SeaFest Success!
After months of planning, SeaFest burst into life on the Sussex coast. Designed and delivered by the Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Youth Rangers, the organisation’s largest youth-led event brought together young people for a day of marine adventure, creativity and inspiration. Beneath the white cliffs of Rottingdean, participants explored rockpools teeming with life, discovering pipefish hidden among seaweed and jewel-like painted topshells, while peregrines wheeled overhead.
The day continued with stories from local marine conservationists, wildlife-inspired art, and plenty of opportunities to connect with like-minded people. A highlight was the screening of ‘Young People in Conservation’, a short film created by Youth Ranger Amy King, which perfectly captured the spirit of the event. From start to finish, SeaFest showcased the energy, passion and leadership of young people, showing what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to shape and lead meaningful experiences for their peers.
Sussex kelp washes up at Westminster
Earlier this month, Eric and Catrine from our partner organisation, Sussex Underwater were invited to Parliament to speak to the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Ocean about the trawling ban and the recovery we are starting to see in Sussex. The discussions looked at the benefits of restoring marine habitats; the importance of removing destructive pressures; the role communities, fishers, business and government; and how lessons from Sussex and other locally led restoration projects can be applied across the UK. Thank you to Eric and Catrine for flying the flag for Sussex!
Consultation on Scotland’s MPAs
Earlier this month, the Scottish Government launched a consultation proposing new fisheries management measures within 76 inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scotland, including some full-site restrictions on bottom towed fishing similar to the protections introduced in Sussex five years ago. But many of the proposals are for only partial protection leaving significant areas of ‘protected’ seabed vulnerable to damage.
Some of you may have seen first-hand the amazing marine habitats and species off the Scottish coast for yourselves. Everyone has the opportunity to influence the outcome of the Scottish Governments decision on whether or not to protect these marine areas by responding to the consultation (closing on 18 January 2027). Our SKRP partner, Blue Marine Foundation, is championing ambitious, effective protection for all MPAs, and together with Our Seas Scotland will be sharing guidance and resources to help people respond to this once in a lifetime opportunity to protect Scotland’s Marine ‘Protected’ Areas.
We’ll keep you posted as these resources come online. In the meantime, click on the button below to see the consultation details in full.
Screen Time
With the nights drawing in, the idea of snuggling up in front of the TV becomes very appealing! So we thought we’d point you in the direction of a couple of programs of interest: First up, a documentary film by Open Planet Studios (the same lot who brought you the fabulous ‘Ocean’ film by Sir David Attenborough). This new film ‘How To Live On Earth’ is presented by Benedict Cumberbatch and is a feature documentary about how humans are learning to team up with nature to solve our biggest challenges.
Secondly, if you have children interested in what’s beneath the waves, they might like to join Kids News World the live lesson series ‘Ocean Live with Steve Backshall’. Lesson one can watched now and was live from DEEP Campus, the UK's leading underwater training and innovation centre. During this lesson, Steve explores the cutting-edge technology opening up new frontiers in ocean exploration and speaks to the science team behind some incredible new species discoveries. Click the button below for more information and to tune in.
Join us in October for more News from the Blue.