Kelp forests (dense stands of large brown seaweed primarily of the Order Laminariales), dominate rocky reefs along temperate and subpolar coastlines around the world. These forests are considered among the most diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth that modify local environmental conditions and provide a three dimensional habitat for an array of marine life. These forests are similar in structure to terrestrial forests, with a canopy layer that facilitates the formation of rich understorey algal assemblages, that in turn provides food and shelter for macroinvertebrates, which are food for species from higher trophic levels such as fishes.
The Four Horsemen of the UK Fisheries Policy Apocalypse
The UK has the responsibility, and the policy frameworks available, to provide meaningful and lasting protection to all its marine areas. This includes the government proceeding with and concluding its plans to remove bottom trawling from MPAs, safeguarding the biodiversity and habitats that they were designed to protect.
28 September 2025