Sea slugs and seaweeds make headlines in The Wildlife Trusts' 2024 marine review

Innovation, research and a mammoth volunteering effort helped conservationists learn more about wildlife in UK seas, reveals The Wildlife Trusts' 2024 marine review  published on the 19th December.

Seaside volunteers clocked over 46,000 thousand hours surveying shorelines and recording wildlife. In Devon, this amazing contribution amounted to more than 700 hours.

Discoveries reported in the annual round-up include climate-indicator sea slugs and seaweeds, plus sightings of conger eels and humpback whales.

The Wildlife Trusts – and 80% of the British public – want to see bottom trawling banned in protected areas, and measures to ensure that offshore developments are nature positive. The charities say that strengthening protection of the UK's blue carbon can help to achieve climate and biodiversity goals.

Coral Smith is Devon Wildlife Trust's Marine Awareness Officer. Based at the charity's popular Wembury Marine Centre, near Plymouth, Coral said:

"It has been another fantastic year for marine wildlife sightings in Devon. Out to sea we've had dolphins and whales and spectacular displays from Bluefin tuna, as they continue their comeback in local waters. Closer to shore it's been a good year for Cuttlefish, Spider crabs and all kinds of weird and wonderful invertebrates including Devon's first record of a Rainbow sea slug, Babakina anadonis. The appearance of this beautiful nudibranch is, however, a warning that our waters are warming!

It's also been a tough year for marine wildlife in many ways. We've seen high numbers of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) recorded along both the north and south coastlines of Devon during the surveys conducted by our volunteers. Our volunteer Shoresearch team also continue to find disturbing quantities of ocean plastics, bycatch [dead dolphins, seals, whales and sharks accidentally caught in fishing nets] and 'ghost' [abandoned] fishing gear. Add to this are the continued and well-publicised water quality concerns affecting many of our estuaries and bathing waters.

What is certain though, is that we wouldn't know any of this information without our dedicated network of marine volunteers: passionate people, who devoted more than 700 hours of their time surveying, monitoring and engaging others with our incredible marine environment. A huge thanks must go them."

Ruth Williams, head of marine conservation at The Wildlife Trusts, says:

"People are central to nature recovery and made huge contributions to our knowledge of UK seas this year. Wildlife surveys and monitoring have led to incredible discoveries, including new species on UK shores. Success stories demonstrate the enormous value of marine conservation and why robust protection is critical for nature recovery.

"As the first country to map all its blue carbon habitats, the UK has a unique position to champion better protection for seabed habitats. They are the unsung heroes in our fight against climate change. We need policies that stop damaging activities in protected areas, plus continued support for innovation, monitoring and work to improve coastal habitats."

Discoveries of climate change indicators and non-native species were made through The Wildlife Trusts' national intertidal survey programme, Shoresearch, and volunteering days. Highlights from the South West's waters include:

• First records of a rainbow sea slug in Devon.
• First records of the non-native kelp seaweed, wakame at Wembury, Devon.
• Pom-pom weed – a seaweed native to Asia that forms red tangled 'pompoms' – was found across Devon. It could displace macro-invertebrates, like barnacles.
•  Hundreds of mauve jellyfish washed up in Cornwall and on the Isles of Scilly. They are normally found in warmers waters such as the Mediterrranean.
• Very dense aggregation of invasive pacific oyster at Hope Cove in Devon. They can alter ecosystems through reef formation and displacing native oysters.

Successful research projects helped conservationists learn more about UK marine habitats and wildlife. The Wildlife Trusts were one of the charities behind The Blue Carbon Mapping Project, which saw the UK become the first country to estimate the carbon stored in its seabed habitats. The report reinforced calls to ban bottom-trawling in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), as 43% of the UK's blue carbon is in these zones.

Monitoring of marine habitats demonstrate how wildlife can recover when areas are properly protected. Highlights include:

• A spiny lobster was found in Wembury Bay, Devon, for the first time in living memory. They are returning following excessive fishing in the 60s and 70s.
• St Piran's hermit crabs were recorded in great numbers on the south coast. They were wiped out by the Torrey Canyon Spill of 1967.
• Giant mussel beds, greater diversity of fish and increased numbers of lobster were reported in Sussex – three years after a byelaw was passed to protect 300km² of seabed from trawling. A tope shark and European eel were also found among 81 different marine species recorded.

New conservation projects include large-scale initiatives in Cornwall and Essex to link conservation efforts on land with protecting important marine and coastal habitats. Other conservation highlights include:

• Volunteers measured a snakelocks anemone and coral weed bed the size of 5 Olympic swimming pools in Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset – maybe unique in UK seas.
• Volunteers gathered by hand over 3,000kg of rubbish from beaches – the weight of three baby humpback whales – in clean-ups organised by Wildlife Trusts.
• Alderney's northern gannets – 1% of the global population – became one of the first in the world to be surveyed with drones and Artificial Intelligence.

Rainbow Sea Slug, Wembury. Photo copyright Paul Naylor (All Rights Reserved)

Pacific Oysters, Devon. Photo copyright Grahame Smith (All Rights Reserved)

 

Wakame, Devon. Photo copyright Coral Smith (All Rights Reserved)

 

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The Wildlife Trusts' marine review 2024 can be read here.

People wishing to volunteer to help Devon Wildlife Trust in its work for the marine environment can visit https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/wilder-seas or email marine@devonwildlifetrust.org"

North Devon UNESCO Biosphere launches Nature Recovery Declaration and Plan

The Biosphere has launched an ambitious new Nature Recovery Plan as our contribution to tackling the ecological emergency here in northern Devon, aligning with the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan and the Prime Minister’s pledge for 30% of the UK land to be protected by 2030.

 

Join individuals, organisations, councils and businesses across the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere in signing our Nature Recovery Declaration and commit to tackling the ecological emergency through your local actions. Tap here to find out more and sign the Declaration

To promote the launch, we expect to welcome a special visitor to the area. Sacha Dench, Ambassador for the UN’s Convention on Migratory Species, is flying a 3000+ mile circumnavigation of the UK in a wind and green electricity powered paramotor. On her journey, she is stopping in northern Devon to officially launch the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve’s Nature Recovery Declaration and Plan. We are expecting her to pass through the area later this month, where she will sign the Declaration herself and speak to the Biosphere team about the importance of nature’s recovery.

Why do we need to act?

Despite great efforts from many organisations, land managers and individuals across northern Devon since the whole area achieved UNESCO status more than 20 years ago, with a few encouraging exceptions nature continues to decline – a trend that began centuries ago but has accelerated since the 1960s. Today our wildlife is a shadow of its former glory and our natural systems are ceasing to function. Iconic species like salmon, breeding lapwings, skylarks, cuckoos, house martins, many insects and wildflower species are in perilous decline – and our rivers are failing national standards. An ambitious approach to focus everyone’s actions onto agreed priorities is needed - and that is what this plan aims to achieve.

The plan’s Vision is that by 2030, nature is recovering across northern Devon. There is more wildlife-rich habitat for us all to enjoy - covering 30% of the land area – in our fields and woods, on the coast, along our rivers and on the moors. Wildlife has the space it needs to flourish. Thriving farming and forestry are helping nature to recover right across the landscape. Communities, councils and businesses are putting nature back into our towns and villages. Ambitious projects have helped bring back icons like beaver, pine marten, chough, white-tailed eagle and osprey. Our quality of life, the economy and our response to climate change are stronger for it. More is required, but we are proud to be playing our part in tackling the global ecologicalemergency.

Why should I sign the Declaration?

“If we are to turn the tide for nature’s recovery, everyone in northern Devon needs to engage through their choices and actions - all of us as consumers and by helping nature to recover where we live and work, and especially farmers and land managers who can do most to help nature recover across the landscape. We can all make a difference. It’s time for urgent and transformative local action.” Mike Moser, Chair of the Biosphere Nature Improvement Group

We hope that many individuals, organisations and businesses across the Biosphere will sign this Declaration committing to helping nature’s recovery and adding to the growing support for tackling the ecological emergency.

Tap here to sign the Declaration and read the draft 

Biosphere Nature Recovery Plan 

We welcome your feedback on the plan (by 15 August 2021) 

which can be sent to biosphere-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

Visit North Devon Biosphere website to Sign the Declaration & read the draft Biosphere Nature Recovery Plan 

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 North Devon Biosphere

Finally, please help us to spread the word and encourage people to sign up to the Declaration! @northdevonbiosphere.

Website -  Facebook -Twitter 

 

About North Devon Biosphere >

North Devon Biosphere needs you support. "Tell us your view of the future of our rivers and seas?"

Calling all North Devon and Torridge locals, businesses and visitors who value the natural beauty of our seas and coasts, care about protecting nature, are users of our water environment or whose livelihoods depend on it - the North Devon Biosphere team needs your input to our Marine Natural Capital Plan. This plan puts nature first, with thoughtful and sustainable local actions to improve and restore the marine environment for the benefit of people, society and the local economy, now and in the future.

Over the last three years, with the help of academics, local stakeholder groups and regulatory bodies (including the fishing industry, conservation organisations, businesses, local groups and people, marine managers and scientists) aims and objectives have been identified for the plan. However, to have a workable plan, feedback and new suggestions from local people and visitors to the North Devon Biosphere are vitally important. If there's something you feel we've overlooked which is important to you - this is your opportunity to be heard. How we use and protect our marine environment now will have a direct impact on future generations who live, work in or visit North Devon, so please, have your say.

Some of the priorities identified for the North Devon Biosphere are to achieve sustainable and viable local fisheries, to create new jobs in sustainable aquaculture and to promote sustainable tourism and recreation. There are also calls to improve water quality, protect our amazing marine biodiversity and enhance resilience to natural hazards and future climate change. To deliver a successful marine natural capital plan, we need to have the views and support of the local community.

"Whether you have a personal, environmental, social or economic interest in North Devon, your views are important to us. The health of the marine environment affects all of North Devon, both inland and in coastal areas. We want to hear your view and receive feedback on what you think of the plan. By working together with the local community, we can build an effective and deliverable plan that represents the people of the North Devon Biosphere while enhancing our amazing marine habitats and wildlife" said Chrissie Ingle, Marine team, North Devon Biosphere

Our consultation process will run for six weeks from early March, with a variety of methods to submit your feedback. We will be inviting people to read the plan and provide input through our website, by email or even by letter. We will also be running a series of 'drop-in' days throughout North Devon, where you can come and ask us about the plan. At the drop-in days, we will also be screening our amazing Journey to the Sea short films, filmed within the North Devon Biosphere which highlight the connection and importance between people, land and the sea. For a group or organisation, we are also offering to attend your event or meeting to present and/or discuss the plan with you.  All details provided on the North Devon Biospere website

Drop in day times and locations

• Monday 9th March Braunton Countryside Centre 15:00 – 19:00
• Tuesday 10th March The Plough Arts Centre, Great Torrington 11:00 – 14:00
• Tuesday 10th March  Hatherleigh Community Centre 15:00 – 19:00
• Wednesday 11th March Exmoor National Park Office, Lynmouth 11:00 – 16:00
• Thursday 12th March Mole Valley Farmers Store, South Molton 11:00 – 16:00
• Thursday 12th March Barnstaple Town Library 11:00 – 16:00
• Friday 13th March  Northam Burrows Visitor Centre 12:00 – 16:00
• Saturday 14th March Clovelly Visitor Centre 11:00 – 16:00
• Sunday 15th March Ilfracombe Harbour Master’s office 12:00- 16:00

 Ilfracombe Harbour fishing - Photo credit Nina Constable Media

Dartmoor Stream, Farming Nethercott, Estuary Birds - Photo credit Nina Constable Media

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Tell us your view of the future of our rivers and seas?
Tap here to visit North Devon Biosphere website for all details

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North Devon's Biosphere Reserve is the first new-style UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the UK. It exists to inspire a positive future by connecting people and nature. The Biosphere in North Devon is a special place with wonderful wildlife and landscapes, and an economy and social structure still strongly linked to the environment but it is also more than that. It is a community of people working together to champion life and the environment, empower people to get involved and explore new ways of living that address local and global challenges.
 www.biosphere.org.uk

www.journeytothesea.co.uk

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Tap here to read previous post about #journeytothesea films