I can still remember as a young teenager my amazement when told that there were flowering plants living completely submerged in the sea. Our sea grasses or eelgrasses, Zostera spp, form an important inshore plant community in the Solent and surrounding areas. There are 3 eelgrass species in British waters and all are considered vulnerable … Continue reading Seagrass in the Solent
Category: Environment
News on new and recently introduced species to the Solent area
Because of the extensive shipping movements and numerous marinas welcoming boats from overseas, the Solent receives a large number of new species from other parts of the world, often attached to hulls or in ballast water. This has long been the case and many, often termed invasive species, are far from welcome. DNA analysis of … Continue reading News on new and recently introduced species to the Solent area
Solent Habitat – Spartina Saltmarsh
Cordgrasses, known scientifically as Spartina Anglica, occupy the lower shore areas of the coast at depths which are regularly covered at high tide. They offer coastal protection and create intertidal land; by trapping sediments they also increase the elevation of these land areas and stabilise sediment, thus aiding in the creation of new saltmarsh areas. … Continue reading Solent Habitat – Spartina Saltmarsh
Two new Marine Conservation Zones
In July 2018, the Government announced Tranche 3 of the proposals to create Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ) around the coast of England. More information on exactly what is an MCZ can be found elsewhere in the newsletter. This article concentrates on the two new proposals between Yarmouth and Cowes and off Bembridge on the Isle … Continue reading Two new Marine Conservation Zones
Langstone Sea Defences
SPS was made aware of concerns regarding the imminent preach of the sea defences and lack of action at Southmore Lane, Langstone. Havant BC had released a press notice last week announcing £376,000 funding had been secured for options appraisal for coastal defence study at Langstone because of flood risk for 86 homes and Hayling … Continue reading Langstone Sea Defences
City of Portsmouth – Flood Defences
Proposals for new sea defences for the island city of Portsmouth are gaining increasing visibility among local residents, with two seemingly opposing views both now being publicly debated. This work is in response to the Environment Agency Flood Risk Assessment, which predicts the sea level rising by up to 1.2 metres within the next one … Continue reading City of Portsmouth – Flood Defences
The new IPCC report.
The new report from the International Panel on Climate Change substantially confirms previous findings. Full details are available here. You can read the summary here.There is no disagreement among the authors about the confidence of the predictions. Only one dissenting author expressed disappointment at the lack of emphasis on mitigation and adaptation. There is no … Continue reading The new IPCC report.
Can we create saltmarsh?
Hannah Mossman's presentation to the SPS Council and invited guests on 3rd March bubbled with enthusiasm for the subject, and clear technical understanding. It was yet another step in the efforts of SPS to understand the issues arising from saltmarsh loss in the Solent. This interest was focussed in a conference that SPS organised in … Continue reading Can we create saltmarsh?
MCZ tranche 2 update
The RYA have published details of a DEFRA announcement of the next tranche of MCZs to be investigated. We agree with RYA that the decision to include the management measures in the consultation process is to be welcomed. Sites at Bembvidge; Norris to Ryde ( Osborne Bay); Yarmouth to Cowes; and the Needles are all … Continue reading MCZ tranche 2 update
Habitat Creation Conference presentation downloads available
The presentations given at the ABP Mer Conference in November (and the formal proceedings) are now available for download via Linked In. The conference report is available from the Resources section of this website (go to Proceedings where SPS is a sponsor or participant) The conference, for which Solent Protection Society was one of the … Continue reading Habitat Creation Conference presentation downloads available