CHASM: Crustaceans, Habitat and Sediment Movement
CHASM is a collaborative research partnership investigating the environmental changes affecting coastal waters and inshore fisheries along the UK south coast.
The project was established following concerns raised by fishermen from Selsey Bill, who observed declining crab and lobster catches, increasing marine sediment, and changes in water and habitat quality. Working together with scientists, environmental organisations and local communities, CHASM is investigating the causes of these changes and their wider impact on the marine environment.
Our research combines environmental sampling, habitat surveys and geospatial analysis to build a clearer understanding of how coastal ecosystems are changing. Rather than examining individual issues in isolation, CHASM considers the combined effects of multiple environmental pressures, including sediment movement, water quality, contaminants and climate-related change.
Our Objectives
- Investigate environmental changes along the Sussex coast and within Sussex estuaries to understand how coastal, estuarine, and marine conditions are evolving over time, with particular focus on Selsey Bill and The Hounds Marine Conservation Zone.
- Enhance understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological factors that influence marine ecosystems and marine species.
- Provide evidence to support the long-term sustainability of local fisheries and the wider marine environment, helping to inform conservation, management, and policy decisions that protect ecosystem resilience and productivity.
- Share knowledge through collaboration, education and community engagement.
- Work alongside regional and national partners to improve the management and protection of our coastal seas.
By combining scientific research with the knowledge and experience of the fishing community, CHASM is helping to build the evidence needed to understand and protect one of the South Coast's most valuable marine environments.
Further information about the CHASM project, including detailed research, project partners and resources, can be found on the CHASM project page.