Following celebrations of the 4th year of seabed protection (thanks to the Sussex Nearshore Trawling Byelaw), in April we hosted the Kelp Summit 2025 with support from the Environment Agency, and brought together scientists, policymakers, practitioners and members of the community to discuss key developments in kelp ecosystem monitoring and marine recovery.
Alongside the Kelp Summit, our partners Blue Marine Foundation launched the beautiful and informative UK Kelp Recovery Report: Barriers and Optimum Conditions, drawing on available research of the pressures which may inhibit kelp’s growth and the conditions required for its successful recovery.
In May, we celebrated Sir David Attenborough’s 99th birthday and welcomed his film, ‘Ocean’ with a number of free local screenings (hosted by Sussex Wildlife Trust) supported by Q&As by our SKRP team. More impressively (could it get any better?!) was the chapter on kelp in the accompanying book to the film, co-authored by Sir David and Colin Butfield, where the story of Sussex kelp was detailed in depth.
The book was showcased in detail at the event ‘In conversation with Colin Butfield’ with Sean Ashworth (once of Sussex IFCA and responsible for the Sussex Nearshore Trawling Byelaw) at the Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham, an evening which supported the work of SKRP.
During the summer, our field research season continued to gather data on the biodiversity, sedimentation and ecotoxicology of our waters using BRUVS, TVS, ARMS, Sediment core and eDNA analysis, to name but a few! Further analysis will take place in the lab, and be added to anecdotal reports from divers/snorkellers and our Citizen Science project, before we can create an updated picture of recovery. Watch out for the report in March 2026.
In October, we were thrilled to present the project to the Environmental Audit Committee – a cross-party group of MPs from around the UK. SKRP was presented as a case study of marine rewilding and the benefits of pressure removal, eg trawling on marine habitats.
See how the day went on the UK House of Commons Committees Instagram post.
And finally at the end of the year, we teamed up with local production company Coolbox Films to create the fabulous short reel ‘The 12 Days of Kelpmas’. This beautiful shanty-like festive animation of the recovery of our seabed was shared across our social media platforms to the delight of many! Keep watching over the next year to see the wildlife pictured in the reel make appearances as we shine a light on their status in our waters.
Watch The 12 Days of Kelpmas on our Instagram Channel.
This year we have endeavoured to create more windows beneath the waves, to connect people of Sussex to their underwater world. From our own Kelp Summit, to the Ocean Symposium, the Enchanted Forest event at the Brighton Dome, and screenings/Q&As of Sir David Attenborough’s Ocean film, as well as a big push on our social media platforms, we hope that we have lit a fire - with a blue flame – of love and support for the recovery of our marine life.
We hope you all have a wonderful Kelpmas and a very Happy New Year! Sea you in 2026!