Chichester Harbour Trust

Chichester Harbour is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, recognition of its significance as a habitat for wildlife. Nutbourne Marshes, Eames Farm, Pilsey, Sandy Point and Gutner Point are all 'Local Nature Reserves'.

The Harbour's European importance is confirmed by its status as a 'Special Protection Area' and it is designated a 'wetland of international importance' under the Ramsar Convention.

The Harbour has the sixth largest area of saltmarsh in Britain. Other important habitats include sand dunes, vegetated shingle, saline lagoons, ancient woodland and coastal grazing marsh. The eelgrass beds are unique in Sussex.

The Harbour's saltmarsh and inter-tidal mud provide feeding grounds for wintering and migratory waterfowl. Around 52,500 birds are recorded each year.

Botanically, the grazing marshes are even more diverse than the saltmarsh. Together, these habitats support 15 nationally scarce plant species.

The harbour mouth is a nursery for bass.