A BODY of water famous for dolphin sightings is being considered for special protected status due to its diverse wildlife.

Dolphin Head, shortly off the Sussex coast by Selsey Bill, has been shortlisted to be a Highly Protected Marine Area, or HPMA, meaning that it will get special support with recovery of the ecosystems.

The 500sqkm area is particularly known for a range of dolphin and porpoise sightings but has also been damaged in recent years by fishing.

Thea Taylor, Head of the Sussex Dolphin Project, said: “Dolphin Head HPMA has the potential to be a hugely diverse area.

"Its primary conservation focus will be the seabed, particularly the structural complexity created by the Ross worm reef habitats in the area.

“This particular area of the English channel is also particularly diverse in comparison to the surrounding seabed, and this increased biodiversity will be incredibly beneficial to dolphins feeding in the area.

“The ocean is a three-dimensional habitat and all protection should acknowledge that the water column above is as vital to protect as the ground beneath it."

Dolphin Head is one of five other sites across the UK being considered for protected status and is the only one in the area from Sussex.

Concerns for the area come as a result of the damage done by commercial fishing, with trawlers across the UK and Europe using the area particularly for mackerel.

A report into the proposal for protected status stated that Dolphin Head was “thought to be in a relatively degraded state following the impacts of human activity”.

The report adds that many species of fish have declined in the area in recent years with overfishing being a primary cause for this.

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the aim of the project is “to achieve full natural recovery of the structure and functions, features, qualities and composition of characteristic biological communities present within HPMAs and prevent further degradation and damage to the marine ecosystem subject to natural change”.

Public consultations are ongoing and residents can voice their thought on the issue until Wednesday, September 28.