Ocean with Sir David Attenborough

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, 21 May 2025
Ocean with Sir David Attenborough
Bib © Paul Parsons

By Sarah Ward, Marine Conservation Officer

Ocean with Sir David Attenborough – a landmark film with a clear message: our marine environment is fundamental to life on Earth and we must protect it.

This powerful and moving film puts forward a simple point – that we need properly managed Marine Protected Areas with no destructive fishing or bottom trawling allowed. These kinds of activities not only damage habitats and potentially lead to overfishing, but also release the valuable carbon stored in the sea bed.

But how do we do this?

Marine recovery is achievable. In fact the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority have been demonstrating this within six nautical miles of the Sussex Coast. This is work we have supported, including through the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project, of which Sussex Wildlife Trust are a leading partner. The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project rests on the removal of bottom towed gears from the Sussex nearshore area, allowing nature a chance to recover following the removal of human pressure.

Ultimately, meaningful protection (including not dumping dredge spoil onto protected coastal areas) must come from Government, through creation of policies that remove harmful activities and a pathway to prosecution for those who break the rules. We need to apply pressure to make this happen – before it’s too late.

For us here in Sussex we must celebrate what has already been achieved and push for more.

If you agree that trawling should be removed from our protected areas, please let your voice be heard. We’ve set up an e-action for you to send an email to Minister Hardy (the Minister for Water and Flooding), who will be representing the UK at the United Nations Ocean Conference in June this year.

Join the voice of Sir David Attenborough and tell her what you think about protecting our Marine Protected Areas.

Send your email

What’s the situation in Sussex?

Locally, we have 14 Marine Protected Areas designated, covering approximately 29% of our Sussex sea. However, of these sites, less than 40% (by area) have protection in place which prohibits bottom-towed fishing gear – we would like to see this closer to 100%.

Our local Nearshore Trawling Byelaw prohibits bottom towed gear from 304Km2 of the Sussex coastline. This progressive policy is enabling a very public window on marine recovery in Sussex.

Sussex Marine Protected Areas map

Sussex Wildlife Trust is excited to be hosting screenings of Ocean on World Ocean Day (8 June), both at Rye Harbour Discovery Centre and the Ropetackle Centre in Shoreham. Further information about the screenings and how to book will be available soon.

Watch example of bottom trawling from Ocean with David Attenborough

Warning: you may find this footage upsetting.

Leave a comment

Comments

  • Sonia Goodsell:

    This is dreadful to watch and must be stopped now!!

    22 May 2025 10:43:00

  • Penelope Coffin:

    When will the world begin to take notice of the very clear warnings given about the state our seas!!!!!!! Stop dumping rubbish into them and BAN Trawling fishing!

    22 May 2025 11:40:00

  • Barbara Shepherd:

    This is appalling! and it looks like we will be faced with this again since our prime minister decided it was fine for Britain to allow EU trawlers into our waters again. We had a large factory trawler from Lithuania off the Sussex coast not so long ago I believe. Are the Eu boats going to respect our marine conservation areas and who will police it I wonder. What of our fishermen who are abiding by the rules? Who is going to help them? This is utter madness!

    22 May 2025 13:31:00

  • Lynn Taylor:

    Our group have frequent talks from the Marine department at Portsmouth University. It’s pleasing to see that where I live is a protected area, but this must become the norm rather than something special. Our oceans, seas, waterways represent what we are and need a voice from us globally.

    22 May 2025 15:04:00

  • Irene Eltringham-Willson:

    I deplore the thought of marine dredging and dumping being allowed in Marine Protection Areas.

    22 May 2025 15:22:00

  • victoria Pope:

    Stop this appauling way to fish our seas as destroying the life in our seas.

    22 May 2025 17:07:00

  • Alan green:

    Dumping Brighton spoil in a sensitive area shows utter disregard for our environment and for which we will ultimately pay in a legacy of desertification.

    23 May 2025 09:20:00

  • Georgina Scott:

    We’ve fought long and hard and in our area, off Selsey, successfully to get bottom trawling banned and the sea bed is gradually starting to recover. It is important for the future of the industry both here and in France that this ban should not be overturned. Is there anyone in our government with a shred of common sense?

    25 May 2025 14:40:00

  • Elaine Toop:

    Hard to believe Starmer has agreed to allow a return of huge EU fishing vessels using bottom trawling to our waters, when our local fishing industry had begun to thrive again, and the sea bed had returned to normal. I’m so angry

    25 May 2025 20:10:00

  • Jancis Ham:

    Having watched David Attenborough’s film Oceans my overwhelming feelings was that it should be compulsory viewing in all schools and other educational establishments as well as being offered free to societies, clubs and all possible groups. Every effort should be made, and recommendations given to friends and family. No-one should have the excuse of ignorance or lack of understanding about the situation, implications and action needed for possibility of remedy.

    25 May 2025 23:52:00

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