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

28 November 2016
The adult Olive Ridley Turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, was recovering at Anglesey Sea Zoo and is now feeding on oily Mackerel which are easy to digest. This was confirmed as the very first Olive Ridley Turtle recorded in British seas. 

27 November 2016
A large baleen whale, about 12 metres in length, was spotted struggling in very shallow water at Cross Beach, Killadoon, County Mayo, western Ireland The whale was effectively stranded but as the incoming tide rose, surfers from nearby managed to encourage it away from the beach and it eventually managed to swim away in a northerly direction. Photographs did not confirm which species it is but at this size it is likely to be either a Fin or Sei Whale. Unfortunately, the outlook for the mammal is poor as it is likely to be ill or injured when found so close to shore and there is a strong possibility that it will restrand in the coming days. 

12 November 2016
All the way from tropical seas, a large olive green adult Ridley Turtle, Lepidochelys, was discovered in a moribund condition but still alive, on the sandy shore of the Menai Strait, at Tan-y-Foel very close to Anglesey Sea Zoo, north-west Wales. Undoubtedly suffering in the cool waters off north Wales, the turtle was warmed up and nursed by local vet and rehabilitated at Anglesey Sea Zoo. (At the time of writing it is not sure if the turtle was healthy enough to recover.)
""This individual is much larger than any other Kemp's Ridley Turtle, Lepidochelys kempii, documented as stranding in the UK, previously we have always recorded juveniles here," said marine expert Rod Penrose, from the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme."

30 October 2016
Over forty Killer Whales, Orcinus orca, were spotted 12 miles south-east of Sumburgh Head, the southernmost headland of Shetland. Large fishing trawlers were also there and it was surmised that the Killer Whales were also after the Mackerel. 

12 October 2016
Have you have ever wondered why fish and other organisms end up in strange places? Most are doomed to perish as their new environment is alien, outside of the natural "ecological amplitude" for survival.  Some colonise their new habitats and some become pests and unwanted aliens.
There is very little chance of natural long term survival of these tropical fish and invertebrates that arrived in a moon pool (an open pool in the middle of the boat) on a ship in Stavenger, Norway, from the Gulf of Mexico. 

FORUM NEWS

Marine Wildlife of the North-east Atlantic Ocean Mailing Groups

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

Lots of marine wildlife reports from Shetland on facebook Photographs include undersea, sea mammals and birds.  Click on the image to connect

First year Grey Mullet, Chelon labrosus, visit southern estuaries in very tight shoals numbering from small groups of about fifty seen in late summer to huge shoals of fish over a million strong, each one about 25 to 30 mm long. Adults are usually more noticeable in the muddy shallows and the numbers of young Grey Mullet are highly variable in numbers. Such prolific prey are bound to to attract the attention of predators like the Grey Heron.  Sometimes the shoals can get trapped in lagoons as the tide recedes. 
 
 

Rocky shores are best for rockpooling and the southern and western coasts are the richest in variety. 
This hard to reach north-facing Somerset rocky shore, backed by high eroding cliffs of Lower Jurassic limestone that deposits large rocks on the limestone undercliff platform, including revealed fossils of ammonites, sea reptiles, ancient fish, molluscs and echinoderms. The waves pounding on the bedrock sculptures rock pools and there are large numbers of rocks and boulders for fish and crabs etc. to hide under. 

The tidal range at nearby Minehead (Bristol Channel) is a massive ten metres plus and low spring tides occur at dawn and dusk. Beware of being cut off by the tide. 

The West Somerset Railway (Heritage) runs for 20 miles from Bishops Lydeard to Minehead with views of the sea and beach (Helwell Bay) from Donifold Halt (request stop) to Watchet.

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