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.
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28-29 August 2004
Third National Whale and Dolphin Watch (sponsored by BG Group, DEFRA &
the Heritage Lottery Fund) took place around the UK with watches conducted from about 200 sites from Shetland to Cornwall & the Channel Islands.
Sea Watch Foundation

The main watch site was at Brighton 28 August 2004, on the west arm of the Brighton Marina (East Sussex). This was the site for members of the public to join in the watch and find out more about the project. 12 people took part in the watch for periods between 1 and 2 hours. Many members of the public stopped to find out more about our project and we also received many calls on the hotline number.

At 14.42 pm we spotted a Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, a bit further out to sea than usual, possibly due to the increase in pleasure vessels coming to and from the marina being a bank holiday. It was thought by one of the watchers (and myself) that there could have been a second dolphin but could not be sure as the sea conditions had changed from a sea state 1 to a sea state 3 during the day.

Two Bottle-nosed Dolphin sightings were also recorded at Eastbourne during the event, one on Saturday 28th and the other on Sunday 29th August. A further sighting was made at Hastings also on the Sunday. A sighting at East Preston, (West Sussex) of two Bottle-nosed Dolphins seen on 21st August and another sighting at Brighton on Thursday 26th were also reported to us during the event. These were reported on our new sighting hotline number 07773610036 following press coverage for the event. As most of these sightings reported two Bottle-nosed Dolphins, it is tempting to think they may all be of the same dolphins, but of course its impossible to know.

Due to the great increase in public involvement and the number of Sussex sightings reported, this is easily our most successful Sussex Watch in the last three years of participating in the National Whale and Dolphin Watch. A big thanks to everyone who took part, telephoned our hotline or kept an eye out for dolphins over the weekend

A major contribution to the success of this year's Sussex watches has been due to funding through the Wildlife Trusts South East Marine Programme, which is supported by English Nature through DEFRAs Aggregate Sustainability Fund. This meant we were able to set up and support a larger number of Sussex watch sites this year. These included Worthing, Shoreham, and Littlehampton where watches were manned by trained volunteers.

The results of the National Watch can be found on the Sea Watch  Foundation website at www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk

Stephen Savage
Sussex Regional Co-ordinator Sea Watch Foundation
Sussex County recorder for Marine Mammals

BMLSS Cetacea

August 2004
Brian Richardson diving in 18 metres of water off the South Devon Coast thought he saw the unusual echiuran species known by the scientific name of  Bonellia viridis.  Only the proboscis was seen, which was about 60 cm long with a T piece 10 cm wide. When touched, the expandable proboscis recoiled under a rock. 

I expect most people have not had a chance to see such a bizarre and unusual creature.

Image of the this species discovered off Norway (to see how bizarre it is)
Link to the Second Photograph of the extendable proboscis by Rudolf Svensen

This "spoon" worm is classified in the Phylum Echiura. 
The females of Bonellia viridis are up to 2 metres in length, while the males are merely 1-2 mm (!) and live as parasites within the uterus of the female! This is the most extreme size difference between male and female (called "sexual dimorphism") found in the animal kingdom!
This is not only strange things about the bionomics of this peculiar animal. For more information click on the link below:

Bonellia viridis  Information Page (by René Hessling)

The distribution of Bonellia viridis around the British Isles is unclear. I have not received any reports from divers in British waters before. although off Norway it will be found in depths of 25 metres or more. It occurs frequently in shallow water in the Mediterranean Sea, e.g. off Chios, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea.

More Information
Another Treatise
Even More Information

More Echiurans (By Erling Svensen)

c. 20 August 2004
Whilst night diving at Shoreham beach, West Sussex I found a bright banded orange and white prawn. It was spinning around probably to avoid my torch light. This appears to be one of the Prosseca species which are seen at night. They lack the pronounced rostrum of the abundant Palaemon species of prawn.
Image

7 August 2004

The Sunfish, Mola mola, photograph was taken on 7th August 2004 about half a mile off Old Harry Rocks in Dorset. I spotted the Sunfish on the surface and I have seen them in the same area before. Normally when approached they swim towards the bottom at high speed. This time the Sunfish swam towards the boat and even allowed me to touch it, it made no attempt to swim away. It swam around the boat a few times and came back to the swim platform again. I could see it had sea lice on its back and I guess it was trying to get them removed. The fish appeared to be in good health, a fantastic site to see.

6 August 2004
Fishing the River Hayle in Cornwall, in the evening, I caught three Gilthead Bream, Sparus aurata, one of about 6-7 cm and two of about 16-20 cm long.  All three were released. There may well have been a large number of the little bream as my bait was attached by small fish almost every cast.

1 August 2004
The beach between Worthing and Lancing in West Sussex (on the south coast of England) seems an unpromising area for rockpooling but it consistently provides a variety of some of the less usual small fish and crabs found between the tides. Katherine Hamblett and Tacita French discovered a young first year Worm Pipefish, Nerophis lumbriciformis, which is unusual this far east up the English Channel. 
There were unusual crabs as well as more common crustaceans like small Common Hermit Crabs, Pagurus bernhardus, and Squat Lobsters, Galathea squamifera. The itinerary of discoveries on the low spring tide can be found on the bucket page. 
BMLSS: Crabs
Sea Anemones on this shore included at least a handful seen of Daisy Anemones Cereus pedunculatus, (with mauve/purple columns), and Snakelocks Anemones  Anemonia viridis, which both reach their most easterly shore distribution at Lancing.
BMLSS: Sea Anemones
Halfbricking: Bucket of Critters

 
4 August 2004
I was on the coast at Cwm Nash near Monknash in South Wales south of Bridgend last Wednesday  talking to a Bass angler when he hooked and landed a Trigger Fish (SS 901702). Looking in books in our Monks Wood library and pictures on the the internet I am sure that it was a Grey Trigger Fish, Balistes capriscus. 

Early August 2004
After being on your web site trying to find info on Triggerfish, Balistes capriscus .I was surprised to see they were so widespread, my husband and myself often fish of  the Mumbles Pier south west Wales and only last week my husband caught a  triggerfish the weight was just over 4 lb in weight we did not measure the fish  so I cannot give you the length there have been a lot of Triggerfish caught off  the pier the smallest I have seen has been about 1½ lb. We have noticed that when you bring the fish out of the water the other Triggerfish seem to follow we  have see in the region of 20 plus fish following one that has been caught. The  bait we have been using  are mackerel, squid and worm but they seem to  prefer the squid, I hope this email helps in your observations on the Triggerfish. 

8 August 2004
I caught a Triggerfish on a rod and line without out knowing what it was at first, near Hengistbury Head near Bournemouth, Dorset. There were three of them swimming together in the shallow water. 

Marine Life (Sussex Reports)

Links for News Reports:

Nature Notes Webring

Helford (Cornwall) Marine Conservation Area

Friends of Moray Firth (NE Scotland) News Page

Sussex at Sea News Page

Cornish Marine Wildlife News

Cornish Marine Sightings Archives 2003

Each month, at least one special marine image will be published from images sent to the BMLSS. This can be of the seashore, undersea world or any aspect of the marine natural world, especially the underwater life, but not restricted to life beneath the waves. Topical inclusions may be included instead of the most meritorious, and images will be limited to the NE Atlantic Ocean and adjoining seas, marine and seashore species and land and seascapes.

This Clingfish looked grey in colour. What species is it? It is the smaller hidden fish on the side of the rock, which looks like it is about to be eaten by the Rockling.  Photograph taken on 27 July 2004 at Worthing Lumps, West Sussex  by Paul Parsons (Sompting)

Star Ascidian on a rock on east Worthing beach, west Sussex Botrylloides schlosseri A colonial tunicate or sea-squirt Photograph by Andy Horton

The name of the particular coast should be included and the grid reference, if known. Print photographs can be included in Exhibitions and on the BMLSS Web Sites and electronic publications. Electronic images in *.JPG format can also be considered for the web site. They should not exceed 150K in size.

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

Shore Topography Portfolio
 

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

Plymouth

Talks Series 2004

Further Information Link

  Facilities are available for schools, linked to the national curriculum. 

Talks start at 7:00 p.m.
at the National Marine Aquarium, Coxside, Plymouth Devon.
Admission – Adults £2.50; Children and NMA members £1.50, inclusive of refreshments will be available.

Please reserve your place by calling the Aquarium on 01752 275204
 

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Unless otherwise stated, seminars are held on Fridays at 4:15 pm
in the SAMS Conference Room ** Followed by the Friday R&R **
 

10 October 2004
- Elvira Poloczanska (SAMS) A worm cast of thousands - Serpulid Reef Watch in Loch Creran 
24 October 2004
- Kerstin Kroeger (Victoria University, New Zealand)  Recovery of a Macroinvertebrate Community in Experimentally Defaunated Sediments 
5 December 2004
- Eric Breuer (SAMS) Oxygen dynamics in contrasting marine environments
 

For more details on the forthcoming talks, please contact Murray Roberts  or Anuschka Miller  Tel: 01631 559 000  Diary

For information contact Dr Hamish Mair  or Anuschka Miller  Tel: 01631 559 000
 

A series of monthly talks on marine conservation topics
These talks are open to the public, admission is free.

FOR DETAILS OF SEMINARS AND OTHER EVENTS PLEASE CLICK ON THE LOGO ABOVE TO BROWSE THE WEB PAGES

The Marine Life Talks are held on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30 pm, please arrive at 7.15 pm to be met in Reception. Southampton Oceanography Centre is reached via Dock Gate 4 (between Town Quay and Ocean Village). Please confirm that the talk is taking place before arriving unannounced. 

Porthleven (near Helston), Cornwall

Aerial Multimap Location (Link)

The Silver Dolphin marine conservation and diving centre is dedicated to the conservation and protection of all marine life. Click on the image for the full list of events. 

To help protect the marine environment we run a full training programme of conservation courses and PADI scuba diving training.

Ideally placed in the old lifeboat house Porthleven why not come and discover the wonders of the Cornish coastline and underwater world!
 

Places on the courses must be booked in advance
 

Link for Activities
 

  DIVE INTO EARTH DAY ACTIVITIES:
 

There will be a charge of £15 for the try dives and £5 for the snorkelling (if you need to hire snorkelling equipment).  For bookings contact the Silver Dolphin Centre on 01326 572002
 
 

The National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth have several web pages for information on this new dive site. Please click on the logo for more information. 

18 June 2004
A new film called Deep Blue from the makers of the Blue Planet opens in good cinemas.
Trailer (Link).

Marine fish & invertebrates
of Northern Europe
Frank Emil Moen & Erling Svensen

In May 2004 the English edition of the very popular Norwegian Marine Fauna (Dyreliv I havet) was published. Prof. David Bellamy has written the foreword. 

More than one thousand underwater photographs  and 608 pages with updated information on marine fish and invertebrates from nearly all marine phylum in Northern European waters. The largest newspaper in Norway, Aftenposten gave the Norwegian edition 6 out of 6 points in a book review. It is in use at all major higher marine biology studies in Norway. 

The English edition is translated by Prof Fredrik Pleijel and Dr. Sabine Cochrane. 
 

"Marine fish & invertebrates of Northern Europe” is written for anyone with a general interest in marine animal life, and who would like to learn more about their way of life and behaviour, about the role they play in the drama of nature, and the benefit and nuisance they are to man. The main portion of the book is arranged in such a way that the different animal species are presented in a natural, systematic order. More than one thousand magnificent colour photos of animals taken in their natural environment support the informative text highlighting the characteristics of each animal. “Marine fish & invertebrates” covers the North European marine fauna and is a readable experience in itself. In addition, the book is an important aid and source of inspiration to all who delight in the ocean with its hidden life whether if be hobby, study or profession.

The book is available from Aquapress in the UK, Skandisk, Inc. USA and KOM in Norway .

NAUSICAÄ - French National Sea Experience Center, in Boulogne-sur-Mer (Northern France), is a Science Center entirely dedicated to the relationship between Mankind and the Sea. Its goal is to incite the general public to discover the sea and to love it, while raising its awareness on the need for a better management of marine resources. 

Within the scope of this mission, NAUSICAÄ gives access, on its recently redesigned web site, to a database containing links to the most interesting web sites concerning the sea-related topics and marine activities.

MOLLUSC  WORLD

Published by the Conchological Society
 

The British Marine Life Study Society are responsible for producing the journal GLAUCUS, which is the first publication exploring the marine life of the seas surrounding the British Isles available to the general public. 

We also publish the quarterly SHOREWATCH Newsletter and
the TORPEDO Electronic News Bulletin.

The Glaucus 2002 CD-ROM was sent out to Premier BMLSS members in January 2003.

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Change of EMail Address
 

Please note that the EMail address for messages to the British Marine Life Study Society has now changed

from bmlss@compuserve.com  to  Glaucus@hotmail.com

Messages to the first address will not receive any guarantee of a reply and from year 2003, the old EMail address is expected to fall into disuse. 

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Membership 2004
Plans have not yet been finalised for the publications and subscriptions for year 2004. An explanation was sent to members just after Christmas. 
 

If you receive this Bulletin direct from the British Marine Life Study Society it will contain only hypertext and image (*.htm *.gif & *.jpg) files.
Recipients can only unsubscribe if the Bulletin is received directly from the BMLSS.
Permission is granted to forward the Bulletin on unaltered. However, you will have to include the images separately. 
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To save download times, only new images are included with each Bulletin.
The Bulletin is designed to be viewed on Internet Explorer  using medium fonts
at a resolution of 800 x 600. 
Viewing should be possible on Netscape and other browsers.

These pages are not designed for the default settings on the Page Set-ups of your browser. I recommend viewing in Microscope Internet Explorer 6 and altering the right and left hand columns in the Page Set-up menu to 9 mm (from 19 mm).
The page set-up can also be amended in Netscape Composer and other web page editors, and this has the advantage of enabling the specified number of pages to be printed and the information about the file (name, path, date) to be deleted.

Some of the images may not display if you have changed your directory for downloaded files. The images may also not display properly if your settings on your EMail software do not allow you do this automatically. When received in Pegasus the format is changed slightly, but the bulletin is still readable.