Shell-ebrating a fantastic year of rewilding Sussex Seas

admin
, 10 November 2024
Shell-ebrating a fantastic year of rewilding Sussex Seas
Mussels © Big Wave TV

Nikki Oliver

Project Support Officer - Sussex Kelp Recovery Project

2024 has been full steam ahead for Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP); in our mission to recover kelp and other essential fish habitats in Sussex.

In spring this year we marked three years since 300km2 of local seabed was protected from trawling and the UK’s largest marine rewilding project, SKRP, was born! The arrival of spring also saw us kick off our enormous annual survey season to see how the seabed and marine life are responding to the protection. This huge research programme includes underwater camera surveys, DNA analysis of biodiversity, divers taking cores of the seabed to understand carbon capture, and work with great local fishermen to see how the crabs and lobsters are doing.

Results from this extensive research programme are already showing exciting evidence of recovery, particularly for two key species…

Blue Mussel beds have continued to grow in areas along the Sussex coastline. These beds of shelled molluscs are essential for the recovery of our underwater forests, as in the absence of rocky seabed, mussels provide kelp with a hard surface to latch onto and grow. Our hope is that as these mussel beds grow will allow kelp to re-establish and the marine life associated with them to flourish.

Increases in Black Sea Bream have also been observed by both local fisherman and our research team, following the protection of the seabed! Black Sea Bream were a species targeted by trawling and their nests on the seabed are known to be vulnerable to this type of fishing.

In summer, we celebrated the incredible efforts of the Blue-footed Boobies, a group of Sussex sea swimmers who braved the cold and currents of the English Channel, to raise a staggering £9000 for SKRP. We’re immensely grateful to these six superwomen for showing us that not all heroes wear capes – some wear swimming cozzies!

Blue-footed Boobies by the Blue-footed Boobies

To round off a fantastic year, in autumn the film ‘Our Sea Forest’ received the impressive accolade of ‘Maritime Media Award for Best Audio Visuals’. This film, which aired on BBC1 primetime, follows the journey to rewild Sussex kelp through the eyes of Eric Smith, local free diver who has witnessed the changes in our marine wildlife over several decades. SKRP members Big Wave TV produced this film featuring Eric who is a founding member of our member organisation Sussex Underwater.

This year the collaboration between conservationists, researchers, fishers and the local community, providing the first green shoots of recovery, is undoubtedly something to shell-ebrate!

Follow our journey to rewild the underwater forests of Sussex @sussexkelp

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Comments

  • Martin:

    What marvellous progress, in particular the recovery of the mussel beds. I will have a look to see if ‘Our Sea Forest’ is still available on the BBC iPlayer. :-)

    31 Dec 2024 14:25:00

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