How to survey the shore & record marine wildlife
From rockpooling with kids to snorkel surveys and cetacean-watching — everything you need for Marine Week.
Rockpooling
Visit rocky shores at low tide (check tide tables). Lift stones gently and always return them exactly as found. Look for anemones, crabs, blennies, gobies, shore fish and periwinkles.
Shore walk
Walk the strandline for stranded jellyfish, mermaid's purses (shark/ray egg cases), cuttlefish bones, seaweed and shells. Record what you find with location and time.
Snorkelling
Snorkel in calm, sheltered bays with a buddy. Stay above kelp and seagrass; never touch marine life. GoPro or waterproof phone case is enough for citizen science shots.
From a boat
Watch for cetaceans, seals, basking sharks and seabird feeding frenzies. Record species, count, behaviour and GPS. Keep a respectful distance.
Photography
Use a polarising filter to cut water glare. For underwater, shoot RAW where possible, get close, and use natural light near the surface. Include a scale reference (finger, hand) when useful.
Ethics & safety
Never remove or handle marine life. Watch tides and weather. Snorkel in pairs. Follow the WiSe scheme when watching cetaceans and seals — no chasing, no cornering.
Where to survey
- 🪨 Rocky shores — Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, west Scotland: best rockpool diversity.
- 🏖️ Sandy beaches — strandline surveys reveal shark egg cases, cuttlefish bones, jellies.
- 🌊 Estuaries — Solway, Severn, Thames: seals, waders, migrating fish.
- ⚓ Boat trips — Moray Firth, Cardigan Bay, Cornwall: dolphins, minke whales, basking sharks.