Essex Biodiversity Project

Essex Biodiversity Project is coordinating an exciting new marine initiative incorporating many aspects of conservation on our coastline and in Essex waters.

Shoresearch volunteers will be discovering what animals and plants are living  on Essex beaches, in our saltmarshes and other coastal habitats. 

Shoresearch, developed by Kent Wildlife Trust, also utilises the skills of  volunteers with an interest in wildlife conservation. Kent Wildlife Trust are generously helping us to set up a similar project in Essex.  Everyone is welcome to join in, and training will be provided. Please let Sarah Allison know if you'd like to join in.

A complimentary scheme called Seasearch, which involves volunteer scuba divers mapping the seabed, is presently under review in Essex due to  poor underwater visibility.

Seasearch is a nation-wide conservation project that uses the skills of volunteer SCUBA divers who want to help protect the marine environment. The organisation has provided a huge amount of information about species and habitats around the coast of Britain since the 1990s.                              

In addition, an East of England Regional Biodiversity Project will help to coordinate the efforts of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk in meeting Biodiversity Action Plan targets.  

For further information see the 'Seasearch' and 'Shoresearch' sections below.
 

Seasearch trains volunteer divers to collect vital information about seabed habitats, make notes on species present, and identify any problem sites which are in need of protection.

Seasearch itself is supported by a wide range of partners including the Environment Agency, Natural England and diving organisations such as the British Sub-Aqua Club and PADI.

Advanced course: Seasearch Surveyor

Specialist courses: Seagrass survey, Marine Life ID, Marine Life and Ecology

Professional training is provided to ensure a consistent standard of data collection. The information gathered is  extremely valuable and gets passed on to the Marine Conservation Society where it is used to produce comprehensive maps of seabed habitats and their associated species, enabling important decisions to be made on coastal issues.

Orca Scuba and Snorkelling Academy have been working closely with Essex Biodiversity Project on this initiative. However, Seasearch is currently under review in Essex - details will be advised.

For further information about Seasearch and details of the Advanced and specialist courses, see the Seasearch website

Shoresearch uses the skills of people who may or may not not have a background in wildlife conservation, but are interested in making a valuable contribution towards protecting our special Essex coastline.

Shoresearch is a volunteer scheme set up to identify and record marine animals,  plants and habitats  found  on the coast.  The aim is to build up a comprehensive picture of intertidal and other coastal wildlife and habitats around Essex. This information will enable us to comprehensively  'map' the distribution of wildlife, assess the current state of the marine environment, and monitor where changes may be occurring due to climate change or other factors.

An introductory Shoresearch event was held in November 2007 at West Mersea Flat, Mersea Island. A broad range of marine animals were recorded including shore crabs, native and pacific oysters, periwinkles, whelks, sand mason worms and chitons (a kind of marine woodlouse).

A variety of green, brown and red algae, or seaweeds, were also observed throughout the intertidal area.  The green algae  Enteromorpha intestinalis (Gutweed) and Ulva lactuca (Sea lettuce) were present in abundance;  brown seaweeds, including Fucus spiralis (Spiral wrack) and Ascophyllum nodosum (Knotted/Egg wrack) were common; and the red algae Corallina officinalis (Coral weed), Halurus flosculous and Chondrus crispus were also present.