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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16-17 January 2006
Twenty four egg cases of the endangered Skate, Dipturus (=Raja) batis, were  discovered on the shore near the Dounreay nuclear power plant, Caithness, west of Thurso and Scrabster Harbour and John o'Groats on the northernmost coast of mainland Scotland, the first records reported to the Shark Trust and the first records on the mainland Scotland since these egg case occurrences have been recorded. 

Shark Trust Eggcase Hunt
Caithness Eggcase Walk

Egg Capsules of Rays & Sharks (Link to the Web Pages)
BMLSS Mermaid's Purses
January 2005 Report

January 2006
Large growths of an invasive species of a didemnid ascidian (sea squirt) called Didemnum sp. may* have reached the east coast of Ireland.  It appears that large gelatinous growths of a didemnid are appearing practically all around the world and have now cropped up off the north European coasts as well as New Zealand and large parts of the United States of America. These colonial tunicates are regarded as a nuisance and one of many fouling organism species that attach to boat hulls, fishing gear, harbour wharves etc. 
Woods Hole Science Center Information

Liz Sides, from Duchas in Ireland says that one of her tunicate taxonomic friends has found what appears to be a large non-native Didemnum sp growing prolifically in a marina on the Irish east coast. (*The identification has not been confirmed yet.)

1 January 2006
Ormers, Haliotis tuberculata, with a minimum shell length of 80 mm can be legally collected from the shores of Guernsey.

I discovered an Ormer of shell length 11.75 cm on 18 October 2005 on the
shore at La Valette on Guernsey's east coast - south of St. Peter Port. I wanted to find out if this Ormer was still under the same rock. I was not disappointed. This is the second time I have found an Ormer in the autumn which has remained under the same rock through to the New Year. I did not collect it but hope it survives the Ormer collecting season which continues during large spring tides until the end of April.

Report by Richard Lord (Guernsey)

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.

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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.
 
 

This ctenophore (sea jelly) was recorded off Great Yarmouth (North Sea) in 2005, but it is not included in my old CD-ROM edition of the British Marine Species Directory. It appears to be a widespread species that may have been overlooked and is recorded off the Norwegian coast. I am not sure I could recognise the animal to any more than the phylum from this photograph though. 

More Information
 

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. 

Shore Topography Portfolio
 

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