(News article by SKRP member, Sussex Underwater.)
The story began when conservationist and writer, Colin Butfield reached out to local diver and Sussex Underwater co-founder, Eric Smith. Colin was working on 'Ocean', a landmark book project for David Attenborough, focused on the fragility and resilience of our seas. He wanted to include a chapter on the revival of Sussex’s kelp forests—and Eric’s personal role in that effort.
For Eric, this was deeply meaningful. As someone who has been diving in the Sussex sea since childhood, he has witnessed the dramatic transformation of the underwater world first-hand. In particular, he documented the devastating impact of pair trawling, which had stripped large areas of seabed of life. Eric kept detailed diving logs over the decades, and shared these with Colin—including a powerful 2005 diary entry that ended up being featured in the final book.
Months later, Sussex Underwater received the news: the story of Sussex kelp would be published in the book, 'Ocean'. The team could finally share what had been a closely guarded secret.
Even more unexpected was the next development—a film adaptation of Ocean was in production. Although Sussex wasn’t a central focus of the documentary, Eric and his fellow campaigners were invited to attend the film’s London premiere, coinciding with Sir David Attenborough’s 99th birthday.
It was a day filled with emotion, excitement, and reflection.
In the afternoon, Catrine and Paul from Sussex Underwater joined young people from across the UK at a special Future Generations screening. Among the attendees was Prince William, who sat just a few seats away. The energy in the room was electric, and the children's reactions to the film—particularly the sections showing the damage done by industrial fishing—were deeply moving.
The main evening event was equally unforgettable. Eric attended alongside filmmaker Sarah Cunliffe (CEO of Big Wave Productions and creator of 'Our Sea Forest', the documentary that first spotlighted Sussex’s kelp recovery) and Sean Ashworth, formally of Sussex IFCA, a key figure in the creation of the Nearshore Trawling Byelaw which protects Sussex's seabed.
Although they didn’t get to meet Sir David personally, they were just rows away as both he and King Charles took their seats. The screening was a powerful reminder of the urgent need to protect our oceans. At 99 years old, Attenborough didn’t shy away from the hard truths—his narration laid bare the real, often unseen, state of marine life. It was raw, honest, and incredibly impactful.
The applause at the end wasn’t just for the film—it was for Sir David himself, and for the movement that has grown around ocean conservation.
For the team behind Sussex’s kelp restoration efforts, the experience was humbling. To have their local work featured in such an influential global project felt like a true moment of recognition—not just for Eric, but for everyone who has contributed to restoring life beneath Sussex’s waves.
This collaboration between community, science, and passion shows what’s possible when people come together to protect the sea. And that story, which started off on the Sussex coast, now sits alongside the world’s most pressing ocean conservation messages.
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