Breeding seahorses delay harbour wall repairs
A colony of breeding seahorses is delaying work to repair a crumbling harbour wall.
Work to replace the walls around Weymouth Peninsula, Dorset, was due to begin in the winter but was halted due to “factors beyond the council’s control”.
Now contractors must wait until the protected seahorses, which breed and raise their young in the nearby seagrass, move back into deeper water.
Construction is expected to take 10 to 12 months, with completion expected in “mid-2026”.
Inspections found the walls on the north east and north west side of the peninsula, which were built in 1977, were in “critical condition” and “at risk of failure”.
Dorset Council place services councillor Jon Andrews said: “Balancing economic progress with protecting what makes Dorset special isn’t always easy, but it’s a challenge we are determined to meet.
“Seahorses are special creatures and it’s right that we do what we can to avoid disturbing them during their breeding season.”
You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
