Rare eel and shark among 81 species found along coast

A rare European eel and tope shark are among 81 different marine species found by scientists along the Sussex coastline.

Researchers from the University of Sussex used a baited camera and environmental DNA analysis to record sea life across 28 survey sites between Shoreham-by-Sea and Selsey.

Alice Clark, a PhD candidate at the university, said: "I think people will be surprised to learn just how diverse this area of the UK coastline is."

Along with the European eel and tope shark, the researchers found black seabream, Atlantic mackerel and a cat shark.

The researchers said their work provided a monitoring baseline of marine life diversity in Sussex that could help impact future conservation efforts.

Mika Peck, who co-led the project, said: “There is the urgent need to address destructive fishing practices globally."

In March 2021, a nearshore trawling bylaw was introduced to help protect ecosystems along inshore waters off the Sussex coast.

Since the ban, the team at the University of Sussex has been conducting research to monitor underwater habitats and species.

Mr Peck said the team's work was helping to provide "critical evidence to understand ecosystem recovery upon removing human pressures", like trawling.

The European eel and tope shark are both critically endangered species.

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