News
Book Review: Freshwater Fishes of Britain
The Author
Jack Perks
Review by Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown
Whilst it may seem a strange book to be reviewing in the photography section of Scubaverse, underwater photography in freshwater lakes, rivers and streams, has become far more popular than it was in the last few years. The publication of this book, along with the work that Paul Colley has been doing with his remotely fired underwater cameras, has certainly made a few people pay attention to the wildlife that lives in our freshwater habitats.
The book is very reasonably priced at £16.99 and its finish and presentation is what you would expect in a book published by Reed New Holland. The book is full of great images that must have taken time and dedication to capture, as there are some 56 species covered in these pages. The content of the book is made up with a dedication, a forward, an introduction and a short guide to fish twitching. Most of the fish that you are likely to see in UK waters are covered, including a few oddities and variants, which Jack talks about towards the end of the book. Jack also talked about fish conservation and how most of our rivers are in very poor condition with only 17% of them classified as being in good health. Pollution is a major threat to fish, and this includes the oils and toxins that are washed off the road, the pesticides and herbicides that are leached into the rivers off agricultural land and micro-plastics and contraceptives flushed into the water supply which alters the biology of the fish. He also talks about invasive species, such as Signal Crayfish, which devour the eggs and fry of our native fish.
The book is well-written and all species are illustrated with at least one photograph and includes a brief description of the species, including details of the main distinguishing features habitat and breeding habits. The book is also littered with interesting facts about many of the individual species, such as why the Tench is sometimes called the doctor fish.
The book is an easy read by a wildlife photographer who has written and photographically illustrated dozens of articles for magazines such as BBC wildlife. He is a lecturer at Nottingham University for the MSc biological photography and image course so you can assume the knowledge he is passing on to the readers is well researched. I come for one, really enjoyed reading this book and it has inspired me to get my underwater photography gear into some freshwater streams.
Freshwater Fishes of Britain by Jack Perks is published by Reed New Holland at £16.99, hardback, and available from all good bookshops, Amazon or call 01206-255777.
Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.
After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.
With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.
Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!
Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
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