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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9 November 2007
A tidal surge threatened the east coast of England. Low pressure and strong winds caused the surge. Norfolk and Suffolk had eight severe flood warnings. High tide occurred at 7:41 am at Great Yarmouth where the surge waters caused minor flooding and at a few other places along the coast.

5 November 2007
A Ray's Bream, Brama brama, was identified by staff at Hunstanton's Sea Life Sanctuary after a chalet attendant found it on the town's beach. Up to 20 in (50 cm) in size with sharp teeth, the fish are common near Iceland. 

Early November
More reports have come in of Ray's Bream, Brama brama, washed up on the beach in Norfolk. Four  reports via Hunstanton's Sea Life Centre show individuals washed up at Snettisham, Heacham and Hunstanton.

1 November 2007 
A large nine metres long whale was washed up dead in the Humber estuary. It was probably a Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalis.

28 October 2007
A Quahog Clam, Arctica islandica, dredged up off the coast of Iceland was thought to be between 405 and 410 years old and the oldest animal* alive on Earth until it was killed. Researchers from Bangor University in north Wales said they calculated its age by counting rings on its shell. 
(*This may exclude cnidarians.)

16 October 2007 
Large Helford Sea Hares
Tony Sutton was diving on the eelgrass bed at 5.7 metres depth in the Helford Voluntary Marine Conservation Area, Cornwall, when he came across some exceptionally large greenish brown sea-hares (35 cm) which attracted his attention. When he returned a few days later with his camera he was able to take some excellent pictures which indicated the species Aplysia depilans. Confirmation of this identification was established by Dr Paul Gainey when one of the animals was taken briefly from the water. 

14 October 2007
Aplysia fasciata at the National Marine Aquarium
A specimen of 30 to 35 cm and weighing 1.5 kg was caught in Poole Bay, Dorset, just outside of Poole Harbour in a trammel net by John Green of the FV. Serendipity. It was caught in 3 - 4 metres of water on sand on a flooding tide, while fishing for sole and bass. Subsequently a further four large sea hares have been caught by fishermen in the same area.

Sea Hare, Aplysia fasciata 
Photograph by Doug Herdson

It was brought into the National Marine Aquarium at Plymouth where it is now on show as our "Feature Creature" in our recently refurbished Shallow Waters, Hidden Depths exhibit, where it is devouring very large quantities of sea lettuce Enteromorpha latuca.
Previously, only six specimens of this southern species of sea hare have been recorded in British seas. 

Aplysia, the size if which (between 30 & 35 cm) indicates that it is Aplysia . fasciata. It was photographed swimming in Helford River, Cornwall. It was seen by Steve Potter on 25 August 2007. 

Aplysia fasciata is the largest and the rarest of the three species of sea hare found in the British Isles. It is an Atlantic species, found from the Channel to Angola (South west Africa and to Brazil) and also throughout the Mediterranean. It appears to reach its northern limit in Ireland and along the English Channel coast. 
It is one of the largest sea slugs in the world. The other two British species are the relatively common Aplysia punctata variable in colour and growing to 20 cm; and the rare Aplysia depilans with different shaped back lobes, brown or green and growing to a maximum of 30 cm. 

BMLSS Molluscs
BMLSS Aplysia
Sea Slug Forum Species List

4 October 2007
Ray's Bream, Brama brama, appear to have been relatively common off the west coast of Ireland this year. They are frequently taken by Spanish registered long-liners while targeting Hake. Almost five tonnes were taken off the north-west coast and landed into Killybegs by a single vessel. Another two tonnes were landed on 18 October 2007.

Marine Wildlife of the North-east Atlantic Ocean Mailing Groups

With the closure of Smart Groups at the end of November 2006 most of the 7500+ messages have been filed at:

Marine Wildlife of the North-east Atlantic Ocean Jiglu
http://www.Jiglu.com/spaces/glaucus/

For ongoing messages please transfer to the Yahoo forum as I think you will find that easier to use.
 
Marine Wildlife of the North-east Atlantic Ocean Yahoo Group
New Group: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/Glaucus

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

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Wet Thumb (Marine Aquariology) Forum Link

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.
 
 

NEW BOOK:
 
 

Whales & Dolphins 
of Great Britain
by Dylan Walker and Alex Wilson
CETACEA Publishing 2007
£11.95 
ISBN-10: 0-9556144-0-6
ISBN-13: 978-0-9556144-0-8
 

If you would like to see whales and dolphins in British waters, Whales and Dolphins of Great Britain is the book for you! A comprehensive and easy-to-use field guide to all of the regularly seen species, it also shows you how, where, and when to go and see these spectacular marine mammals, with 38 boat operators and 16 outstanding land-based viewpoints listed. The text is packed with information on how to book a trip; including the species that are likely to be seen, how to get there, and what photographic opportunities are available. If you love whales and dolphins and enjoy seeing the British countryside, this book is a must – you never know when you might need it! 

Whales and Dolphins of Great Britain is the first in a series of regional whale and dolphin watching guides being published by Cetacea Publishing. 

CETACEA Publishing, Nook Farmhouse, Ashby Road, Shepshed, Loughborough, LE12 9BS. Telephone: 0845 388 3053. Fax: 0845 108 6386. 
E-Mail: info@cetaceapublishing.com. Website designed by de Wilson-Wildman LLP 

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
 

ISBN  0-9522831-5-8 Available from:

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