The UK’s largest marine rewilding initiative has reported encouraging signs of recovery to life on the seabed along the Sussex coastline.

Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) shared the update while marking its four-year anniversary and the introduction of a landmark fisheries management byelaw.

Kelp is the name given to several species of large brown seaweed. Historically, Sussex’s kelp forests covered vast areas of underwater seabed, but by 2019, 96% of them had been wiped out, partly due to the destructive fishing practice, bottom-trawling.

The practice devastates seabeds and, as kelp forests provide crucial nursery habitats for fish and invertebrates, their loss significantly impacts wildlife and marine biodiversity.

To address this, the Sussex Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) Nearshore Trawling Byelaw was introduced in March 2021. This measure banned bottom-trawling across more than 300km² of Sussex seabed, allowing essential fish habitats, including kelp forests, the chance to recover.

Eric Smith, a local freediver from Sussex Underwater has observed the changes in the seabed over the last 50 years.

He said: “As a diver and keen wildlife enthusiast, 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.

“The most remarkable sight was the new, healthy kelp I encountered during a dive at Shelley Rocks, two miles east of Bognor Regis. This area had been stripped bare by trawlers many years ago, so seeing kelp regrowth and the return of marine life fills me with hope that our seabed is on the path to natural recovery.”

SKRP’s ongoing monitoring and research programme includes underwater camera surveys, DNA analysis of biodiversity, divers taking cores of the seabed to understand carbon capture and work with local fishermen to assess crab and lobster catches. Four years on from its launch, there is continuing evidence of recovery and increased marine life.

Vital observations from divers have highlighted the notable expansion of mussel beds, the likes of which have not been seen for decades. These beds are essential for the recovery of underwater forests, as in the absence of rocky seabed, mussels can provide kelp with a hard surface to latch onto and grow.

Chris Yesson, senior research fellow at ZSL's Institute of Zoology and SKRP research lead, said: “We welcome the fourth anniversary of the introduction of the nearshore trawling byelaw, which has given the seabed some much needed breathing space to recover.

“In just four years we've already seen positive signs for the future of our Sussex coast, including valuable observations of native species such as tope, angelshark and short-snouted seahorse, alongside notable signs of habitat improvement including the expansion of our mussel beds. We still have a way to go, but it's exciting to see nature begin to flourish once more as we continue our work to restore the c coastline."

George Short, kelp recovery co-ordinator at Sussex Wildlife Trust said: “Those involved in the project are always spurred on by the words of Sir David Attenborough who celebrated the successful implementation of the byelaw four years ago. He said, ‘Sussex’s remarkable kelp forests will now have a chance to regenerate and provide a home for hundreds of species, creating an oasis of life off the coast’.

“After years of damaging impacts on our local marine ecosystem, recovery will take time, but it’s incredible to see the journey of rewilding Sir David Attenborough envisioned taking place in real-time.”

SKRP will host the UK’s first national kelp ecology conference on 2-3 April 2025 at the Attenborough Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton. The event will bring together national researchers, conservationists and policy makers to explore the next steps in rewilding of seas.

Coinciding with the summit, SKRP partner, Blue Marine Foundation, will release a report examining the barriers and optimal conditions for UK kelp recovery. Those looking to support SKRP’s work can take part in the Sussex Kelp Recording Scheme, a citizen-led science programme where volunteers collect kelp observations to help map where kelp is recovering.

The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) was established nearshore trawling byelaw, with the aim ‘to champion, study and facilitate the recovery of Sussex kelp and other essential fish habitats, through progressive, coherent and collaborative action'.