A wildlife charity hopes a new trawl fishing ban off the Sussex coast will help save dolphins.
Damaging trawl fishing has been prohibited in more than 100 square miles of seabed to help once vast kelp forests recover.
This should help prevent the tragic deaths of wildlife such as dolphins, which have been found in the past washed up and tangled in netting.
The Argus reported on the discovery of five dolphins which were discovered washed up on Sussex beaches in five consecutive days last December as a result of super trawlers.
Thea Taylor, from the Brighton Dolphin Project, said: “The new Nearshore Trawling Bylaw is a brilliant start at restoring an incredibly important local marine habitat.
“Kelp forests are not only beneficial for the vast numbers of marine organisms they support but also for local people who will benefit from the multitude of ecosystem services they provide such as cleaner water, reduced impact from storms and increased abundance of commercially important fish species.”
The bylaw, which was led by the Help Our Kelp project, will be hugely beneficial for marine life along the Sussex coast as kelp forests begin to regrow.
Kelp forests provide shelter for a variety of sea life, as well as helping lock up carbon in the oceans.
She added: “Our Sussex dolphins will also benefit because kelp acts as a nursery ground for prey species, including gadoid fish such as cod, and because it provides a refuge from fishing.
“This is a huge result for the Help our Kelp project who have worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome.”
The Brighton Dolphin Project are a local group who are part of the World Cetacean Alliance and aim to educate people on looking after our oceans.
Tim Dapling, chief fisheries and conservation officer for the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority commented on the impact for both wildlife and local businesses.
Tim Dapling, chief fisheries and conservation officer for the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority commented on the impact for both wildlife and local businesses.
A Gannett Company. Newsquest Media Group Ltd