The wonders of kelp have been known for some time... 📸 Sussex Wildlife Trust

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project: Francesco Marzano, UK Projects Assistant, Blue Marine Foundation. Francesco supports many marine projects involving statistical and spatial analysis & leads BMF's sturgeon project & Sussex potting surveys. Favourite kelp creature - the red gurnard 📸Bernard Picton/TWT

⚡ RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT⚡ Claude Annels, PhD Research student at @University of Brighton introduces her sediment core research project, which aims to identify the amount, source and date of carbon stored in our seabed. Sediment cores are sampled from the seabed, and analysed back in the laboratory.

People behind the Project: 'Roll out the Researchers': Claude Annels, PhD Research student at University of Brighton. Claude’s research is into the potential carbon sequestration of Sussex kelp species. 🌊 Claude's favourite kelp creature...the common cuttlefish! 📸 Paul Parsons

🤎 Kelp! (Yes, OK and sticks 🤣) In the brown algae/seaweed family (Laminariales), kelp are brown due to the abundance of the pigment, fucoxanthin, in their cells. The stickiness of kelp is due to alginates and fucoidan in its cells and microbes on its surface. 📸 Paul Boniface/Sussex Underwater

People behind the Project: 'Roll out the Researchers'-Valentina Scarponi, Assistant Prof in Ecology and Animal Biology at the University of Sussex. Valentina has a PhD in shark behaviour and physiology, so no surprise that her favourite kelp creature is the greater-spotted nursehound📸Peter Verhoog

⚡ RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT⚡ Dr Chris Yesson, SKRP Research Lead and Senior Research Fellow at @zslofficial.bsky.social introduces our ARMS (Autonomous Reef Monitoring Systems) research, used to assess kelp spore availability and the diversity of life on the seabed.

🔬 SKRP's pioneering research and monitoring program is the engine house of our project. Our researchers use many different survey (& analysis) techniques to examine biodiversity, sediment, ecotoxicology, kelp population genetics, etc within our Sussex waters. Follow us to find out more...

🌏 'Nature-led and science-based.' We believe that our seabed's recovery should be a natural one; allowing it a chance to REWILD in balance with the environmental conditions of that area and without human intervention/active restoration, will result in a more robust and resilient ecosystem recovery.

🌍 Our underwater forests go through seasonal changes, much like those on land. Shifts in the levels of light and nutrients and the weather, drive changes in our kelp forests. "In the cycle of nature there is no such thing as victory or defeat; there is only movement.” Paul Coelho 📸 Nikki Oliver/SWT

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project: Next up is Sarah Cunliffe, TV producer, CEO and Founder of Big Wave Productions. She has been involved with kelp since 2018 when she made the ‘Help Our Kelp’ film with Sir David Attenborough. Sarah's favourite kelp creature...the beautiful seahorse! 📸Paul Naylor

📺 Tune in to Coastal Adventures on Channel 5 at 8pm tonight (also available stream) to see JB Gill from JLS join SKRP partners, Sussex Underwater and Dr Ray Ward on our journey to rewild our Sussex seabed, following the removal of bottom-trawling by the @Sussex IFCA nearshore trawling byelaw.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project: 💚 Take your seats for the inspiring father-and-daughter team, Eric Smith & Catrine Priestley, Founders of Sussex Underwater. 🐟 Eric & Catrine's favourite kelp creature...more fans of the common cuttlefish! 📸 Paul Naylor

🌏 Kelp recovery across continents! We had the pleasure of meeting Maia Baillie from the Waiheke Marine Project - a collaborative community partnership project in New Zealand, which aims to protect and regenerate Waiheke Island’s marine environment through action-based 'kaitiakitanga' - guardianship.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project. Welcome to the fabulous Dr Ray Ward, Reader of Marine Sciences at Queen Mary University of London and the research lead for SKRP on carbon sequestration.. ⭐ Ray's favourite kelp creature...the undulate ray, of course 😉! 📸 The Undulate Ray Project

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project. Please welcome Dean Spears, Head of Sussex Bay at Adur & Worthing Councils, supporting nature recovery and coastal regeneration across 100 miles of coastline. Dean's favourite kelp creature...the common cuttlefish! 📸 Paul Naylor

🌍 What are the areas of concern for kelp forests across the UK? 👨‍🏫 We asked @pippajmoore.bsky.social from @newcastleuni.bsky.social about the state of the UK's kelp forests and what are the areas of concern. #sussexwildlifetrust #bluemarinefoundatio #kelp #sussexkelp #sussexkelprecoveryproject

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project. Announcing Peter Jones, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Governance, Department of Geography, UCL. Peter’s research focuses on the governance of human uses of marine ecosystems. He is also chair of the Sussex IFCA. ⭐ Peter's favourite kelp creature...kelp!

Sharks found along our Sussex coastline may not be the ones which take he spotlight in blockbuster movies, but we love - and need them - them all the same. 📸 Alexander Mustard/2020Vision; Barry Yates; Andy Jackson; George Balchin (Sussex IFCA)/University of Plymouth; Paul Boniface/Sussex Underwater

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project. We'd like to introduce you to some of the people who make up our little kelp forest. Hello to the fabulous Sam Fanshawe, Senior UK Projects Manager at Blue Marine Foundation. 🐟 Sam's favourite kelp creature...the colourful cuckoo wrasse! 📸 Darin Smith

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project. Next up, the fantastic Emily Bulled, UK Conservation Engagement Coordinator at Blue Marine Foundation. Emily leads research, policy work and stakeholder engagement across UK MPA and fisheries projects. Her favourite kelp creature? Common cuttlefish! 📸 Paul Parsons

🎧 Want to hear about our our project from those wonderful folk at ‪@oceanographicmag.bsky.social‬? Have a listen to their podcast: 'UK marine life BOUNCING BACK after kelp recovery - The Ocean News Podcast' here (or from wherever you get your podcasts): open.spotify.com/episode/5tS6...

🌊 Not yet watched Sir David Attenborough's Ocean film? Read a first hand account from Sussex Underwater on their involvement in the Ocean book and their experience at the film premier. Lucky things! Read the article: sussexkelp.org.uk/news/celebra... 📸 Sussex Underwater

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project: George Balchin, Conservation & Research Manager at Sussex IFCA. George is responsible for the research & monitoring that informs the development & review of Sussex IFCA's fisheries byelaws. Favourite kelp creature? The tope shark! 📸@Sussex_Ifca@plymuni shark tagging work

New episode out now! In today's episode we discuss all things kelp and rewilding the seas with Nikki Oliver from Sussex Kelp Recovery Project. Check it out here or wherever podcasts can be found: tinyurl.com/9y5btsy4

👗 Paris Fashion Week has begun, you say...we can match that with our own kelp fashion show. 😜 📸 We'd love to share your kelpy-themed outfits! Join our kelp-walk, tag us in your photos and we'll share! 👢 Work those algae threads!. 😂 📸 @SussexWildlifeTrust 📸 @bigwavetv 📸 @BrightonPictures

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project. The turn of Rob Pearson, Chief Fisheries and Conservation Officer, Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA). Rob has worked for 17 years in fishery management and conservation. Rob's favourite kelp creature...the blue-rayed limpet! 📸 Paul Naylor

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project. Welcome the awesome Dr Chris Yesson, SKRP Research Lead & Senior Research Fellow at Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Chris is a researcher and MSc course director at ZSL. ⭐ Chris' favourite kelp creature...the common brittle star! 📸 Paul Naylor

"Not only could there be no fish without fisheries; there could be no fish without kelp." An excerpt from the chapter on Kelp in the new book 'Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness' by Sir David Attenborough and Colin Butfield, which was released to accompany the film (now available on Disney+).

🌏 "If we save the sea, we save our world." Sir David Attenborough.🌊 #OceanFilm #WorldOceanDay @sussexwildlifetrust @sussexunderwater @bluemarinefoundation @sussex_ifca @qmulgeography @sussexuni @uniofbrighton @offical zsl @ucl @bigwavetv @adurworthingcouncils

💚 On #WorldEnvironmentDay we'd like to send a big kelp SHOUT OUT to the environmental heroes who are involved in the recovery of our Sussex seabed. 🌏 There are too many people to mention - or to post a picture of - but from us and all that live in our Sussex seas, thank you on #WorldEnvironmentDay.

On #VolunteersWeek we would like to thank all of the wonderful people who volunteer their time to help with the recovery of our Sussex seabed. For information of how you can help with the recovery of our Sussex seabed, visit the 'Get involved' pages of our website at www.sussexkelp.org.uk

People behind the Project. The turn of the Chair of SKRP, Henri Brocklebank, who when not acting as Director of Conservation at Sussex Wildlife Trust, ensures that the group stays true to its vision and aims, and that we are guided by open and inclusive communication. 📸 Alexander Mustard/2020 Vision

🧐 Have you seen this strange growth on kelp, either washed up on a beach or in the sea? 🌿This lacy grid-like growth often found on the fronds (which looks like kelp are wearing a pair of granny’s tights!) is actually a sea mat, a colony of tiny individual animals called zooids. 👩‍🏫 Class dismissed

People behind the Project. We'd like to introduce you to some of the people who make up our little kelp forest. Here's our fabulous Project Coordinator, George Short, who coordinates the project’s activities to ensure that our objectives are being met. 📸 Sussex Wildlife Trust 📸 Paul Parsons

The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project helped push support for the Sussex IFCA Nearshore no-trawling byelaw. 4 years on divers have reported increases in Mussel beds, Black Bream, Catsharks and Stingrays. The team spent yesterdays meeting in the water to see first hand the amazing life being protected.

Uncovering our hidden underwater forests! This week, members of the @sussexkelp partnership were lucky enough to see some of the areas of our Sussex seabed where kelp, and other vibrant habitats are flourishing...and what a bouquet of colourful life!

'Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness' by Sir David Attenborough and Colin Butfield is a must-read and includes the story of our Sussex kelp forests! "The coastal communities of Sussex have taken their ghost forest to heart, and they want it resurrected." Ocean: Earth's Last Wilderness

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 People behind the Project. We'd like to introduce you to some of the people who make up our little kelp forest. 🐟 First up is Nikki, our Project Support Assistant. Nikki's role is to ensure the smooth and effective administration of the project and to communicate our work to you.

Have you had a read Blue Marine Foundation's fantastic new report 'UK Kelp Recovery'? This report has an entire chapter dedicated to UK kelp species: their biology, life cycle, distribution and more! Visit www.bluemarinefoundation.com/wp-content/u...

This week, the 25th International Seaweed Symposium was held in British Colombia, Canada. SKRP researcher, Claude Annels from the @UniofBrighton was lucky enough to attend, absorbing as much information from the well-attended event, in support of her research work back in Sussex waters.

🎉Happy 99th Birthday to the greatest storyteller of the natural world, Sir David Attenborough. 📹We were lucky enough to have Sir David's support of our project from it's infancy, in the making of our Help Our Kelp film, by our partners @bigwavetv 📷Paul Boniface/@Sussex Underwater

Rustington Museum are hosting an exhibition throughout May, with a special event on Saturday 10th May, to celebrate and explore Sussex Wildlife Trust and Sussex Underwater's marine photography competition and hear from them about our local marine life. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/underwater...

Blue Marine Foundation, SKRP Partner, have launched a fantastic new report on 'UK Kelp Recovery' written to transport us all into the world of these magnificent underwater forests and to understand the benefits they offer and the threats that they face. www.bluemarinefoundation.com/wp-content/u...

Email the Secretary of State: wtru.st/stop-the-dum...

🌿 KELP LIVES! 🌿 🌊 Here's a recent image from Paul of kelp a few 100 meters off the shore at Bognor Regis. Although Sussex has lost an estimated 96% of its kelp forests since the 1980's, kelp still lives! Could this be the source of spores for kelp recovery? 📸 Paul Boniface/Sussex Underwater

🌎 On #EarthDay2025 we celebrate the theme Our Power, Our Planet 🌎 Kelp forests provide one of the most diverse ecosystems on earth, each kelp providing a habitat for as many as 80,000 individual organisms! Join us on our journey to rewild the Sussex seabed. 📸 Paul Boniface/Sussex Underwater

🥚 Not quite had enough of eggs today??🤪 🕵️‍♀️ See if you can identify whose eggs are these? 📸 Sarah Ward 📸 Barry Yates 📸 Paul Naylor #Easteregg #Egghunt #sussexwildlifetrust l #zsl #adurandworthingcouncils #bluemarinefoundation #bigwavetv #sussexunderwater #kelp #sussexkelp

Shout out 📣 For those of you who follow us, you'll have had the pleasure of being whisked away to the silky, caramel fronds of a Sussex kelp bed thanks to the beautiful images and footage taken by Paul Boniface, from the amazing Sussex Underwater team. 📸 Guess who? Paul Boniface/Sussex Underwater

🎉 Our Sussex Kelp Recovery Project partnership 🎉 A big 'kelp-out' to all our team who contribute their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm to the recovery of our Sussex seabed. To find out more, visit sussexkelp.org.uk/about-the-sk... 📸 Kai Hilton/Sussex Wildlife Trust