Fish
The Solent’s marine and coastal habitats provide homes and nursery grounds to a number of commercially important flat fish and shell fish. For example Seagrass beds provide shelter and this makes them important nursery areas for flatfish and in some areas cephalopods. Seahorses can also be found in this habitat.One of the main fisheries in the Solent is its oyster fishery; it has one of the largest natural native oyster populations in Europe. The sheltered rock habitats of the Solent provide a stronghold for this species.
The Solent and Wight area has been highlighted as a shark and ray hotspot and provides a pupping ground for smoothhound, tope and possibly thresher shark. The area also provides a nursery ground for a number of other shark and ray species.
