A marine rewilding project aimed at restoring a once-thriving underwater kelp forest off the coast of West Sussex is showing “remarkable” progress, according to the Sussex Wildlife Trust.

Launched following the introduction of a new bylaw in March 2021 that banned trawling across a 117-square-mile (302 sq km) stretch of coastline between Shoreham-by-Sea and Selsey, the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) is now celebrating its fourth anniversary with promising results.

Researchers have observed a resurgence in marine life, including increased sightings of lobster, brown crab, short-snouted seahorse, and the critically endangered angelshark.

Project lead Dr Chris Yesson said: “We still have a way to go, but it’s exciting to see nature begin to flourish once more.”

Kelp forests, once abundant along the Sussex coast, had declined by 96% by 2019, primarily due to the 1987 storm and destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling.

These underwater forests are vital for biodiversity, acting as nurseries and feeding grounds for many species. They also capture significant amounts of carbon, enhance water quality, and help reduce coastal erosion.

The introduction of the Sussex Nearshore Trawling Byelaw has allowed habitats to recover, and since then, the SKRP has worked to monitor and support the kelp’s return. Around 400 volunteers are registered with the Sussex Wildlife Trust’s Citizen Science programme to document marine life recovery.

Findings so far include the return of oyster and honeycomb worms, and a rise in species such as Atlantic mackerel, sand eels, and mullets.

Local freediver Eric Smith said: “I was apprehensive about what I’d find this year after such a stormy winter, but to my absolute delight, I witnessed a dramatic increase in marine biodiversity.”

George Short, SKRP’s kelp recovery coordinator, highlighted the reappearance of mussel beds—on a scale not witnessed for decades.

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