An underwater team of BT engineers are to install a new subsea cable in one of the South West’s most environmentally sensitive marine areas. The Salcombe-Kingsbridge Estuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is one of only two habitats around Britain to play host to spiny seahorses.

The project will involve an installation team of 12, including four divers and a small cable laying vessel, called the Grey Bear, to help ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum.

Nigel Mortimer, marine conservation officer for South Hams District Council, said, “The estuary’s eelgrass beds are the marine equivalent of a tropical jungle and are known to be highly vulnerable and sensitive. They provide an excellent sanctuary for a rich diversity of wildlife, such as seahorses and other fish. Many of these fish are also commercially important. The beds are among the most extensive and healthiest of their type in the South West.”