The CHASM project hosted its first stakeholder network event on 14 June 2022 at Selsey Town Hall, where speakers presented the complex backdrop of change that has coincided with reductions in the coastal crustacean fisheries around Selsey Bill, West Sussex.<\/p>\n
Funded by the Faculty of Environment & Life Sciences at University of Southampton, the aim was to bring together stakeholders from around the Manhood Peninsula and from key organisations working in the marine sphere to learn more about the issues and research being undertaken locally.<\/p>\n
Wide ranging presentations provided a background to the project and the myriad of potential stressors which might be influencing the wider habitat. \u00a0The project team presented the initial findings from studies into the local marine environment and a short film, while neighbouring organisations talked about the work they are doing further along the south coast.<\/p>\n
Following the presentations we were delighted that a large number of delegates were able to join us on two Solar Boat trips into Chichester Harbour, where live demonstrations provided a hands-on experience of the sampling techniques being used.<\/p>\n
It was good to see 55 representatives from 36 organisations taking part. The organisations who attended included Parish councils from the Manhood Peninsula, Selsey fishery, the Environment Agency, Southern Water, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Kent Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Bognor Regis Fishermen's Association, Sussex Dolphin Project, Monteum Ltd, Sussex IFCA, Coastal Partners, Surfers Against Sewage, Seal Bay, Woodger Trust, Cefas, Chichester Harbour Conservancy, the Universities of Southampton, Brighton and Portsmouth, Southsea SAC, In-Depth Photography, Mulberry-ME, Manhood Wildlife & Heritage Group, West Sussex County Council, Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council, Chichester District Council, Chichester Canal Trust, and Manhood Peninsula Partnership. Apologies to anyone not mentioned here.<\/p>\n
The presentations from the events can be found in the links below:<\/p>\n
1_Introduction and Welcome: Jane Cunningham, Chichester District Council \/ Manhood Peninsula Partnership<\/a><\/p>\n 2_CHASM: the story so far Physical observations and changes: Dr Charlie Thompson, Channel Coast Observatory \/ University of Southampton<\/a><\/p>\n 3_Medmerry and Pagham, Sediment cycles \u2013 the links between land and sea: Dr Heidi Burgess, University of Brighton<\/a><\/p>\n 4_Sex and behaviour changing marine pollutants:\u00a0Prof Alex Ford,\u00a0University of Portsmouth<\/a><\/p>\n 5_CHASM diving: Martin Davies, Southsea SAC and In-Depth Photography<\/a><\/p>\n 6_Back to the future - Towards a more natural Selsey Coast and what this might mean for underwater:\u00a0Dr Uwe Dornbusch,\u00a0Environment Agency<\/a><\/p>\n 7_Sussex IFCA:\u00a0Tim Dapling,\u00a0Sussex IFCA<\/a><\/p>\n