Marine Life

What will the effect be on marine life and/or coastal erosion?

It is expected that marine life will thrive on the reef and there will be no damaging effects to the beach. Bournemouth Borough Council is working closely to monitor marine life. Experts predict the reef itself is likely to become a busy habitat over time, with marine creatures colonising its surfaces and taking shelter within it, developing into a haven for wildlife that would not otherwise exist on a flat seabed.

The reef is teeming with life

Although the reason for building this reef is for regeneration and leisure, expert opinion says that it may also help with coastal defences. Other reefs built for both coastal protection and watersports have provided good protection on the beaches. This is because the wave energy drops before the waves reach the shore. The delay in processing the licence for the surf reef was due to the Marine and Fisheries Agency extensive consultation and research to ensure the reef would not have a negative impact on coastal erosion.

Smaller visitors to the reef

Dolphins have become the first visitors to enjoy Europe’s first artificial surf reef

In September 2009 the surf reef proved a major draw to a pod of around 35 dolphins, including a baby who were seen frolicking in the surf.

“Dolphins are intelligent creatures and inquisitive by nature,” says Ben Wallbridge, coast and marine ranger at Durlston Country Park. “If the surf reef is already creating surf, they may well be playing on that, it’s something they haven’t seen before.

 “The surf reef is a huge structure on the sea bed; they’ll certainly want to check it out. There’s no way they would swim past without investigating it. Bournemouth is one of the UK’s hot spots for watching dolphins as the cliffs present an excellent vantage point.

A pod of dolphins in the Bournemouth surf

Andrew Moores, project manager for ASR, the construction company for the reef, says dolphins have been flipping and diving around his workers while work has been underway: “The team were recently out working on the reef barge when suddenly they were joined by a pod of playful dolphins.

“They splashed around the area, leaping out of the water and diving down to look at the reef before heading off east to Southbourne.”

Other marine species regularly spotted along this part of the Dorset coastline include grey seals, basking shark, porpoises and sunfish (Mola Mola).

People are encouraged to report dolphin, porpoise or seal sightings to Durlston Country Park

The Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve website states: Dolphins are protected by law making it illegal for boats to approach them. Boat users spotting a dolphin should immediately switch off their engine and allow the animal to approach them. Boats around a dolphin can seriously harass the mammal and so please watch from afar.

Breaking the surf

Pipe-fish seeking refuge in the reef