The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has announced details of two new intitiatives aimed at protecting coastal ecosystems and strengthening coastal resilience – the creation of a major intertidal habitat at Thorney Island and a pioneering marine restoration initiative to revive native kelp beds along England’s northeast coast.
A new initiative led by the Environment Agency is set to transform the western side of Thorney Island with the creation of over 20 hectares of compensatory intertidal habitat by 2030.
The Thorney Island Habitat Creation Project forms part of the wider Habitat Compensation and Restoration Programme (HCRP), which aims to restore and protect vital coastal ecosystems across the region.
The project is in the early stages, having undergone a scoping and screening opinion through the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) Marine Licensing team.
While a formal marine licence application has not yet been submitted, the project is considered legally imperative as compensation for the Solent and South Downs Area Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCERM) capital programme.
The planned habitat will play a crucial role in supporting local biodiversity, providing essential feeding and breeding grounds for a range of marine and bird species. The creation of these habitats will not only meet legal obligations but also deliver lasting benefits for wildlife and the local community.
Green Gravel Kelp Restoration Project
Separately, a marine licence has been granted to a pioneering marine restoration initiative led by Newcastle University and the Marine Biological Association to revive native kelp beds along England’s northeast coast. The Green Gravel Kelp Restoration Project seeks to combat climate change and biodiversity loss by reintroducing juvenile kelp into the ocean using an innovative technique.
The project involves cultivating juvenile kelp (Laminaria hyperborea) in controlled laboratory conditions and attaching it to gravel (known as green gravel) before depositing it back into the sea. Scuba divers will mark and monitor the restoration plots quarterly, with seasonal out-plantings scheduled for summer and winter to assess environmental impacts on growth success.
The project is designed to future-proof English kelp beds against climate and human-induced stresses. Kelp forests are vital to marine ecosystems providing habitat, food, and breeding grounds for marine species, while also supporting fisheries and recreational opportunities like diving.
Kelp is a natural carbon sink, aiding in climate mitigation. It also contributes to coastal resilience through flood defence and denitrification, enhancing overall ecosystem functioning.
If successful, the green gravel method could be scaled up across the UK, marking a significant step in the rewilding of Britain’s coastal habitats.
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