New trawling ban protects rare marine habitats and wildlife

England has introduced new protections for a large section of the Sussex coastline, banning bottom trawling in vulnerable marine habitats to help restore biodiversity and protect threatened species.

“Beachy Head East represents a real opportunity to show how effective, evidence-led management can restore marine ecosystems while continuing to support sustainable fishing communities,” said Lewis White, Seascape Research Lead for Sussex Bay.

The new bylaw protects 164 square kilometres of sea off Beachy Head from bottom trawling and scallop dredging, safeguarding rare chalk reefs and sandstone ecosystems that support species including short-snouted seahorses, native oysters, blue mussels, and velvet swimming crabs. Low-impact fishing methods, such as rod-and-line fishing, nets, and pots, will remain allowed. Combined with earlier protections introduced in 2021, nearly 30% of Sussex’s inshore waters are now protected from trawling, helping conserve marine habitats that experts say cannot easily recover once destroyed.