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, the 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, it 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.
