vital ecosystems that provide habitat for marine life, help store carbon, and stabilize the seabed. David Brown, chair of the partnership steering group and lead ecologist for the National Trust, called the results "incredibly exciting," adding that "the impact has been beyond our expectations." He emphasized that the results provide "the science to prove how the eco-moorings benefit seagrass and all the species that rely on it." Dr Ken Collins, of the University of Southampton, who supervised the study, said Studland Bay is becoming a powerful example of how practical conservation measures can reverse habitat damage and deliver measurable environmental improvements. Kira Dunn, who graduated this year, described the research project as "rewarding and positive," noting that it is "incredibly encouraging to see how quickly this important habitat can regenerate when given the opportunity." The Studland Bay Marine Partnership is made up of conservation charities, boating organizations, academics, statutory bodies, community groups, and businesses, with the aim of restoring Studland's seagrass. Partners include Dorset Wildlife Trust, Natural England, the National Trust, the Seahorse Trust, and the University of Southampton.