Midnight and Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) are collaborating to raise awareness of the charity’s pioneering marine rewilding project along the Sussex coast.
The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP), delivered by Sussex Wildlife Trust and its partners, is the UK’s largest marine rewilding initiative and aims to restore 300km of kelp and other essential fish habitats from Rye to Selsey.
Kelp, large brown seaweed found along rocky shores, form dense underwater forests and are essential to maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, but are under serious threat, with the vast majority having disappeared in Sussex by the mid-1980s.
Through the pro bono partnership, digital PR agency Midnight is delivering media training, strategic consultancy and media relations to drive awareness of the importance of kelp to our local marine habitats. The campaign begins with the promotion of Sussex Wildlife Trust’s first international Kelp Summit in April, where scientists and researchers will come together to share learnings at the University of Sussex.
Alex Hankinson, joint managing director at Midnight, said: “We’ve partnered with Sussex Wildlife Trust to help support our local slice of our beautiful oceans. Everyone knows how vital coral reefs are to our marine ecosystem, but the same can’t be said of kelp forests. We want to help change that, and to encourage businesses and the local community to get involved.”
The rewilding of the Sussex seabed is seeing early signs of success following the landmark Sussex Nearshore Trawling Byelaw in 2021, which created one of the largest trawling prohibited areas in the UK. Mussel beds are now recovering – the first stage in the process of marine rewilding – as well as the return of black bream and lobsters.
Louise Colbran, fundraising and partnerships officer, Sussex Wildlife Trust added: “Kelp was once abundant along our coasts, supporting the marine environment and local fisheries. We want to rebuild what was lost and create a thriving marine environment for the future. This partnership with Midnight will help us to spread the word.”
Beachcombers out walking after a storm or high winds are encouraged to keep their eyes peeled for kelp – look out for large, leathery brown seaweed. It’s a sign our seas are starting to recover.
Contact Louise Colbran to discuss ways your business can support SKRP or SWT: louisecolbran@sussexwt.org.uk.
www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/helpourkelp
Photo credit: Paul Naylor
