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Concern over sea-fan destruction
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Having heard that rare sea-fans were being washed up regularly on Dorset's Chesil Beach, researchers headed for area - and found a swathe of the protected coral species lining the shore.
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The surveyors, from Dorset Wildlife Trust and the Marine Conservation Society, collected the remains and documented their finds. The fans were washed up at various points along the 18-mile beach but, in one particularly bad area, 577 pieces lay in a stretch of just 590m.
'Pink sea-fans are vulnerable to bottom trawling and entanglement in fishing nets,' Julie Hatcher, DWT Marine Officer, told Divernet. 'No-one knows how many of these beautiful corals are in Lyme Bay, but if they continue washing up in such numbers they have an uncertain future.'
MCS volunteer Steve Trewhella added: 'They are one of the few species with legal protection, which goes to show that safety for marine wildlife is wholly inadequate.'
Julie Hatcher would like to hear of any continuing evidence of sea-fan destruction at Chesil Beach or elsewhere in Lyme Bay - and from divers who would like to get involved in underwater surveys. Call her at DWT on 01929 481044, or email to pmwr@cix.co.uk
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