Coastal wildlife can adopt an amazing variety of weird and wonderful forms but these plants and animals often receive little attention. Hidden beneath the surface of the North Sea is a world just as diverse as any woodland, heath or meadow. It is home to thousands of animals and plants, from the tiny violet sea slug to the enigmatic common seal. You do not need to dive into the sea to discover many of these species of marine wildlife. Walk any Norfolk beach after a high tide and you will be amazed at what you can find scattered along the strandline. Common starfish, razor shells, slipper limpets, common mussels and the remains of many other marine species give us a glimpse of what lies beneath the waves.
With the advent of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill in 2009 and a range of conservation and reserve initiatives, such as Marine Protected Areas and Voluntary Marine Reserves the spotlight has really turned onto what can be seen in and around the sea.
There are lots of ways you can help to record the marine wildlife you see around our local coast. There are regular surveys by conservation groups and also a number of continuous projects which collect sightings. Individual observations can also be submitted.
Don’t be shellfish, share your sightings…
If you find an interesting animal washed up, or in a rock pool, but prefer not to fill in a whole survey form email your record to
[email protected] or telephone 01603 589333. You sighting will then be passed on to the Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service (NBIS), Norfolk's local records centre and the
county marine recorder.
When you report your sighting remember the
four Ws:
What…
you think the animal was; an accurate description or especially a digital photograph really helps.
Where…
did you see it? The latitude and longitude or a GPS position would help to pinpoint the spot. To be formally recorded an accurate positing is important.
When…
did you see it? Some species are usually only seen at certain times of year.
Who…
contact details will help us get further information and let you know whether it was a really exciting find!
Why not start a simple survey today?