1. Knowledge is power
Learn and share as much as you can about local marine life. The more you and others know, the more you can fight to protect Our Living Coast, Sussex seas and the ocean.
Explore your local habitats as much as you can. Check out our guide to rock pooling
Read excellent user-friendly guides like The Diver’s Guide to Marine Life of Britain & Ireland. There are also more specific guides including guides to sponges and anemones here.
2. Support a marine life charity
Marine charities do an incredible amount of work in trying to help save our seas. They need your help you can help in so many different ways, by collecting data, volunteering your time or by becoming a member.
3. Collect data
The collective effort of volunteers gathering data led to the establishment of Marine Conservation Zones which have been set up to protect our most vulnerable marine life.
You don’t have to be an expert!
IRecord is a great app to help you ID and record your finds
Send your data to Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre
Join a marine life monitoring programme like Sussex Shoresearch or if you’re a diver Seasearch – anyone can join in!
4. Combating the climate crisis
As the seas and the atmosphere warm up, there are big risks to the oceans including melting of polar ice sheets, ocean acidification, loss of habitats including coral reefs and mangroves and rises in sea levels.
Not all is lost…
Find out as much as you can about the climate crisis and what Brighton & Hove city council are doing in response to it
Projects like Help our Kelp are being set up to combat the climate crisis. Writing to your local MP to help this project one of the most effective actions you can take.
Climate Conversations is a Royal Pavilion & Museums blog series on Climate Change and what we can do about it.
5. Clean up our beaches
Globally, over 80% of the yearly input comes from land-based sources, such as plastic packaging and bottles. Learn how to reduce waste as much you can and help to clean up Brighton & Hove by following the links below.
#StreetsAhead – find out more about the campaign to clean up Brighton & Hove’s neighbourhoods, streets and beaches
Read Brighton & Hove food partnerships top tips for reducing plastic waste
Volunteer with the Tidy Up Scheme – tackle litter and graffiti with council support
Reduce, reuse & recycle plastics – advice from Brighton & Hove City Council on how to minimise your plastic use and dispose of plastics safely
Brighton & Hove Beach clean – join or organise a beach clean