Bring back our Kelp

We chose the name Kelpi mostly because it puts us in the same bracket as the most well-known of seaweeds (and also because a kelpie is a mythical Scottish seahorse – more of that another time). So it’s not surprising that we get very excited when we hear of a major project to boost kelp in UK waters.

Plans by two councils in Southern England seek to create a huge kelp forest along a 300 sq km stretch of coastline off West Sussex. Just 40 years ago the area was already home to a dense kelp forest that provided the ideal habitat for marine life, but since the 1980s bottom trawling has devastated the undersea forest and 95% of kelp cover has been lost as a result.

Adur and Worthing councils, which are behind the marine rewilding project, have estimated that restoring the kelp forest could capture carbon equivalent to 7,235 homes, as well as delivering major biodiversity benefits – supporting marine life from bass and black sea bream to cuttlefish, lobsters and even sea horses (which brings me back to the mythical Scottish seahorse the kelpie – did I mention that?).   

The councils are making great progress, passing a byelaw to protect the site from bottom-towed trawling gear, and recruiting David Attenborough to support their cause. You can read more here - https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/helpourkelp.

Photo by Lauren Probyn on Unsplash