The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project aims to restore lost kelp forests along the Sussex coastline, promote sustainable fishing practices and marine conservation following the 2021 Sussex Nearshore Trawling Byelaw. The rewilding effort involves collaboration between scientists, local communities, and policymakers to support habitat restoration and biodiversity recovery.
A Lesser Spotted Dogfish found on the Sussex Coastline
Why the SKRP?
My name is Luca, and I am the grandson of Mike Chipchase, founder of Brighton Silver. I am in my third year as a Marine Biology student at the University of Liverpool. I volunteer with the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP), working with communication and promotion across their various channels, which are linked below, allowing me better to understand the inner workings of a conservation organisation. Currently, we are working on a series of blog posts called 'Field Focus', which provides an insight into the endless research carried out by post-graduates, professors and organisations to monitor the progress of such a project. At Brighton Silver, we are proud to support charitable organisations globally, and the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project allows us to contribute to a vital local cause. We do this through quarterly donations of 1% of our revenue.
A Brief History
The once abundant kelp forests of the 20th Century are no longer present in the Sussex Coast due to severe storms in the 1980s combined with extensive destructive fishing practices. Before the 21st Century, 96% of these forests had been lost! Composed of over 50 organisations, including the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Social Association (IFCA), Zoological Society of London, Queen Mary University of London and the University of Brighton, the SKRP has been monitoring and administering the protection of these ecosystems since 2021.
This follows the implementation of the Sussex Nearshore Trawling Byelaw, a 304 km (sq) area where trawling activities are prohibited, removing significant pressures on the kelp forests. As with all things in the natural world, this process takes a lot of work, and much progress is needed. Regardless, there is promising evidence that recovery is already underway; fishermen have reported a steady increase in Black Sea Bream populations since 2021 – the Byelaw prevents trawling, damaging the nesting grounds found on the seafloor.
This follows the implementation of the Sussex Nearshore Trawling Byelaw, a 304 km (sq) area where trawling activities are prohibited, removing significant pressures on the kelp forests. As with all things in the natural world, this process takes a lot of work, and much progress is needed. Regardless, there is promising evidence that recovery is already underway; fishermen have reported a steady increase in Black Sea Bream populations since 2021 – the Byelaw prevents trawling, damaging the nesting grounds found on the seafloor.
Why protect Kelp?
It's essential to understand the ecosystem benefits of kelp forests to understand the need to recover and conserve them; the habitats they produce can host up to 80,000 individual organisms per Kelp. They act as essential nursery grounds for juvenile individuals and produce diverse food webs. As a result, their destruction has significant knock-on effects.
Kelp absorbs large amounts of Carbon Dioxide, making it important for mitigating climate change
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To get involved or gain more information about the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project, visit their website at Sussex Kelp Recovery Project.
