A WILDLIFE charity is changing its name after announcing an exciting new conservation project.

Brighton Dolphin Project, a charity project of the World Cetacean Alliance, will now be known as Sussex Dolphin Project, “to better reflect the organisation’s focus on marine mammals and ecosystems across Sussex.”

The move comes after the organisation announced it has partnered with Shoreham Port to start a new restoration and wildling project focused on sustainability and conservation.

The Argus:

The project will deliver an education programme focused on the importance of coastal and marine ecosystems, and open access to coastal habitats within the Port.

It will also host expert and public forums to discuss, improve and showcase the project.

Thea Taylor, lead at the Sussex Dolphin Project said: “The restoration and rewilding projects with Shoreham Port give us an invaluable opportunity to provide education, research and ecotourism opportunities for members of the local community whilst also raising awareness of our work.

“The Shoreham Port team have been extremely welcoming, open and forward-thinking in their approach to this project.

“We thank them for their ongoing support and look forward to sharing this project with the wider community.”

Sussex Dolphin Project hope the new partnership will help them to achieve their aim of inspiring the local community to reconnect with the coast by building awareness, delivering education initiatives, and driving research projects.

Nicky Brown, people, communications, and sustainability director at Shoreham Port, said is looking forward to working in partnership with the charity to protect the ocean and connect with the local community.

He said: “We are delighted to be working closely with Sussex Dolphin Project, who share our vision for a more sustainable future.

“We have some exciting projects across our estate which we will launch with our partners later this year.

“We will work with all our stakeholders on our nature-based solutions to lead the Port to a sustainable future.”

The project recently said it “welcomed” a new trawler fishing ban that has come into force off the Sussex coast.

Damaging trawl fishing has been prohibited in more than 100 square miles of seabed to help once vast kelp forests recover.

The bylaw, which was led by the Help Our Kelp project, will be hugely beneficial for marine life along the Sussex coast as kelp forests begin to regrow.

Kelp forests provide shelter for a variety of sea life, as well as helping lock up carbon in the oceans.