Isle of Wight coastal and marine biological report 2009-2022 - A review.

Abstract

Since the publication of the previous Isle of Wight Marine Biological Report for 2007-8 (Herbert, 2009) there have been several important developments and ongoing impacts that will continue to have a significant influence on the coast, shores, and seas around the Isle of Wight. We have experienced extreme weather conditions, witnessed the designation of the first marine conservation zones, observed the collapse of the Solent oyster fishery, seen the departure of the UK from the European Union and have suffered a major global pandemic. The recording and reporting of marine life has been transformed by social media and the advent of digital recording schemes. There is also an increasing requirement for ecological consultancies to upload records to the National Biodiversity Network (NBN, 2023), the quality of which has improved greatly. It is the purpose of this brief review to summarise important changes in habitats and to comment on significant new records that have appeared over recent years. Species nomenclature used is according to the World Register of Marine Species (WORMS, 2023).