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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · 2d

⚡ RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT⚡
Alice Clark, PhD research student at the University of Sussex is our Sea-SI investigator! She is involved in 2 areas of biodiversity research: Baited Underwater Remote Video systems (BRUVs) & Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis & so far has found more than 80 species in our seas!

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · 4d

🌏 Why was the #KelpSummit2025 so important?

Hear from some of our key speakers: Cat Wilding @thembauk.bsky.social, Erin Lawes (Environment Agency), @rodneyforster.bsky.social, @grockesibl.bsky.social & @pippajmoore.bsky.social
To view more from the Summit, visit the link in our bio.

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · 6d

People behind the Project: 'Roll out the Researchers': Alice Clark, a PhD student at University of Sussex whose research focuses on monitoring biodiversity along the Sussex coastline using Baited Remote Underwater Videos (BRUVs) and environmental DNA.
Alice's favourite kelp creature...the stingray

Alice Clark leaning against a rock at the beach

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · 8d

🎉 Tomorrow marks 6 months since we held the UK's first conference on kelp ecology.

🗓️ Tune in then for a sneaky peak of how it all went, and to access recordings of the presentations from the conference.

Time flies whilst the seabed recovers...

📸 Kai Hilton/Sussex Wildlife Trust

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · 13d

People behind the Project: 'Roll out the Researchers': Marianne Glascott, Doctoral Tutor in Life Sciences and PhD Researcher in Marine Ecology @sussexuni. Marianne's research is dedicated to understanding how environmental factors affect the health of marine ecosystems, particularly kelp forests.

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · 15d

The wonders of kelp have been known for some time...

📸 Sussex Wildlife Trust

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · 20d

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 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

Francesco Marzano on a boat holding a large crab

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · 24d

⚡ 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.

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · 27d

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

Claude Annels at the help of a rearch vessel

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Sep 10

🤎 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

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Sep 6

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

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Sep 4

⚡ 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.

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Sep 1

🔬 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...

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Aug 30

🌏 '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.

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Aug 27

🌍 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

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Aug 16

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 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

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Aug 12

📺 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.

JB Gill from JLS on Coastal Adventures on Channel 5

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Aug 9

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 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

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Aug 7

🌏 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.

Maia Baillie from the Waiheke Marine Project, ZX, meeting with the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Aug 2

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 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

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Jul 26

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 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

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Jul 23

🌍 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

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Jul 19

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 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!

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Jul 14

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

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Sussex Kelp Recovery Project (SKRP) @sussexkelp.bsky.social · Jul 12

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 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

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