{"id":94239,"date":"2018-07-24T08:52:10","date_gmt":"2018-07-24T08:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=158242fca015b2abaf5a3e47a5a4412f"},"modified":"2018-07-24T08:52:10","modified_gmt":"2018-07-24T08:52:10","slug":"news-story-public-reminded-of-the-rules-around-seahorses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=94239","title":{"rendered":"News story: Public reminded of the rules around seahorses"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Government is reminding people of the conservation rules protecting seahorses following reports of a pair being discovered<\/a> at Babbacombe, Devon.<\/p>\n

Both seahorse species found in UK waters \u2013 long snouted (hippocampus guttulatus) and short snouted (hippocampus hippocampus) \u2013 are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981<\/a> and all species of seahorse are protected under the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES.)<\/p>\n

If you want to carry out an activity that would disturb a seahorse, or other UK or European protected species,<\/a> you must have a marine wildlife licence, administered in England by the Marine Management Organisation.<\/a> Such activities could include taking photographs, filming or surveys.<\/p>\n

Intentionally disturbing seahorses without appropriate permission could lead to enforcement action. The MMO will consider applications for licences for scientific or education purposes on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n

Where divers may incidentally encounter seahorses the MMO recommends the following guidelines are followed:<\/p>\n