Seasearch volunteer Kirsty Andrews spotted crawfish
“In Devon and Cornwall crawfish are, in my experience, doing well in the past few years and I see them regularly. I think it’s great to be able to contribute to wider understanding and studies while enjoying the sport I love. Regular reports on dive sites or on key species such as crawfish help us track how our ocean is changing and provide valuable data to underpin the Marine Conservation Society’s work.”
Almost half a century after their near extinction from overfishing, crawfish are being spotted by our Seasearch divers and snorkellers in increasing numbers around south-west England. Data collected by our volunteers has been used in the 2023 State of Nature report. This will help raise the profile of crawfish, hopefully ensuring that over-exploitation does not reoccur.
Seasearch volunteer Kirsty Andrews spotted crawfish
“In Devon and Cornwall crawfish are, in my experience, doing well in the past few years and I see them regularly. I think it’s great to be able to contribute to wider understanding and studies while enjoying the sport I love. Regular reports on dive sites or on key species such as crawfish help us track how our ocean is changing and provide valuable data to underpin the Marine Conservation Society’s work.”
Almost half a century after their near extinction from overfishing, crawfish are being spotted by our Seasearch divers and snorkellers in increasing numbers around south-west England. Data collected by our volunteers has been used in the 2023 State of Nature report. This will help raise the profile of crawfish, hopefully ensuring that over-exploitation does not reoccur.
“This barrel jellyfish was around 40cm, and I saw it during the golden hour at sunset while paddleboarding. Standing up on the paddleboard is a great way to spot jellyfish. I love how elegantly they move in the water, it’s mesmerising.
“The Marine Conservation Society offers some great citizen science initiatives to be part of. This was my first recording of jellyfish, but I’ve previously taken part in the Big Seaweed Search and the Great British Beach Clean. Citizen science is such a great opportunity to contribute to vital marine conservation data while out adventuring.”
“This barrel jellyfish was around 40cm, and I saw it during the golden hour at sunset while paddleboarding. Standing up on the paddleboard is a great way to spot jellyfish. I love how elegantly they move in the water, it’s mesmerising.
“The Marine Conservation Society offers some great citizen science initiatives to be part of. This was my first recording of jellyfish, but I’ve previously taken part in the Big Seaweed Search and the Great British Beach Clean. Citizen science is such a great opportunity to contribute to vital marine conservation data while out adventuring.”
Evie, 5, spotted a barrel jellyfish
Evie’s dad says: “It was the first morning of our family holiday in a rather blustery Tenby in October, and we were strolling down the shoreline when Evie excitedly pointed out something nearby. We wandered over and were stunned to find this magnificent barrel jellyfish!”
Evie, 5, spotted a barrel jellyfish
Evie’s dad says: “It was the first morning of our family holiday in a rather blustery Tenby in October, and we were strolling down the shoreline when Evie excitedly pointed out something nearby. We wandered over and were stunned to find this magnificent barrel jellyfish!”
Chris Taylor spotted fish and crabs on a night snorkel
“Night snorkelling is brilliant. When conditions allow in the summer, I like to try and do at least one night snorkel – it’s very different down there in the night. Since the sea life can’t make out our form behind the torch light they aren’t anywhere near as wary of us as they are during the daytime. I saw sea bass, red mullet, a spider crab and a shore crab.”
Chris Taylor spotted fish and crabs on a night snorkel
“Night snorkelling is brilliant. When conditions allow in the summer, I like to try and do at least one night snorkel – it’s very different down there in the night. Since the sea life can’t make out our form behind the torch light they aren’t anywhere near as wary of us as they are during the daytime. I saw sea bass, red mullet, a spider crab and a shore crab.”
Janavi Kramer spotted compass, blue and crystal jellyfish
“As a scuba diver, I spend most of my time submerged underwater searching for the many fascinating creatures our British coastline has to offer. Much to my delight, in Cornwall we encountered a plethora of different jellyfish, including compass, blue and crystal jellyfish. I lost all sense of time watching these elegant creatures dance among the waves.
“I have been involved with the Marine Conservation Society for many years and have participated in the jellyfish survey, beach cleans, community events and the Big Seaweed Search. These experiences have all been meaningful ways for me to help contribute to protecting our ocean and coastal environments with a like-minded community.”
Janavi Kramer spotted compass, blue and crystal jellyfish
“As a scuba diver, I spend most of my time submerged underwater searching for the many fascinating creatures our British coastline has to offer. Much to my delight, in Cornwall we encountered a plethora of different jellyfish, including compass, blue and crystal jellyfish. I lost all sense of time watching these elegant creatures dance among the waves.
“I have been involved with the Marine Conservation Society for many years and have participated in the jellyfish survey, beach cleans, community events and the Big Seaweed Search. These experiences have all been meaningful ways for me to help contribute to protecting our ocean and coastal environments with a like-minded community.”
Ellen Carys spotted a cuttlefish bone
“I found this cuttlefish bone washed up on the beach. Cuttlebones are the internal shells of cuttlefish, which help keep them buoyant.”
Ellen Carys spotted a cuttlefish bone
“I found this cuttlefish bone washed up on the beach. Cuttlebones are the internal shells of cuttlefish, which help keep them buoyant.”
Ian Redmond spotted compass jellyfish
“I was on Lettergesh Beach in August and a storm had washed dozens of compass jellyfish onto the sand. Knee-deep in water, I filmed one swimming by. Purely by chance, a few days later I saw a post by the Marine Conservation Society’s Ocean Ambassador Lizzie Daly about the jellyfish survey. I’m a big fan of citizen science, so this is a good way both to take part and to demonstrate how a simple phone video or photo can add a dot to a distribution map.”
Ian Redmond spotted compass jellyfish
“I was on Lettergesh Beach in August and a storm had washed dozens of compass jellyfish onto the sand. Knee-deep in water, I filmed one swimming by. Purely by chance, a few days later I saw a post by the Marine Conservation Society’s Ocean Ambassador Lizzie Daly about the jellyfish survey. I’m a big fan of citizen science, so this is a good way both to take part and to demonstrate how a simple phone video or photo can add a dot to a distribution map.”
Claire Edwards, our Team Beach Clean Officer, spotted cuttlefish egg sacks
“We were on a team beach clean when we found a bunch of cuttlefish egg sacks, with visible unhatched babies inside. I pointed out the live cuttlefish swimming in one of the sacks to the team of volunteers from Redbox. I waded about knee-deep into the sea with one of the other volunteers to carefully place the sacks back for hatching. They’re generally found on the shoreline from washing up at high tide, particularly when it is windy, and usually tangled in seaweed. Cuttlefish will attempt to attach their eggs onto a stationary object, such as a rock, but sometimes the egg sacks become detached in the tides.”
Claire Edwards, our Team Beach Clean Officer, spotted cuttlefish egg sacks
“We were on a team beach clean when we found a bunch of cuttlefish egg sacks, with visible unhatched babies inside. I pointed out the live cuttlefish swimming in one of the sacks to the team of volunteers from Redbox. I waded about knee-deep into the sea with one of the other volunteers to carefully place the sacks back for hatching. They’re generally found on the shoreline from washing up at high tide, particularly when it is windy, and usually tangled in seaweed. Cuttlefish will attempt to attach their eggs onto a stationary object, such as a rock, but sometimes the egg sacks become detached in the tides.”
“I spotted these moon jellyfish when I was taking part in the jellyfish survey in August. They were in a very bad way and I was amazed to see they were still moving, especially the one that had lost the majority of its regular structure. I went early in the morning for the low tide.
“Jellyfish are said to be one of the fastest adapting species on the planet and so my interest was piqued seeing one without gonads and another with a considerable hole. We’d had a stormy few days with swelly sea and so I wondered if this had contributed or perhaps they escaped a predator!”
“I spotted these moon jellyfish when I was taking part in the jellyfish survey in August. They were in a very bad way and I was amazed to see they were still moving, especially the one that had lost the majority of its regular structure. I went early in the morning for the low tide.
“Jellyfish are said to be one of the fastest adapting species on the planet and so my interest was piqued seeing one without gonads and another with a considerable hole. We’d had a stormy few days with swelly sea and so I wondered if this had contributed or perhaps they escaped a predator!”
Check out some of the stats from our latest Annual Wildlife Sightings Report
A huge thank you to all of you who reported your sightings. By telling us what you spotted, we are able to discover more about the health of our ocean. We use scientific data, like this, to campaign for real change in the way we manage and protect our seas.
This year’s most-spotted jellyfish species was the barrel, which accounted for almost 27% of total sightings. This is an increase of 20.8% compared to last year’s results, when it was the sixth most spotted species.
Dive into the Annual Wildlife Sightings Report and report your sightings here
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We’re fighting for a cleaner, better-protected, healthier ocean: one we can all enjoy. Thank you for your support.
Credits
Videos: Chris Taylor; Rebecca Douglas Photography; Linn van der Zanden; Ian Redmond; Ellen Carys. Photos: Dan-Bolt/MCS; Janavi Kramer/Below and Beyond Art; Nihal de Silva; Rebecca Douglas Photography; Claire Edwards
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