Article Date: April 13, 2026
The article reports on a new project in Portsmouth to deploy specially designed floating wetlands in coastal waters to restore lost marine habitats. The project, led by the University of Portsmouth in partnership with Southern Water, will use floating rafts planted with saltmarsh species in areas where natural habitats have been replaced by seawalls, flood defences, and other hard infrastructure.
The goal is to recreate “green” coastal habitat, improve water quality, and support biodiversity by giving marine plants, fish, and invertebrates new places to live. The project is described as a practical response to the widespread loss of coastal ecosystems such as saltmarsh, seagrass, and kelp.
The trial will take place in Portsmouth, including at Southcoast Wake Park, where scientists will monitor changes in water quality and biodiversity. If successful, the approach could be expanded to other marine and freshwater locations across the UK.
Overall, the article presents floating wetlands as a scalable nature-based solution for restoring biodiversity in urbanized coastal areas where traditional habitat restoration is difficult.
Source: BBC