The Solent is a strait, running between the Isle of Wight and the Hampshire coastline. It is one of the busiest bodies of water in the UK, and is actively used for international shipping, military activity, commercial fishing, the cruise industry and recreation. It is surrounded by several cities, towns and villages, and agricultural land. With all this activity happening in and around the Solent, there is an impact on the environment which is causing issues for the species that depend on it.
The Solent is a complex and diverse stretch of coastline, which supports a range of habitats, including reefs, seagrass beds, salt marshes and mudflats. The Solent is regularly visited by common and bottlenose dolphins, and is home to seals, sharks, seahorses, cuttlefish and eels – many of which appear on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list of threatened species.
Above the waves, the Solent is critically important for native and migratory bird species. Migrating birds visit the Solent from all around the world and use its rich habitats as feeding grounds. This means that the Solent is not just important on a national level, but also an international level. In recognition of this, the strait is protected with Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protected Areas (SPAs), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and by the Solent Waders and Brent Goose Strategy and the recreational mitigation strategy of Bird Aware.
The Solent and Itchen River are in an “unfavourable condition” due to excess nutrients entering the catchments. This had lead to the growth of algal mats, which during the low tide, sit on top of the tidal flats where birds feed. These mats damage habitats and restrict birds from feeding, making it harder for them to survive in the winter and regain the energy needed to fly back home. Nutrient neutrality was introduced to the area to mitigate the nutrient pollution coming from new over-night developments.
To find out more:
Secrets of the Solent, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Wildlife, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust
Meet the Birds, Bird Aware Solent