National Marine Week - heroes

Emma Chaplin
, 08 August 2024
National Marine Week - heroes
Sussex Underwater team

The theme for this year’s National Marine Week is ‘Sea the Connection’ which is all about celebrating the many ways in which people feel connected to the sea.

We are celebrating some National Marine Week heroes – individuals or groups who are connected to the sea and have gone above and beyond to help protect it.

#1 - Sussex Underwater

Sussex Underwater (main image) is an incredible group of volunteer divers and beach combers who are bringing awareness to the plight of our Sussex seas.

After being an eyewitness to the destruction that trawling caused in Sussex since the 1980s, local diver Eric Smith was part of campaigning to ban the practise in Sussex. In 2021, Sussex Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority’s Nearshore Trawling Byelaw was introduced, excluding trawling from a large area of Sussex seas.

Eric and other local divers decided that the sea would never be out of sight and out of mind again. So, Sussex Underwater was created.

The Sussex Underwater team now share their passion and love for the sea with over 20,000 people on social media. They also give local talks and show films to schools and community groups, inspiring the next generation to care for their local marine environment. Thank you Sussex Underwater!

Clive Mills (right - with Eric Smith of Sussex Underwater) © Graham Franks
Clive Mills (right - pictured with Eric Smith of Sussex Underwater) © Graham Franks

#2 - Clive Mills

Clive Mills is a small-scale fisherman operating out of Bognor Regis. After his family had been fishing locally for four generations, Clive had to give up his trade in the late-90s as steady declines in catches had made it no longer viable for him to earn a living from it.

Following the creation of the Nearshore Trawling Byelaw in 2021, Clive has returned to fishing in local waters. He is now highly conscious of the damage that fishing can do to the environment, and uses more sustainable methods which minimise impact to the environment, and focuses on ensuring that he’s leaving sufficient stock behind to ensure the future of the fish and shellfish populations.

Clive sells his catch locally from the kiosk beside the pier on Bognor’s promenade; you can find out when they’re open and what they’re selling on the Bognor Fishermen’s Association Facebook page.

Clive is a huge support to all efforts to protect our local marine environment. We wish to thank him for all his efforts and passion.

Dr Ray Ward (right) © Graham Franks
Dr Ray Ward (right) © Graham Franks

#3 – Dr Ray Ward

Ray Ward is a marine scientist based at Queen Mary University of London, as well as a keen diver, surfer and kayaker. He has lived and worked on or by the sea most of his life; having been brought up by the beautiful Dorset coast and worked on fishing boats before becoming a marine researcher. Ray now studies the impacts of climate change, pollution and other human pressures on our marine ecosystems worldwide – as well as the many benefits they provide to us as a society! Part of this work is his pioneering research into the role of kelp in capturing carbon, in the English Channel as part of the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project.

Ray is an inspiring example of a scientist that goes above and beyond to help us and understand and protect vital marine life and we’d like to thank him for his efforts!

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