A seabed habitat trial is currently taking place off the coast of Eastbourne, which is being jointly run by the Sussex Sea Fisheries Committee and local fishermen.

The Basic Seabed Habitat Mapping system has been developed to get information from the seabed such as the type and location of the habitat with the support of photographic or video record and a sketch map of the site.

Areas known locally as the Royal Sovereign Shoals, the Horse of Willingdon and the inshore Coxheath Shoal are covered in dead man's fingers, a colonial soft coral that forms thick, fleshy and irregular masses often finger-like in appearance and pout fish are abundant on the seabed.

Also abundant and protruding from the gravels in the region are ross coral, which are larger than footballs.

The MFV Halycon, skippered by Graham Doswell, used acoustic ground discrimination sonar and underwater video to collect video survey data on the location of reefs, important fishing grounds and sensitive areas.

"This information is crucial," said Graham, the chairman of the Eastbourne Fishermen's Association.

"The Sussex SFC is consulting on a fisheries management plan which considers, from a fisheries perspective, the sensitivity and vulnerability of the seabed to various fishing activities and whether more action is required to further protect it."

A lack of high quality seabed habitat information has always constrained capture fisheries and shellfish farmers in their endeavour to manage fishing grounds and reduce the environmental impact of fishing, as well as comply with marine nature conservation legislation.
Robert Clark of the Sussex Sea Fisheries Commission paid tribute to the work being undertaken by Eastbourne fishermen.

"Fishermen in Eastbourne have really taken the initiative here and shown how fishers can positively contribute to marine conservation," said Mr Clark.

"This work is a very valuable addition to our knowledge and management of the fisheries in this area, and the capture of video footage means it can be communicated to a wide audience."

The project has also been supported by Seafish, the authority on seafood founded in 1981 and supports the seafood industry for a sustainable, profitable future.

"This is only the start," said Mark Gray, environmental assessment officer at Seafish.

"The seabed mapping guidance is part of a toolkit we are developing to help industry reduce the environmental impact of fishing and show that fishing can be compatible with marine nature conservation interests.

"Video survey data is a key part of these trials. Crucial information is provided that will be used in mapping habitats, that not only support their target species but also act as spawning and nursery areas.

"This type of survey can also be used to understand the vulnerability of these features to certain activities and also provide information on the biodiversity of the seabed. More trials will follow."

Video footage of the trial can be seen online at www.sussex-sfc.gov.uk