UK officials issued a legal warning after protected seahorses were disturbed; divers should...

A licence is required to dive or snorkel to find seahorses, which are protected by law [The Seahorse Trust] UK marine authorities have issued a strong legal warning to divers, swimmers and film crews after a rise in incidents disturbing Britain's protected seahorses.The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) warned that anyone who deliberately searches for, photographs or films native seahorses without a specialist wildlife licence could face enforcement action under conservation laws.Both seahorse species found in British waters, the spiny or long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) and the short-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus hippocampus) are protected under Section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. They are also protected under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations 2018.Official guidance says anyone who comes across a seahorse in the wild should watch it for no longer than five minutes, keep a safe distance, and never touch, handle or follow it if it swims away.Summer activities raise risk of disturbanceWarmer weather and increased coastal tourism have led to more accidental and deliberate encounters with seahorses.The MMO said some people have acci...