The Wildlife Trusts’ Living Seas team have compiled their highs and lows of the last 12 months from around the UK. These include:
- Recovering humpback whales, long-distance orcas, and a rarely seen highland dancer – plus exciting news about the world’s largest skate in Northern Ireland
- Climate change disrupting marine life – from Wally the walrus to ring-necked blenny
- A big increase in disturbance to marine life from human activities
- Pioneering schemes to restore seagrass meadows and huge kelp forests
- Native oysters, sand lizards and puffins fight back with help from The Wildlife Trusts
Lissa Batey, head of marine conservation for The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“It’s been a fantastic year for marine megafauna sightings, particularly in the southwest, but it’s clear that our oceans are under immense pressure from fishing, development, pollution, climate change and recreation. All these issues are having a huge impact on life at sea.
“COP26 really brought home the need to limit global temperature rises to a maximum of 1.5°. Protecting our marine environment is a critical part of achieving that goal because healthy seabed habitats store carbon. We need policies that stop unsustainable fishing practices and prevent unrestricted development at sea – and we must protect at least 30% of our oceans by 2030. Future generations are counting on it.”
Mixed fortunes for whales, dolphins & other cetaceans
Cetaceans took centre stage in 2021. There was positive news for humpback whales, but unusual sightings of other species were concerning. Observations are crucial to help The Wildlife Trusts understand the health of sea life around our shores.
Hope for humpbacks
Strong numbers of humpback whales were spotted around the UK. Until recently, sightings were extremely rare, but more than 75 sightings have been recorded since 2019, showing how populations are recovering after bans on commercial whaling. The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust saw humpbacks feeding around the islands with one individual, named Pi, staying for over two months. More were seen in the Firth of Forth and off Shetland.
Matt Slater, marine conservation officer for Cornwall Wildlife Trusts, says:
“Only a few years ago, it would have been extremely rare to see a humpback whale around the UK. But it looks like they are chasing big shoals of sardines that are now present around our shores. It is magnificent to see these creatures up close.”
Orcas travel the UK
The Minnack Theatre in Cornwall offered new drama when two orcas named John Coe and Aquarius from the West Coast Community – normally resident off the Hebrides – were spotted from the cliff-top playhouse. It was the most southerly sighting of members of this unique group of killer whales in over 50 years. Just nine days later, they were seen back in the Hebrides, and a fortnight after that, off the coast of Dover in Kent.
Abby Crosby, marine conservation officer for Cornwall Wildlife Trust, says:
“This was the first confirmed record of orca in our database in over a decade. It shows the importance of monitoring wildlife to help protect it against a tide of human pressure.”
White-beaked dolphins seen off Essex for first time in over 20 years
A group of 10 white-beaked dolphins were seen off the Blackwater estuary in April, the first time the creatures have been seen in Essex since 2000. They are normally found in subarctic waters of the North Atlantic, and it’s very rare to see them in the southeast of the UK.
Moray Firth bottlenose dolphins recorded on the south coast for the first time
Two bottlenose dolphins that have been resident at Weymouth Bay, Dorset since 2019, were identified as ‘Honey’, first recorded in the Moray Firth, Scotland in 2009, and her offspring, born in 2016. The east coast of Scotland bottlenose dolphins have been expanding their range in recent years, with some photographed as far away as Denmark.
Cetacean strandings signal trouble at sea
In Cornwall alone, over 170 cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) and an astonishing 247 seals were stranded this year, many injured by fishing activities. A humpback whale was found stranded off Looe Island after being caught in fishing lines, while seven grey seals washed up on Mousehole beach within two days, linked with spider crab netting. Nearby, Devon Wildlife Trust reported 51 cetaceans stranded on beaches.
In February, Cornwall Wildlife Trust reported the stranding of a striped dolphin, which are seldom seen around the UK and more commonly found in the Mediterranean.
In May, the rare appearance of a minke whale calf in the Thames gripped London. Rescue teams tried to encourage the animal back to sea as thousands gathered on the banks hoping it could be saved. Sadly, the whale had to be put down after its condition deteriorated.
In July, a young, emaciated humpback whale with visible injuries on its fluke triggered the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix event’s marine mammal protocol, temporarily halting the race.
In September, a bottlenose dolphin known as Nick, which had been admired by swimmers in Cornwall, washed up in Ireland with injuries consistent with propellor damage. In December, Dorset Wildlife Trust found a stranded juvenile pygmy sperm whale – only a handful have ever been sighted in the UK.
Daniele Clifford, marine conservation officer for The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“Noise at sea caused by wind farms and other development can disorientate wildlife and cause whales and dolphins to head off course – we need to think carefully about all marine development in the future. Also, far too many marine creatures are unnecessarily killed due to unsustainable fishing practices, with lost and discarded fishing gear also causing havoc – especially for seals, dolphins and other marine mammals.”
Climate change disrupts marine life
Marine creatures from far-flung places made unusual appearances around our coasts, providing further evidence of the impacts of climate change on our seas. Temperature changes can cause disruption to feeding habits and breeding cycles.
Species on the move
An arctic walrus nicknamed Wally captured the nation’s hearts as his progress was tracked around the UK. People sported Where’s Wally costumes, while The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust made a pontoon so he could rest. A second walrus was seen off Northumberland and around the Shetland Isles.
In October, Cornwall Wildlife Trust reported a pufferfish was found on Downderry beach – the first time one had washed up in 20 years. Pufferfish are oceanic species, and rarely come this far north. This extraordinary fish inflates its body to ward off predators.
Matt Slater, marine conservation officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust, says:
“This was an unbelievable sighting. Oceanic pufferfish live out in the open ocean and rarely come this far north. How and why it ended up in Cornwall is a mystery, though it’s possible it was blown off course by summer storms.”
The ringneck blenny, a small fish found in the Eastern Atlantic or Mediterranean Sea is now common in the Fal estuary, Cornwall, with signs of breeding in the English Channel.
Ten years of surveys by Cornwall Wildlife Trust have found that the furrowed crab is now abundant on all Cornish shores and appears to be out-competing common shore crabs. The spread from the south-west heading north-east to Dorset is a sign of climate change.
Extreme weather batters British coasts
Storms wreak havoc at sea. Hundreds of starfish, seal pups and other creatures were washed-up dead after Storm Arwen. Many other seal pups were found injured or separated from their mothers after the storm hit at the peak of pupping season.
Storm Arwen also saw a critically endangered Kemp’s Ridley turtle beached in Flintshire, more than 4,000 miles (6,400km) from where they are normally found in the Gulf of Mexico. As sea temperatures rise, the turtles migrate north to the Gulf of Maine only to be caught out when the seasons change and swept into the Atlantic Ocean by the Gulf Steam.
North Sea Wildlife Trusts wrote a ground-breaking report about carbon capture and storage in the North Sea. The report found that carbon stores in the English North Sea amount to nearly 20% of that held in UK forests and woodlands, and that 98% of the total organic carbon is stored in seabed sediments like sand and mud.
Disturbance harms wildlife
People’s recreational activities are making it harder for marine life to cope.
Rise in disturbances in Cornwall
Cornwall Wildlife Trust reported that disturbances of marine wildlife have tripled since 2014, with an increase of jet skis and motorboats a major cause for concern.
Elsewhere, The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales witnessed a seal pup being abandoned by its mother after people were seen taking selfies with the pup.
Wildlife Trusts Wales’ vice president Iolo Williams, tweeted at the time: “They (people on sea scooters) went right through the middle of these auks, guillemots and razorbills. They could have killed them, whether any were killed I do not know. If it was left to me, I would ban them from these places.”
Cruise ships damage seabed
Dorset Wildlife Trust recorded damage caused by large cruise ships that were moored off the coast due to the pandemic. The surveys found that ships' anchors created deep scars in the seabed, affecting vital wildlife habitats and the seabed’s ability to store carbon.
Peter Tinsley, Marine Policy & Evidence Manager, Dorset Wildlife Trust, says:
“Anchoring in protected areas can harm delicate reefs and other sensitive habitats. While the ships have usually responded to requests to move, we found that often they were not aware of the marine protected areas that they should be avoiding.”
Restoring nature on shore and at sea
The Wildlife Trusts are working to restore the UK’s marine habitats and are calling for at least 30% of our seas to be protected by 2030. This includes creating Highly Protected Marine Areas, better planning for development at sea, and an increase in monitoring marine life. Here are some of the big marine conservation project successes for 2021:
Landmark legislation to restore kelp
In March, a new byelaw was passed to stop damaging fishing practices off the Sussex coast. Now 304 km² of seabed is protected from fishing with bottom-towed gear, allowing fragile habitats to recover. Since 1987, over 96% of Sussex’s kelp has been lost due to trawling and other human pressures. The Sussex Kelp Restoration Project will restore a vast 200km² of kelp forest, providing feeding and nursery grounds for molluscs, shrimp, and cuttlefish.
Sally Ashby, Sussex Kelp Lead, Sussex Wildlife Trust, says:
“This is an ambitious and hope-filled project that aims to heal the Sussex marine environment, build climate change resilience and restore healthy productive seas for future generations.”
Exciting discovery for world’s largest skate in Northern Ireland
Ulster Wildlife’s Sea Deep project recorded its first juvenile flapper skate, the world’s largest skate, and dubbed the ‘manta ray of the Atlantic’. Flapper skates are critically endangered following decades of overfishing and an extremely rare sighting in Northern Ireland. If more juveniles are found in the future, it could signal that the fish are breeding in the area. Ulster Wildlife also trains anglers to tag and release flapper skates – 36 were tagged this year.
Oysters ‘shell’ be restored
The Wildlife Trusts are re-establishing native oysters, which have declined by 95% since the 19th century due to overfishing, pollution, and disease. 100,000 native oysters were introduced at Spurn Point by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, while in Essex, 700 tonnes of stone and shell was added to the Blackwater estuary to create habitat for oysters to settle.
Native oysters have returned to Belfast Lough for the first time in 100 years. To support the recovery of oysters in the Lough, Ulster Wildlife is deploying 24 nurseries in Bangor Marina. The nurseries will house 650 mature oysters that will act as larval pumps helping the population recover.
Left undisturbed, oysters form complex 3D reefs, providing habitat for young fish and crabs. They also improve water quality; one oyster can filter over 140 litres of water a day.
Puffins return to Isle of Man after 30 year absence
A project to bring back puffins to the Isle of Man led by Manx Wildlife Trust reached a milestone when a pair of puffins were seen for the first time in over 30 years. Rats were eradicated and model puffins were used to encourage the birds to return. Wardens are hopeful that more will arrive in 2022. After spending two-thirds of the year at sea, puffins return to coastal cliffs to breed. The UK has 10% of the world's Atlantic puffins, which are listed as a vulnerable species.
Sand lizard success
August saw the final release of sand lizards to Lancashire’s sand dunes – the culmination of a four-year reintroduction programme. Lancashire Wildlife Trust has released over 400 hatchlings since 2018. England’s rarest lizard disappeared in the 1960s due to habitat loss, but recordings of spent eggshells and juveniles shows the population is on the up.
Amy Pennington, project officer for Lancashire Wildlife Trust, says:
“Over the last 150 years, we’ve lost around 80% of our sand dunes due to development, which has had huge implications for wildlife, and people too. Dunes are home to internationally rare plants and form natural sea defences against flooding. We’re giving nature a hand to speed up the formation of dunes and help species recover.”
Seagrass returns to shelter seahorses
The Wildlife Trusts are surveying and restoring seagrass habitats, which provide shelter and sustenance for wildlife – including two species of seahorse – and are responsible for around 15% of carbon absorbed by the ocean. Over 90% of UK seagrass habitat has been lost.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust transplanted seeds and plants to areas where seagrass has previously flourished, Manx Wildlife Trust discovered a new seagrass meadow, Cornwall Wildlife Trust mapped seagrass regrowth in areas where moorings had been removed, and Cumbria Wildlife Trust carried out the first surveys of seagrass on mudflats off Walney Island for over 20 years.
Daniele Clifford, marine conservation officer for The Wildlife Trusts, says:
“Seagrass meadows are brilliant, providing nurseries for young fish, food for wildfowl at low tide, and habitat for anemones, crustaceans, and jellyfish. They also capture carbon 35 times faster than tropical rainforests so form a crucial part of our natural armoury for tackling climate change.”
Success for beach-nesting birds
Essex Wildlife Trust reported successful breeding of beach-nesting birds at Colne Point after its Share Our Shores initiative roped-off parts of the beach. 15 ringed plover territories were recorded along with 12 pairs of oystercatchers and four pairs of little terns. Beach-nesting birds have a hard time on British shores due to disturbances from dogs and people.
And finally…
- Rarely seen highland dancer spotted on Walney Island
Cumbria Wildlife Trust spotted a highland dancer on Walney Island – less than 400 of these large sea slugs have been recorded in the UK and Ireland in 100 years. - Adders take to the surf
Adders were seen paddling in the waves on Wembury Beach, Dorset, and off Anglesey, causing great commotion as they’re normally found on land. - White puffin makes a mark
Scottish Wildlife Trust rangers found a rare white puffin on Handa Island off the coast of Sutherland. The lack of pigmentation is caused by a genetic condition called leucism. - Mass of crustaceans and seabirds found dead on beaches
Investigations are ongoing after thousands of dead crabs, lobsters and birds including guillemots and razorbills were found washed up on the Northumberland and Scottish coasts. The scenes were described by some as apocalyptic. - Invasive seaweeds smother
The Wildlife Trusts monitor invasive, non-native species via surveys such as Shoresearch. Devon Wildlife Trust reported an increase of Devil’s tongue weed, a red Pacific alga which causes habitat loss through shading.