Exploring the economic and environmental power of our coastline ahead of World Oceans Day

Let’s face it – take away the sea, and Brighton just wouldn’t be Brighton. And while we love our independent cafés, quirky lanes and vibrant culture, it’s hard to imagine this city having quite the same energy if it weren’t clinging to the edge of the wild English Channel.

The seafront isn’t just a pretty backdrop; it’s the heart of Brighton’s identity and economy. That view? It sells hotel rooms, fills restaurants, brings in marathon runners and day-trippers, wedding parties and paddleboarders. From sunrise swims to late-night beach festivals, the coast frames much of our daily life in Brighton.

Brighton’s success has always been tied to the sea. Back in the 18th century, when Dr Richard Russell claimed seawater could cure just about anything and the Prince Regent chose Brighton for his grand seaside escape, the town began its transformation from a fading fishing village into the country’s original wellness destination. The arrival of the railway in 1841 sealed the deal, making Brighton one of the first proper commuter seaside cities.

 

What the Sea Brings In

Fast forward to today, and tourism alone pumps over £1 billion into the local economy each year, supporting thousands of jobs. According to Visit Brighton, around 11 million day-trippers visit annually, many of them hopping on a train from London when the sun appears. Walk the promenade on any weekend in July and you’ll see why: people come for the water, and stay for everything built around it.

The hospitality industry depends on that influx. Beachfront hotels fill up months in advance. Cafés and restaurants along the seafront live and die by good weather. Events like Brighton Pride, On The Beach Festival, beach volleyball tournaments, and even bracing winter swims bring energy and footfall all year round.

Brighton is one of the rare UK seaside cities that’s still booming, even as others have struggled to reinvent themselves. Some have faded with the decline of the British holiday; others never had quite the same mix of culture, innovation and that touch of Brighton weirdness. But here? The sea still sells.

It also inspires. The creative and digital sectors that thrive in Brighton often point to the city’s laid-back coastal rhythm as part of the appeal. Artists, musicians, and tech entrepreneurs find something magnetic about working beside the waves. It’s part of the reason Brighton has become a hub for innovation and creativity, not just relaxation.

But what happens when the thing that draws people here starts to change? Climate change is already shifting the relationship. Rising sea levels and more frequent storms pose real risks. Coastal erosion is slowly eating away at the city’s edge, while major infrastructure like Brighton Marina and Shoreham face growing threats from flooding. Sea defences help, but they’re expensive – and not a long-term fix.

 

Local Heroes of the Coastline

Fortunately, Brighton’s not short on people who care deeply about the sea – and aren’t afraid of getting stuck in to protect it. There are local organisations, ranging from grassroots to big business, that are working on projects to protect the marine ecosytem and combat climate change:

 

  • Sussex Dolphin Project: Tracking and protecting marine mammals found in the Eastern English Channel. Through citizen science and community education, they hope to engage more people with protecting local dolphin populations just offshore from Brighton. Their work raises awareness about sharing our waters responsibly and reminds us that this isn’t just a beach – it’s a habitat.

 

  • Sussex Kelp Recovery Project: Since the 2021 trawling ban, the Sussex seabed has become a national testbed for marine recovery. The Sussex Kelp Recovery Project aim to champion, study and facilitate the recovery of Sussex kelp and other essential fish habitats, through progressive and collaborative action. They hope that by building a strong foundation of research into local marine life, they can help wider audiences understand the ecological, social and economic value of kelp and other essential fish habitats in Sussex.

 

  • Sussex Bay: The Sussex Bay partnership encompasses 100 miles of Sussex waters from Chichester to Camber Sands, unlocking funding to accelerate the recovery of our seascape & rivers and championing local blue nature reecovery projects. The initiative also aims to support sustainable fisheries, explore new income models for coastal communities, and is co-producing a long-term marine recovery strategy with partners, including leading researchers from the University of Sussex.

 

  • Surfers Against Sewage Brighton: Surfers Against Sewage is a grassroots environmental charity that campaigns to protect the ocean. They aim to combat ocean pollution through beach cleans, campaign against sewage overflows, and advocate for better water quality for all. The Brighton team actively engages the community through various initiatives aimed at safeguarding the coastal environment, for example Paddle-Out Protests and parterships to tackle litter reduction with Brighton & Hove City Council.

 

  • Sussex Wildlife Trust: The Sussex Wildlife Trust is a conservation charity dedicated to safeguarding Sussex’s natural habitats, with a significant focus on the coastal and marine environments. Their efforts encompass habitat restoration, wildlife protection, and community engagement to ensure the health and resilience of the region’s coastal ecosystems. 

 

  • Rampion Offshore Wind Farm: .The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, located off the Sussex coast, generates enough renewable electricity to power approximately 350,000 UK homes annually, contributing significantly to the region’s clean energy supply. Beyond energy production, the wind farm has inadvertently created a marine sanctuary by restricting large-scale fishing activities in its vicinity, leading to a resurgence of marine life and benefiting local biodiversity.

 

  • Weald to Waves: The Weald to Waves project is an ambitious nature recovery initiative aiming to establish a 100-mile ecological corridor across Sussex. It stretches from the ancient woodlands of Ashdown Forest in the High Weald to the restored kelp forests off the Sussex coast. Spearheaded by the Knepp Wildland Foundation, this collaborative effort brings together farmers, landowners, councils, researchers, wildlife charities, schools, and community groups to reconnect fragmented habitats and promote biodiversity.

 

  • Brighton Seafront Heritage Trust: Based at the Brighton Fishing Quarter, the trust works to preserve and celebrate the city’s historic seafront, including heritage sites like Madeira Terrace and local fishing traditions. By protecting Brighton’s coastal identity and architecture, it connects the city’s past with its sustainable future.

 

Can Brighton set the standard for Coastal Resilience and Regeneration?

The truth is, the sea has always given a lot to Brighton – but it’s not a one-way relationship. We’ve taken from it, and now we’re learning how to give back. Looking ahead, Brighton has a unique opportunity to become a model coastal city: not just surviving environmental change, but thriving by working with nature. Regenerative ocean farming, community-led coastal restoration, clean marine energy, these are no longer distant ideas, but emerging industries and initiatives shaping what’s next.

So instead of asking whether Brighton would still boom without the sea, maybe the better question is: how can we build a future where both the city and the ocean thrive together?