In March 2021, a 170-square-kilometre exclusion zone was introduced along the inshore waters, and Steve set to work re-wilding the Sussex coastline with different species of kelp – some grown in a ‘kelp hub’ in his garage. Steve founded the Sussex Seabed Restoration Project (SSRP) to involve local communities along the Sussex coastline, developing awareness of the consequences of the destruction of the seabed and how they can play a crucial role in its protection, and help bring back sea kelp and fish. Currently, bottom trawling and dredging are still permitted in over 97% of the UK’s offshore MPAs. Hopefully this will change as growing numbers of locals – including fishermen – experience the benefits of allowing nature to thrive, and take pride in their shared blue resources. Let Steve take you into the Great Sussex Kelp Forest, then dive into the ban on bottom trawling in this video from ITV.