Surveying Coast

Velvet swimming crab photo by Dawn Watson and Rob Spray 1/3
Hermit crab photo by Dawn Watson and Rob Spray 2/3
Beadlet anemone photo by Georgina Dean 3/3
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?

The Shoresearch Project, which is gradually being introduced nationwide, is an excellent starting point to develop your interest. It is fun and easy to do as an individual, family or voluntary group (see Survey Form U).
If you are quite confident about identifying what you see, then just make a copy of the form and fill it in on your next beach visit. The rock pools at West Runton or any strandline after a storm are rewarding areas to start with.

 

Equipment

If you are carrying out a strandline survey during a walk, all you need is a good guidebook and/or a digital camera so you can check or record anything you are not sure of.  It is best to take a blank form so you can fill it as you go, but a notebook is find if you would rather complete the form at home.

When dabbling around in rock pools a small, soft net and a light coloured plastic container are handy for catching and peering at things. However, always release them back into the pool as soon as you have finished having a look.


Rock Pool Rules OK!

  • Handle wildlife very carefully, some animals can nip or sting and others may be easily injured.
  • If you are unsure  how to handle an animal observe it in situ.
  • Do not keep animals in buckets for long periods.
  • Try not to damage habitats with your net.
  • If you lift or turn over any rocks return them carefully to their original positions.

Would you like to tell us about your coastal survey? Click here

Download coastal survey forms here.

Coastal Wildlife Survey Form (Survey Form U)
Microsoft Word document
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet


Please remember to send your completed survey forms to Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service (NBIS) – make your records count!
 
Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service
Planning and Transportation Department
County Hall
Martineau Lane
Norwich
Norfolk
NR1 2SG

Email : [email protected]
Website: NBIS

Bamboozled by barnacles? Mystified by mussels?

If you have trouble identifying a marine animal or plant take a photograph of it and email the image to NWT's Wildlife Information Service, [email protected] we will then try and identify it for you.

 

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside…

If you think you are going to need a bit of help to get started and you can get a small group together, an affordable and enjoyable one day training course can be arranged. Contact NWT's Wildlife Information Service on 01603 589333 or email [email protected]

 

The Shore Thing…

The Shore Thing is a national project run by MarLIN (The Marine Life Information Network) which looks at a group of species which are indicators of climate change, generally by being at the furthest extent of their range, either northerly or southerly.

If you would like to do more alongside the usual survey or would like to try a different type of survey then The Shore Thing is another project which is great fun and feeds data back to a national database. This survey needs to be done in spring and autumn on an especially low tide (known as a spring tide). It makes an ideal group project. If interested please visit The Shore Thing website.

 

Seasearch

If you are a qualified diver or confident snorkeler, you might be interested in taking part in the underwater version of Shoresearch, which takes place in June and November. On Seasearch dives, people make notes of the species and habitats they see during a normal dive or snorkel and fill in a form when back on the surface. Organised shore and boat dives take place at several sites along Norfolk’s coast. Contact NWT's Wildlife Information Service on 01603 598333 or email [email protected] for further information.