The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has issued a statement directed at divers, snorkellers, photographers and filmmakers, reminding them that intentionally disturbing wild seahorses – including by photographing or filming them – requires a wildlife licence.
The MMO statement says that the warning has been issued after ‘recent observed incidents’ of seahorses being disturbed, with the aim of improving awareness of the legal protections surrounding the UK’s two native seahorse species.
The UK’s spiny or long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) and the short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus) are both protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 2018.
Anyone diving or snorkelling with the intention of carrying out an activity likely to disturb seahorses must hold a wildlife licence, which may be issued for the purposes of scientific and educational work.
In addition to the wildlife licence, applications to use flash photography when taking pictures of seahorses are considered on a case-by-case basis.
The guideline for flash photography was made after a 2014 paper found that the stress caused to seahorses by repeatedly taking flash photographs may have a detrimental effect on their wellbeing.
‘We can understand the high levels of interest and fascination people have with our native seahorse species,’ said Jess Churchill-Bissett, Head of Marine Conservation (Wildlife) at the MMO. ‘However they are incredibly vulnerable and fragile marine animals that are easily disturbed by human activities.
‘We know that incidents come from a genuine lack of awareness, which is why we want people to understand that are protected under the law and intentionally disturbing seahorses without a wildlife licence could result in enforcement action.
‘This applies to all divers, snorkellers, and TV and film production companies who should be aware of their legal obligations if intentionally seeking out seahorses.’
The MMO advises anyone who encounters a seahorse while swimming, snorkelling or diving not to spend more than five minutes observing it, never to touch or move it, avoid multiple people surrounding it, and not to chase it if it swims away.
If a seahorse shows signs of stress, including erratic swimming, rising into the water column, curling up or darkening in colour, the MMO advises that divers retreat slowly to at least five metres and avoid sudden movements.
If a live seahorse is found stranded or accidentally caught, the MMO advises placing it gently in a bucket of cold seawater, taking a photograph without flash, returning it to the sea where it was found as quickly as possible, and reporting the sighting to Natural England’s Seahorse Team and The Seahorse Trust.
‘Seahorses are a delicate, sensitive animal and extreme care should be taken if you see or accidentally catch one,’ said Neil Garrick-Maidment, Executive Director and Founder of The Seahorse Trust. ‘If found in a crab net, act quickly, keep them out of the water for as little time as possible, take a brief photo, then gently return them to the water away from seagulls.
‘If you spot one while snorkelling or diving, be calm and keep your distance, no flash photography. Crucially, report all sightings so we can add them to the National Seahorse Database. Knowledge of these precious animals is key to their protection.’
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