Tag Archives: Kelp forest ecosystems UK

In one of the largest surveys of a UK marine protected area (MPA) ever conducted, Owen Exeter and his team of marine scientists deployed 280 baited underwater camera systems across the Isles of Scilly archipelago, a unique biodiversity hotspot in the northeast Atlantic. The cameras recorded thriving communities of sharks, fish, and crustaceans across habitats ranging from seagrass beds and kelp forests, taking viewers beneath the waves and offering a rare insight into some of the UK’s healthiest and wildest seas. Beyond documenting marine life, the data provide a practical blueprint for designing innovative marine monitoring programmes, helping to ensure conservation efforts are both evidence-based and effective.