The Wildlife Trust's North Sea Wildlife Project

Sponge new to science revealed

This summer a group of marine conservationists undertook a pioneering attempt to survey the North Sea coast of the UK. The team, with funding from partners including The Wildlife Trusts, took part in surveys from Essex to Northumberland.

 

The survey recorded 352 wildlife species on the expedition. 126 of those were seaweeds – many species were previously unrecorded in the region and one species which was unknown to science, the purple Hymedesmia sponge, has been added to the list of marine animals in our waters. This colourful creature is an encrusting sponge so adopts the shape of whatever it covers, typically flint cobbles. The find was confirmed by Dr Claire Goodwin of National Museums Northern Ireland, an expert in the field.

 

Kirsten Smith, Living Seas Manager for the North Sea Wildlife Trusts said:

“This survey has thrown up some important finds, including new exciting species. These results will help us to understand more about our marine environment and help us to identify key areas in need of protection.

 

“The purple Hymedesmia sponge was found within a draft Marine Conservation Zone off the Norfolk coast. We urge the Government to designate sites such as this during 2012 to ensure our marine wildlife is protected for future generations

 

“You can help protect marine wildlife within your local area by signing up to The Wildlife Trusts Petition Fish campaign online, www.wildlifetrusts.org/petitionfish and showing support for the creation of nature reserves under the waves, safe havens for marine wildlife.”

 

More than 20 people took part in the trip and travelled from The Blackwater Estuary in Essex up to Seahouses in Northumberland via Orford Ness (Suffolk), Sheringham and Hunstanton (Norfolk), Gibraltar Point (Lincolnshire), Flamborough Head and Robin Hoods Bay (Yorkshire) and Seaham (Durham).

 

Contact information:

 

Anna Guthrie (Media & PR Manager)

Office: 01636 670075

Mobile: 07887 754659

Email: aguthrie@wildlifetrusts.org

 

Tanya Perdikou (Media & Campaigns Officer)

Office: 01636 670057

Mobile: 07887 754657

Email: tperdikou@wildlifetrusts.org

 

Images are available for use with this news release.  They are granted on a one-time use basis, in association with this release and the photographer must be credited.

 

Notes for editors:

 

Watch it

The Norfolk and Suffolk legs of the trip were filmed by the BBC for a half hour special. Britain's Great Reef will broadcast on Monday, 10 October at 19:30pm on BBC One East and afterwards on BBC iPlayer nationwide.

 

Experts

Major names involved were Dr Claire Goodwin of National Museums Northern Ireland, Professor Juliet Brodie of the Natural History Museum, Dr Lin Baldock and Dr Frances Dipper. Volunteers from Seasearch also donated their time to support this unique event.

 

Supporters

The Wildlife Trust's North Sea Wildlife Project     www.northseawildlife.org.uk/

Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership                         www.norfolkbiodiversity.org/

Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service             www.nbis.org.uk/
The Environment Agency                                               www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
Durham Heritage Coast                                      www.durhamheritagecoast.org
Essex Wildlife Trust                                                       www.essexwt.org.uk/
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust                                              www.lincstrust.org.uk/
The National Trust – Orford Ness                                    www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Marine Conservation Society                                          www.mcsuk.org/

Seasearch                                                                     www.seasearch.org.uk
Norfolk Wildlife Trust                                                     www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust                                      www.ywt.org.uk/

Northumberland Wildlife Trust                            www.nwt.org.uk/

Durham Wildlife Trust                                                    www.durhamwt.co.uk/

Hull University                                                               www2.hull.ac.uk/

Yorkshire Naturalists Union                                            www.ynu.org.uk/

Dove Marine Laboratories                                              www.ncl.ac.uk/marine/about/facilities/dove/
Purling Transport                                                           www.purlingtransport.co.uk/

The Wildlife Trusts (TWT)  wildlifetrusts.org

There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney.  All are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone.  We have more than 800,000 members including 150,000 members of our junior branch Wildlife Watch.  Our vision is to create A Living Landscape and secure Living Seas.  We manage around 2,300 nature reserves and every year we advise thousands of landowners and organisations on how to manage their land for wildlife. We also run marine conservation projects around the UK, collecting vital data on the state of our seas and celebrating our amazing marine wildlife.  Every year we work with thousands of schools and our nature reserves and visitor centres receive millions of visitors.  Each Wildlife Trust is working within its local communities to inspire people about the future of their area: their own Living Landscapes and Living Seas.