Into the Blue: May 2026

The Sussex Nearshore Trawling Byelaw, introduced in 2021, protects 304 square kilometres of seabed from bottom trawling, creating the conditions for kelp habitats and marine life to recover while supporting more sustainable inshore fisheries. The five-year potting survey establishes a robust scientific baseline for brown crab and European lobster populations, enabling researchers to measure how the byelaw influences the recovery of commercially important species and the wider marine ecosystem over time.