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Marine Life & Conservation

MCS want you to report jellyfish and turtles on our shores 

Published

1 year ago

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The Marine Conservation Society’s Wildlife Sightings programme focusses on two key marine animals: jellyfish and, as a result, turtles. Both are vital in supporting ocean biodiversity and are indicators of changes in our ocean, like warming waters.

Since 2003, when the Marine Conservation Society’s Wildlife Sightings programme began, the charity has had 18,580 sightings reported – 18,357 of jellyfish and 223 of turtles.

Jellyfish can be spotted year-round in UK and Irish seas, but larger blooms are more likely to appear in spring, lasting through until autumn. Jellyfish sighting records from 2022 show that the most frequently reported jellyfish species were the moon jellyfish, accounting for 22% of sightings, followed by the barrel jellyfish at 21%. The compass jellyfish and lion’s mane jellyfish were also commonly sighted, comprising 19% and 15% of the reports, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights into the prevalence of jellyfish species in UK and Irish seas.

Sightings of jellyfish and turtles should be reported online when spotted by beach or sea goers to support ongoing research. Identification and reporting take just a few minutes using the charity’s easy identification cards and online form.

During spring and summer, jellyfish arrive in the UK and Ireland’s warming waters to feed, feasting on plankton blooms and the array of eggs and larvae of fish, crustaceans, starfish and molluscs which are common at this time of year.

With healthy fish stocks and rich biodiversity, jellyfish quickly become part of an effective food chain. Many species, from tuna to turtles, will feed on jellyfish of various sizes. Supported by a rich and diverse ocean ecosystem, jellyfish link the microscopic world of plankton to larger marine animals and the ocean around them.

The charity’s data shows an increasing trend in some species being spotted on our shores over the last 20 years, such as Portuguese man o’War. Research has suggested that an increase in some jellyfish numbers around UK could be related to climate change, however, currently there isn’t enough evidence to make this link. The Marine Conservation Society’s Wildlife Sightings programme aims to collect long term data which can be used as a reference to study the reality of jellyfish trends in UK waters.

Jellyfish are especially appealing for marine turtles to eat. Six of the world’s seven marine turtle species have been spotted in UK seas, some of which arrive due to large abundances of jellyfish in spring and summer. The charity also reported an increase in marine turtles earlier this year, when strong currents and winds potentially blew turtles off their usual course and into our seas. The charity has a Turtle Code information sheet which shows what to do with a beached turtle.

The largest sea turtle, and the most common in UK and Irish seas, is the leatherback, which has a ‘vulnerable’ conservation status. Reporting sightings of these incredible creatures will support the Marine Conservation Society and others in understanding their movements, potential threats and how better to protect them.

The charity’s volunteers submitted 223 turtle sightings since 2003, which feeds into a national database which recorded nearly 1,000 (946) turtle sightings over the same period. The research is used to inform policies and introduce conservation strategies to better protect our ocean and its inhabitants.

Dr Peter Richardson, Head of Ocean Recovery at the Marine Conservation Society, said:“Without your data, we wouldn’t be able to prove that our ocean is facing problems, or push for solutions that are backed by science. Data on jellyfish and turtles helps us build a picture of life in UK and Irish seas and track any changes that may occur because of things like climate change.  

“Since 2003, when our Wildlife Sightings programme began, you’ve reported over 18,000 sightings of jellyfish and turtles. We want to reach 20,000 sightings to mark our 20th year of tracking these species. Every contribution to our database is crucial in learning about our seas and helps us fight to protect them.”

The Marine Conservation Society uses wildlife sightings by citizen scientists to:

  • Discover how jellyfish and turtle populations are changing around the UK – specifically when and where they are occurring each year
  • Investigate trends in turtle sightings to find out more about how they use our waters
  • Explore whether jellyfish distribution can tell us more about where leatherback turtle feeding grounds may be

For more information on how to identify jellyfish and turtles, and to report a sighting, please visit the Marine Conservation Society’s website: www.mcsuk.org/sightings. 

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Marine Life & Conservation

Shark Trust launches Oceanic 31 Shark Art Auction

Published

3 weeks ago

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November 1, 2024

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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.

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

Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden

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Marine Life & Conservation

Meet Steve Backshall in the Bite-Back Prize Draw

Published

1 month ago

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October 21, 2024

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steve backshall

Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.

Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.

On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.

Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.

Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.

Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”

The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.

To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.

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