What's New?
Seal Tagging Project
Seals are some of the most charismatic animals you can see in this country and you may think they would avoid our busy waters in favour of more peaceful places to feed and breed. However, a small colony of 15-20 harbour seals has made its home in the Solent.
The Wildlife Trusts South East Marine Programme, working with Chichester Harbour Conservancy and the Sea Mammal Research Unit have set up the new Solent Seal Tagging Project to track these animals and improve our understanding of the population and its most important sites. To find out more look at our Seal Project pages.
It's Official - We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside!
Whether it’s somewhere to enjoy the holidays or a resource for the food we eat, the results of a survey by The Wildlife Trusts show just how much we have come to depend on our marine environment. More than 1200 people took part in a telephone survey, including over 100 from the South East of England. Here are some of the key findings of the survey....
- From 6 options of leisure activities, a day at the seaside topped the poll as people's favourite activity with 35% of the total vote.
- More than 80% of respondents saw the sea as an important food source.
- 75% of respondents thought that there are fewer fish in the sea than 20 years ago.
- On average, respondents felt that 61% of our seas should be protected in Marine Reserves - conservation areas where all damaging activities are banned.
Beneath the Waves- The sea life of South East England
The seas off South East England are teeming with life, from the Thames Estuary to the Solent, and from the coast to many miles offshore. A 40 minute documentary film gives a diver's eye view of this underwater world and will enable you to come face to face with the animals and plants that inhabit mud, sand, gravel, rocky reefs and shipwrecks on the seabed. Meet dolphins, seals, a fish with fingers, and a carpet of stars! Find out about the industries that depend on our sea, what state the marine environment is in, and the many ways in which you can 'do your bit' to help protect the sea life of South East England. To purchase a copy of this film, please go to the shop.
