Shoresearch Project
Anyone can get involved in recording marine life on our coasts around Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Shoresearch is our seashore recording and surveying project, in which volunteers identify and record what they find on the shore. The project will help to identify the habitats and wildlife that exist along our coastline - an excellent way to understand and help protect our local shores. Shoresearch is also run in other parts of the South East.
Why we need Shoresearch
We cannot see everything that goes on around our coasts - volunteers are our eyes and ears on the seashore, helping us to understand our marine life and giving an early warning of any threats to local marine life. Volunteers help us
- to increase our overall knowledge and understanding of marine wildlife on a national and a local level
- to make conservation decisions, set priorities and influence local developments.
- to identify special and important local sites.
- to monitor changes over time - focusing on climate change indicator species, non-native species and Biodiversity Action Plan species and habitats.
What are Shoresearch surveys
The surveys are very straightforward and last for about an hour around low tide. They have three parts:
- Site and recorder information
- Transects up the shore
- Timed species search.
The timed species search uses the methodology developed by MarLIN's The Shore Thing Project to look for the presence of certain species, especially those that indicate the effects of climate change. This project is running at a number of sites around the UK but they need more data from our area to investigate how species are spreading or changing their range in response to climate change.
The map above shows sites of Shoresearch surveys in 2008. Click the map for a larger image.
Click to download a copy of the Shoresearch Newsletter.
A full list of all the species found in 2008 Shoresearch surveys can be downloaded. (This is an Excel spreadsheet.)
Shoresearch surveys for 2009
Join in with our expanding group of marine life enthusiasts. Shoresearch is a survey of the marine life of the shore giving you a chance to learn more about the plants and animals that live here and to make some exciting discoveries. No experience is necessary as there will be experts on hand to help with identification.
Booking is essential so please contact us before the event - call Jolyon Chesworth on 01489 774445 or email JolyonC@hwt.org.uk
Surveys last about an hour and a half.
Saturday 19th September Keyhaven, Hampshire, 16:30 (Low Water 17:33)
Details TBC please contact us before the event.
Monday 5th October St Helens, Isle of Wight. 17:40 (Low Water 18:47)
Details TBC please contact us before the event.
If you'd like to go out and record species on your own beach you can download a recording form here.
