Reports of marine wildlife from all around the British Isles, with pollution incidents and conservation initiatives as they affect the flora and fauna of the NE Atlantic Ocean
 

9 September 2011
A record angling capture of a Couch's Sea-Bream, Pagrus pagrus, weighing 4205 grams (9 lb 4 oz 5 drams) was landed on the west coast of Guernsey. Couch's Sea-Bream turned up in Guernsey waters in 1993 after a very long absence. Dr Jonathan Couch recorded one three miles off Polperro in 1842. It is also known as the Common Sea-Bream. It is principally a southern European fish that has been moving north. They grow to a size approaching 8 kg.

8 September 2011
Protection for key nature sites in UK seas has come a step closer with the unveiling of proposals to create over 100 Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). 
The zones range from tiny stretches of coastline to large tracts of sea floor. The proposals were included in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and cover seas abutting the English coast and waters around Wales more than 12 miles from the coast. They will be assessed by an expert panel before the government makes its final decision. 
"The thousands of species of sea life and habitats that live hidden under our waters need just as much protection as those that we can see on land," said Richard Benyon, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 
"We will scrutinise the recommendations carefully," vowed Peter Ryder, chairman of the Marine Protected Area Science Advisory Panel. 

Unfortunately the Fin Whale was found dead on the shore two days later and washed up on a sandbank at Cleethorpes.

5 September 2011
A pregnant female Blue Shark, Prionace glauca, was washed up on at Barvas on the west side of the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Western Isles, Scotland.

1 September 2011
This fresh fish was discovered on sale at Plymouth Fish Market. It was probably* captured in the south-western approaches (SW of Cornwall). Its length was estimated at 28 cm. However, it identity is a bit of a puzzle and has provoked discussion amongst the experts. It is definitely species of Drumfish in the family Sciaenidae as evidenced by two dorsal fins with the lateral line reaching all the way to its caudal (tail) fin. However, none of the four European species of Drumfish are normally found in British seas and its appearance does not match any of them exactly. The identity of this fish is still under enquiry. (*The provenance of this fish was not established.)

Richard Lord makes a compelling case for this fish to be the Atlantic Croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, from a comparative photograph he took at Fulton Fish Market (New York). This species inhabits the shallow seas of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic west coast of the United States of America from Florida to Maine. This seems to be only the third record of this alien fish in European seas as a previous record of two juvenile specimens has been discovered in Belgian waters (Southern Bight of the North Sea): one in August 1998 as a by-catch of the commercial shrimp fishery in coastal waters, another in October 2001 on a tidal flat in the brackish part of the Scheldt Estuary. 

An alternative possible species is the Chi Drumfish, Umbrina cirrosa. This species is found in the Bay of Biscay.  Another candidate is the Corb, Sciaena umbra. 

  Please Email any ID suggestions.
 

31 August 2011
At the annual Jersey Open Shore Angling Festival, a British record breaking specimen of the White Sea Bream, or Sargo, Diplodus sargus, excited everyone including the angler Brian Swain. The fish took a Garfish bait and weighed in at  2 lb  6 oz 12 drams or 1.099 kg. This fish is a rare capture in British seas and the only known occurrences are recent appearances of shoals of these fish around the Channel Islands. Mature adults seem to be confined to shallow seas in the sheltered corner of  the Gulf Normano-Breton. Starting life as males, some White Bream become females in later life. The first youngsters found locally were collected in 1991 from the old hot water outlet at La Collette Power Station on the western boundary of the South-east Coast of Jersey Ramsar Site. Since then they have grown on, apparently to establish a viable population: divers report frequent sightings and a small shoal can often be seen in the Queen Elizabeth II Marina, St Helier. 

27 August 2011
A Peacock Blenny, Salaria pavo (Risso, 1810), was seen on the Brittany coast, northern France: "It was found on the shore in the Golfe du Morbihan (a large natural harbour) in south Brittany. They were the commonest fish on the shore, under rocks from mid-shore down." 
I also found a male and female Marbled Rock Crab, Pachygrapsus marmoratus, on an offshore reef at Port St Jaques near Morbihan.

The Peacock Blenny, Salaria pavo has recently has been found in considerable numbers in the Morbihan and near Concarneau, more towards the western tip of Brittany. 

20 August 2011
Colin Huelin caught an Atlantic Bonito, Sarda sarda, weighting 5 lb 2 oz 5 drams or 2.333 kg, on Mackerel tackle, from the Corbière area, the extreme south-western point of Jersey.

18 August 2011
A Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus, was stranded on a beach in Dungarvan, County Waterford and died the following day. The whale had been sighted swimming close to shore and was tracked for 100 miles along the coast before beaching itself. The 11 metre adult male appeared distressed and in poor health. Experts from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) speculated that the whale may have suffered from disease or starvation.

11 August 2011
Niall Sayers caught a Spanish Mackerel (or Chub Mackerel), Scomber colias,  weighing 1 lb6 oz 12 drams or 0.645 kg, had fallen for a live sandeel, this time fished in deep water over a sandbank to the northwest of Jersey.

10 August 2011
We took a 15 minute boat trip round the harbour at Clovelly, north Devon, and saw two fins swimming nearby.  The pilot said they were Sunfish, Mola mola, and turned the boat around to stay with them.  We had never heard of them before but other visitors were very excited about the sitings. 

4 August 2011
A Bluefin Tuna, Thunnus thynnus, was speared by a diver fisherman off Dorset, one of two seen.

FORUM NEWS

Marine Wildlife of the North-east Atlantic Ocean Mailing Groups

Marine Wildlife of the North-east Atlantic Ocean 
Yahoo Group
New Group: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Glaucus

British Marine Life Study Society 
Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/glaucus/

This Wall is now working properly and members can now post on it. This is designed for quick less important chatty news items. Photographs can be uploaded quickly which is only possible on the Yahoo Group by going to the web page. 

Images can be uploaded to flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/glaucus/
 

Wet Thumb (Marine Aquariology) Forum Link
 
 

Aequorea are widely found around the British Isles with records washed up on the shore from Cornwall and Suffolk as well as the Orkneys. However, the records are not complete at the moment because the genus is often not recognised and any reports are welcome. Aequorea species need experts to distinguish between them. Aequorea forskalea has been positively identified and recorded from around the British Isles. The two reports of Aequorea I have received have both been in July 2011.

19 September 2009
There was a large stranding of Aequorea forskalea on Treyarnon Beach, North Cornwall coast. 

Photographers submitting pictures should indicate if they wish them to be considered for inclusion as confirming permission takes work and time and can delay publication of the news bulletins. 
 

Click on the album for more links (On-line link)

NEW BOOK
 

by Paul Kay & Frances Dipper 
£19.95 incl. p&p
Soft cover

With 256 pages and numerous photographs supported by drawings, this book is the most comprehensive photographic guide to marine fish currently available in the UK. Published for the Marine Conservation Society with support from the Countryside Council for Wales. 

Click on the image to order this book through the Marine Conservation Society

RECOMMENDED PURCHASE *****

July 2010

PS: A second revised edition of the book has been published. 

SEASHORE SAFARIS
 
 
 

Publisher: Graffeg
Publisher's Review (click on this text)
Review by the City and County of Swansea

This is the book I should have written (and I dare say a few others as well) and is a much needed introduction to the world of the seashore and the hobby of rockpooling. It is a photographic guide to most of the common species encountered which is much appreciated as newcomers and even experienced rockpoolers will try and match up what they have seen to a visual image (and photographs work better than line drawings) and this will usually get them the correct species, (unless there are two very alike species and then you will need a specialist identification guide like the Collins Guide to the Seashore).

However, the seashore is a rich and interesting habitat with a myriad of species and 225 pages of this large pocket guide are comprehensively covered to suit the enthusiast.

Extract from the foreword by Keith Hiscock:
"Being able to names to what you see and, better still, to use your observations to add to our knowledge about the natural world is what this book is about."

But the book for a popular audience is more than this. It starts from the assumption that the parents and teachers and older children are unfamiliar with the seashore environment, so the

1. Getting started
explains about the tides (very briefly: a detailed explanation can be in chapter 2) and the equipment you may need, where and how to look for the seashore critters (my term).
2. Living between the tides
explains about the dynamic nature of the littoral environment and the variations on different coasts. It also introduces the explorer to a few technical terms which are further explored in
3. Zonation
which is a rather important explanation to on what part of the shore what animals and seaweeds are to be discovered and why
4. Habitats
Even between the zones the geography of the seashore varies and this chapter explains what habitats what type of creatures
5. Beachcombing
This is the scavenger's first introduction to the see what the sea has deposited on the strandline complete with an excellent quick guide to the common shells and other treasures
6. Animal Life
The large animal life section is structured roughly by phyla (major groups of animals) ignoring for the most part the specialist microscopic studies. Each animal group is given a brief description including behavioural characteristics. Each animal is given a common name and the important scientific name (because the common names can vary in different localities and in different books) with a photograph, brief written description, habitat preferences and field notes.
"Did you know?
Male crabs have a narrow 'v' shaped tail with 5 joints and in females the tail is wider with 7 joints."
Fish are the most interesting discoveries for many of the fledgling rockpoolers. Most of the common species are included but a frequently encountered species like the Rock Goby, Gobius paganellus, has been omitted.
7. Seaweeds
In contrast to the fish the common macroalgae are well covered.
8. Conservation
This is a good section encouraging participants to take an active interest, how the public can help and a comprehensive list of where to report their findings.
9. Further Information
With a book list and a list of organisations and their web pages, a comprehensive glossary and an index, this has the hook that could result in a lifetime interest in the seashore.

Now why would anybody want to go to Serengeti when we have so much of interest nearer to home?

RECOMMENDED PURCHASE *****

Not just a cookery book: you have to go down to the shore and catch or collect the food yourself. The 240 page hardback book (with an index) is exceptionally well produced in quality of the binding, paper as well as the quality of writing, information and clear useful colour photographs. It is well organised into nine chapters:

Starting Out:  Conservation and Equipment, including the first paper published instructions on how to construct a shrimp net (push-net). 

Foraging:  Lots of useful and essential information about the tides, weather, safety and what to wear. 

Rule Book: This is the bravest inclusion. John Wright attempts (better than anyone so far) to explain the rules, law and ethics of seashore collection, what you are allowed and not allowed to do. It is worth buying the book for this chapter alone.

The Flowering Plants
The Seaweeds
The Molluscs
The Crustaceans

All the expected species and some unlikely edible candidates are included and each is given two pages. Very informative and lots of information I did not already know. John Wright conducted his research first hand and we shrimped together on Southwick Beach with Peter Talbot-Elsden (as shown in my photograph, not in the book).

The Recipes:  Well I would omit the chilli in the Potted Shrimp. After collecting the food, I am usually a wee bit tired and this chapter should be for your partner. Let me know how you get on?

The home-made shrimp net on page 17 is an identical design to mine, the one used by John Wright before he made his own on our expeditions at Southwick, and the one used by Charlie Dimmick on River Walks filmed on nearby Lancing beach.

Kimmeridge Tidings

Autumn 2009
http://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/c2/uploads/tidingsautumn09web.pdf

Up to date with all the latest happenings at our Purbeck Marine Wildlife Reserve in Kimmeridge.
 

VIVARIUM
by Peter Stiles
Publisher: Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon

Philip Henry Gosse was a popular naturalist who moved to Victorian Ilfracombe and wrote his natural science book ‘A Naturalist’s Rambles on the Devonshire Coast’. He later designed the first public aquarium, which opened in London. His activities also attracted other naturalists, including Charles Darwin and novelist George Eliot.

This book celebrates the link between Philip Henry Gosse and his rockpool adventures in Devon and contains lots of information about the life of this self-taught Victorian scientist and writer.

in conjunction with an Exhibition that finished on 25 April 2009.
 

Marine Fisheries Science Yearbook  2008/2009

Publisher:  defra

Sharks in British Seas Richard Peirce 138 pages, colour illustrations, line drawings, colour & b/w photos. Lots of newspaper reports. Publisher:  Shark Cornwall Softcover | 2008 | £9.99 ISBN: 978-0-955869402

Seashore by Lucy Beckett-Bowman Consultant: Andy Horton Usborne Publishing   £3.99 Usborne Beginners Series Level One (very young children) ISBN 978-0-7460-8864-7 BMLSS Notes for a Primary School Teacher

Whales & Dolphins
of the European Atlantic
The Bay of Biscay, English Channel, Celtic Sea and coastal SW Ireland
by Dylan Walker and Graeme Cresswell
with the illustrations by Robert Still
WILDGuides  2008
£ 12.00 (includes standard UK P&P)
ISBN:  978-1-903657-31-7

This is the second fully revised and updated edition of this comprehensive guide to the identification of whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans) in the European Atlantic. Until very recently, most researchers and whale-watchers were unaware of the great variety of cetaceans that can be seen so close to the shores of western Europe. Indeed, it is only during the last decade, when detailed cetacean surveys have been carried out in earnest, that we have discovered how important this area is for cetacean biodiversity.

This field guide describes all of the 31 species of whale, dolphin and porpoise that have occurred in the European Atlantic.
 

BMLSS Cetacean Book Reviews

 
The Gulf Stream
by Bruno Voituriez
Publisher:  UNESCO 
ISBN:  92-3-103995-4 
222 pages, figures, glossary, bibliography

The Gulf Stream
Amid contemporary scenarios of potential climatic catastrophes and global warming that might be imagined to bring a new ice age, the powerful image of the Gulf Stream rising from the Florida Straits and flowing to the north Atlantic inevitably provokes questions about its ecological significance and whether it might ever stop.
 

Coastal Plankton
Photo Guide for European Seas

by Otto Larink & Wilfried Westheide
reviewed by Wim van Egmond
 
 
 

Seashore (Collins New Naturalist) (Paperback) by Peter Hayward Collins 2004 ISBN:  0-00-220031-7 Amazon Web Site

Paperback. Pp 288. Colour & b/w photographs, illustrations, charts, maps and bibliography. Fine copy. "New Naturalist" Seashore is a comprehensive, authoritative account of the natural history of the seashore.
 

BMLSS General Guides
BMLSS Advanced Guides