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MARINElife day trips, Eco Badger charity tees, Marine news roundup, Training weekends, Ghosts in the sea.
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May 2017 Newsletter

MARINElife Day Trips


This month we were honoured to receive a donation from Condor Ferries as part of our ongoing partnership with the company, with the money being raised via our Poole to Guernsey marine life spotting trips.

This summer, Condor Ferries will again be offering MARINElife day trips, where one of our Wildlife Officers will be on board to provide information on the marine animals seen. £5 from each ticket will then be donated to us.

To find out more, and how to book a trip, see our website.

Photo © Daniel Swan/Condor Ferries

Eco Badger Charity Tee


For the month of May, MARINElife has been chosen as Eco Badger’s charity of the month, with all profits from the sale of their charity t-shirts being donated to us.

The t-shirt, sporting a fetching turtle design, is available in men's, women's, and children's sizes, and are all 100% organic cotton.

For more information, and to order your t-shirt, check out their site.

Marine News Roundup


There's been plenty ion the news this month regarding marine animals including:

Puffins that stay together, breed better together.

A new species of marine worm was found in Plymouth Sound.

A ghost porpoise was been spotted again off Cornwall.

'Shocking' levels of PCB chemicals in UK orca Lulu.

A bowhead whale was seen off Belgium, possibly the same animal that visited Cornwall a while ago.

Keep up to date with marine life news by following us on social media.

Training Weekends


Our upcoming Northumberland training course now has a date and location, so book now to avoid disappointment.

● Saturday 24th June with Northumberland Wildlife Trust at Hauxley Nature Reserve Saturday 5th August with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust at the Living Seas Centre, Flamborough

See our website for more information and booking details.

Further, due to a cancellation, we have 1 Female & 2 Male places available on our 5-day Lundy Experience. The week will be chocker-block with marine-themed activities, and is an exciting opportunity for marine life lovers.

To secure your place, email bookings@marine-life.org.uk

In Other News: The Ghosts in the Sea


The sea slug Tritonia nilsodhneri inhabits sea fan colonies

In last month’s newsletter, we reported on the finding that groups of soft corals, such as Pink Sea Fans, are becoming separate species due to unseen barriers limiting cross-breeding. Unfortunately, it looks like these genetically-distinct colonies could already be in trouble thanks to ‘ghost fishing’, a situation where discarded plastic fishing line, and other pollutants, entangles marine life.

Ghost fishing often makes the headlines when it ensnares large species, such as seals and cetaceans. However, a recent study by the University of Plymouth has warned that ghost fishing is having an impact on smaller, yet important species, like Pink Sea Fans. In this case, the onslaught of marine debris has resulted in ‘sea fangles’ (sea fans wrapped up in a ball of debris) finding their way onto south-west beaches. Some large sea fan colonies can be over 50 years old, and they provide a habitat for a wealth of other marine species, so their loss could have a profound effect on an area’s biodiversity.

But what can the public do to help, after all, fishing nets lost at sea are hard to clear away unless they appear on a beach. Yet we can help play a part in tackling the problem. When you’re next at the beach, consider doing a two-minute beach clean, because the less trash that’s left on a beach, the less trash that can find its way into the sea to further entangle animals.

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