Sussex seabed shows early revival five years after trawling ban - Oceanographic Magazine Five years on from a landmark ban on bottom trawling, early signs of ecological recovery are beginning to surface along the Sussex coastline, as scientists and fishers report encouraging changes beneath the waves. Introduced in 2021 by the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, the Nearshore Trawling Byelaw removed destructive bottom trawling from more than 300 km² of seabed. Now, on its fifth anniversary, evidence suggests the measure is beginning to deliver tangible benefits for marine habitats and coastal communities. Once home to extensive kelp forests stretching from Selsey to Shoreham-by-Sea, the Sussex seabed had undergone dramatic decline in recent decades. By 2019, an estimated 96% of kelp had disappeared, driven by a combination of trawling, marine heatwaves, storm disturbance, and sedimentation. Today, that narrative is beginning to shift. At the centre of the recovery effort is the Sussex Kelp Recovery Project, a wide-ranging collaboration between scientists, conservationists, fishers, policymakers, and local communities. The initiative – the largest marine rewilding project in the UK – is working to monitor and support the natural regeneration of this once-thriving ecosystem. Early indicators point to a slow but meaningful return of marine life. Mussel beds, in some cases extending over a kilometre, are...

Sussex seabed shows early revival five years after trawling ban - Oceanographic Magazine
->Oceanographic | More on "Sussex seabed trawling ban recovery" at BigEarthData.ai

Propuesta de zonificación del Parque Nacional de Cabrera

As a public consultation ends today for a new management plan for Cabrera National Park, Oceana urges the Balearic Government to avoid further delay to preserve its rich sealife.
➡️See our proposal to create the largest no-take zone in the Med: europe.oceana.org/blog/cabrera... @oapngob.bsky.social

The EU watchdog found maladministration in how the Commission prepared the Omnibus I & CAP-related proposals.

Are you an NGO or grassroot movement eager to know more? Join us to learn when & how to file a complaint to the Ombudswoman, and what to expect➡️
events.teams.microsoft.com/event/8e3762...

European justice is slow, but it still works.

Portugal fined 10 million euro plus running fine for not complying with 2019 judgement on failing to properly designate and protect #Natura2000 sites.

Important precedent. Hope PT gov will now do the decent thing and start complying.

EU ocean diplomacy should be a race to the top, highlights
@verampcoelho.bsky.social at #EUOceanDays:

✔️Same social and environmental standards for EU fleets and fish imports
✔️Strong partnerships with coastal states outside the EU
✔️More fisheries transparency to prevent illegal fishing

The ocean in 2026: sustainability ambitions and rising geopolitical tensions The ocean is becoming both a climate solution and a geopolitical battleground in 2026.

The #ocean in 2026: sustainability ambitions and rising geopolitical tensions by @sei.org

👉 www.sei.org/perspectives...

The Arctic’s ‘last ice area’ is showing signs of weakness Mission to Canada’s Queen Elizabeth Islands reveals degradation of a sea ice haven

The Arctic's 'last ice area' is showing signs of weakness - Rachel BERKOWITZ @science.org

www.science.org/content/arti...

Great white sharks face extinction in Mediterranean, say researchers Overfishing and illegal fishing are contributing to the loss of sharks, including great whites.

Great white sharks face extinction in Mediterranean, say researchers

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Mediterranean’s hidden forests under siege by tourism Tourism is severely damaging posidonia meadows across the Mediterranean, vital carbon sinks and biodiversity hotspots. Weak enforcement, inconsistent laws, and uncontrolled anchoring threaten their survival, despite limited restoration and protection efforts.

Mediterranean’s hidden forests under siege by tourism

The undersea mountains where sharks rule Under the vast undulating surface of the ocean, "constellations" of towering subsea mountains dot the Earth – and they are teeming with sharks. Beneath the waves, ocean currents roar like the wind over the summits of long-extinct volcanoes. These seamounts...

The undersea mountains where sharks rule
->BBC | More from Lil Dr Glen EcoChat at BigEarthData.ai

We urge @ec.europa.eu & @consilium.europa.eu at #AGRIFISH to reduce fishing pressure on key species, like hake & deep-water shrimps, in the western Mediterranean and to protect the deep-sea habitats that support them from destructive fishing, benefitting coastal communities.

#DefendTheDeep

Quality of marine protected areas is critical to achieving global biodiversity targets As of 2025, approximately 9.6% of the global ocean is covered by MPAs (with a further very small percentage of OECMs), far below the 30% target6. While the urgency to expand MPA and OECM coverage is undeniable, the pressure to...

Quality of marine protected areas is critical to achieving global biodiversity targets
->Nature | #Ocean #MarineProtectedArea #Biodiversity | More from Lil Dr Glen EcoChat at BigEarthData.ai

Journée mondiale de la pêche : L’UNAPAS sonne l’alerte et exige la fin du chalutage de fond au Sénégal Journée mondiale de la pêche : L’UNAPAS sonne l’alerte et exige la fin du chalutage de fond au Sénégal

Journée mondiale de la #pêche : L’UNAPAS sonne l’alerte et exige la fin du chalutage de fond au Sénégal #worldfisheriesday

www.seneweb.com/fr/news/Soci...

The deep sea and the Arctic must be included in efforts to tackle climate change The momentum of COP30 and the first global agreement for marine areas beyond national jurisdiction creates a unique opportunity to further integrate the ocean, particularly the deep sea, into the clim...

The deep sea and the Arctic must be included in efforts to tackle climate change

Mediterranean countries have missed a crucial chance to protect #DeepSea life from destructive fishing.
We urge them and @ec.europa.eu to show leadership & extend the #bottomtrawling ban to at least 800m in 2026— for marine life, fishers & the climate
#DefendTheDeep
europe.oceana.org/press-releas...

Armored worms and death-ball sponges among array of life newly documented from the deep sea A deep-sea expedition has recorded 30 previously unknown species from one of the planet’s most inaccessible regions, at depths of up to 700 meters, or 2,300 feet, in the Southern Ocean. The astonishing array of deep-sea life included a carnivorous...

Armored worms and death-ball sponges among array of life newly documented from the deep sea
->Mongabay | More from Lil Dr Glen EcoChat at BigEarthData.ai

Mediterranean deep-sea ecosystems shelter unique species, yet a single trawl pass can wipe them out in seconds.

The General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean & the EU must extend deep-sea protection & end destructive fishing over these vulnerable habitats. #DefendTheDeep 🌊

🌊The Mediterranean deep sea is a hidden treasure — home to extraordinary species found nowhere else on Earth, but it is under threat from destructive fishing.

Mediterranean countries must act now to protect the deep sea, for marine life and for coastal communities.

#DefendTheDeep

Lusa - Business News - Portugal: Government plans 30% of marine protected areas by 2026 ahead of target - EUROPE SAYS Lisbon, Oct. 24, 2025 (Lusa) - Portugal plans to achieve 30% of marine protected areas by 2026, ahead of the 2030 target, with the creation of the

Lusa – Business News – Portugal: Government plans 30% of marine protected areas by 2026 ahead of target

https://www.europesays.com/2520888/

Lisbon, Oct. 24, 2025 (Lusa) – Portugal plans to achieve 30% of marine protected areas by 2026, ahead of the…

The Wildlife Trusts asked people what they thought about bottom trawling at sea – the responses were emotional | The Wildlife Trusts Experts, MPs and the public agree: this practice must stop!

The @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social asked people what they thought about #bottomtrawling at sea – the responses were emotional

#BanBottomTrawling #30x30

www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/wildlif...

At #EUOceanWeek event Veronica Manfredi from
@ec.europa.eu reaffirmed the EU #MarineActionPlan has defined a clear trajectory including to phase out of #BottomTrawling in #MPAs. This objective is central to restoring ocean health, which is also at the heart of the future #OceanAct

#OceanWeek continues with event in EP on #MPAs and destructive fishing. Important to also reflect on the EU self claimed global ocean leader when our own #MPAs are paperparks which allow #bottomtrawling.
#OceanAct

26 years of video footage shows benefit of bottom-trawling bans - Oceanographic The University of Gothenburg deployed machine learning to analyse 26 years of underwater footage and analyse seabed changes since trawling ban

26 years of video footage shows benefit of bottom-trawling bans. #Kosterhavet National Park
@oceanographicmag.bsky.social

oceanographicmagazine.com/news/26-year...

Revised EU guidance on #Natura2000 and #fishing finally published!
Application of Article 6 of the Habitats Directive and Article 4 of the Birds Directive to marine fishing activities
#CFP #MSFD #MPAs @ec.europa.eu

👉 op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-la...

Reef concerns after dredgers filmed in protected seas Scottish government says it's investigating but concerned locals fear enormous damage has been caused

Reef concerns after dredgers filmed in protected seas #scotland #MPA
www.bbc.com/news/article...

@open-seas.bsky.social

🚌 Ready to roll!

Our own OmniBus is hitting the streets today

Citizens are speaking up against the deregulation of environmental laws, and we’re bringing their message

@ec.europa.eu: don’t throw nature under the bus!
#HandsOffNature

🆕 @eea.europa.eu report warns: Europe can’t have long-lasting security without a resilient environment.🌍

At sea, climate change, bottom trawling & overfishing are pushing ecosystems to the brink—only 28% of fish stocks are healthy & sustainably fished: www.eea.europa.eu/en/europe-en...

🌊 Nestled between Menorca & Mallorca, the Menorca Channel hosts coralligenous beds, rhodolith beds, kelp forests & rich wildlife.

This biodiversity was under threat, so Oceana launched a campaign to protect it. A recent @ieo.es study shows it worked!

Learn more⤵️
europe.oceana.org/blog/life-co...