A new study by a University of Sussex research team has identified 81 different marine species along the Sussex coastline, including tope shark, tub gurnard fish and the critically endangered European eel.

Research led by Prof Mika Peck and Dr Valentina Scarponi, shows how using a combination of two biomonitoring tools, Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUV) and environmental DNA (eDNA), can help better understand the biodiversity of our waters and support the future of marine conservation in Sussex.

Surprising Diversity

Across 28 survey sites from Shoreham-by-Sea to Selsey, the team recorded 81 different marine species living in our waters along this stretch of coastline. Fish including black seabream, Atlantic mackerel and tub gurnard fish were detected as well as spotted rays, tope sharks and the critically endangered European eel. Both the tope sharks and European eels are rare to see in these waters and are of high conservation concern.

Credit: University of Sussex

The data collected forms part of PhD candidate Alice Clark’s research into the recovery of biodiversity in Sussex Bay. Alice said:

“Coastal ecosystems suffer from a range of stressors including overfishing, habitat degradation, pollution and climate change, all of which can lead to population decline and a loss of diversity in species. Through this analysis, we have been able to discover so many different species in our waters, and I think people will be surprised to learn just how diverse this area of the UK coastline is.” 

Ecosystem recovery

In March 2021, a Nearshore Trawling Byelaw was introduced to prevent trawlers from dredging in the near inshore waters off the Sussex coast. Subsequently, the research has provided a monitoring baseline of marine life diversity. Using both BRUV and eDNA monitoring has allowed the team to document ecosystem changes, with the hope of seeing signs of recovery over time and the opportunity to provide conservation guidance.

BRUV imaging is an increasingly common and effective tool for monitoring underwater and allows researchers to learn more about the traits and behaviours of marine life through video footage. eDNA is a technique used to identify DNA found in the environment and can help to detect rare species. The team found that three times as many species were detected using eDNA sampling compared to video surveys alone.

Read the full press release here.