Latest news with #Wildlife Trust
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
I'm obsessed with snorkelling in Scotland: starfish below, sea eagles overhead – and it really isn't that cold
People always ask me: isn't it too cold to snorkel in Scotland? And I reply that while it's obviously much cooler than it would be in Spain, the sea does warm up from May, when the temperature rises from about 9C to as high as 12-15C by August and September. I go snorkelling in Scotland all year round. I work for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, developing snorkelling trails on the Scottish coast and creating guides to the places you can go to enjoy snorkelling in a particular area. But even so, the Wildlife Trust always recommends wearing a wetsuit. In the UK, we sometimes think that to connect with nature you have to go to really exotic, faraway places and spend a lot of money. But actually, it can be more effective to connect with the local marine life on your doorstep. Snorkelling doesn't cost much money or require a great deal of training. It's one of the most accessible sports to enjoy in the sea: some of the best snorkelling I've ever done has been in water I could stand up in. It's also a very sociable activity because you should never snorkel alone. You should always have a buddy (and ideally a mug of hot chocolate waiting for you afterwards). One of my favourite snorkelling experiences is swimming over a kelp forest, which are prevalent around Scotland. You see these beautiful, golden fronds of kelp undulating with the waves, which are home to an incredible amount of small fish, colourful beadlet and dahlia anemones, starfish and brittle-stars. Sometimes, you can even see them catching prey. Another time, I saw a huge show of sand eels beneath me. Then I put my head up and saw some seals on the beach and a pod of dolphins in the sea, coming over to say hello – right at that moment, some sea eagles flew low over our heads. When I talk to my colleagues in other European countries about snorkelling, they often talk about the overcrowding caused by tourism and how that is a hugely challenging part of their job. I feel very fortunate that in Scotland, we don't have that same strain on most of our natural places. Having said that, I've noticed snorkelling in Scotland has increased a lot in popularity since the pandemic, and coastal communities are leading the way in championing that. I think people are realising that it's an amazing thing to do for yourself for health reasons – mental and physical – but also for society, because it can remind you that the sea is an extraordinary place where nature is in decline. Hopefully that inspires more people to protect it. Research also suggests that cold water immersion can have physiological and emotional benefits. I find, when I get into the water, the coolness takes away all my worries and anything that was niggling away at me in my mind. Finally, there's so much cultural history in Scotland tied to the sea and coastal communities. Sometimes, you might be snorkelling below a castle or through sea caves or a harbour – you gain an understanding of the connection between people and the sea over time. The Scottish Wildlife Trust's latest project, Sea the connection, aims to reduce barriers some people face when connecting with the sea. As told to Donna Ferguson
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
'Exciting encounter' with endangered shark in bay
One of the world's rarest sharks has been caught on camera in Cardigan Bay for the first time in four years. Sarah Perry, a marine conservation and research manager with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said she was "thrilled" by the "rare and exciting encounter" with the angel shark which lives and hunts on the seabed. Critically endangered, the species was filmed on an underwater camera being used to study a group of bottlenose dolphins that make their home off the Welsh coast. The angel shark was common across the east Atlantic and Mediterranean seas but has declined because of a number of threats, including habitat disturbance and accidental fishing catch. Watch as people try to help 1.5m shark on shoreline Dolphin 'mysteries' to be solved by collecting poo Bottlenose dolphins spotted killing dolphin juvenile A juvenile angel shark was caught on camera in September 2021 in Cardigan Bay. Ms Perry said the latest sighting "comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas". "These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling," she said. Angel sharks, known as a "flat shark", spends much of the time camouflaged in the sediments on the seabed, where they lie in wait for fish. In 2019, experts said sightings suggested Wales could be a key habitat for the angel shark which has had a stronghold around the Canary Islands. Related stories Rare sharks found living off Wales Do rare angel sharks live all year in Wales' seas? Related internet links Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales
BBC News
4 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Rare Angel shark filmed in Cardigan Bay on underwater camera
One of the world's rarest sharks has been caught on camera in Cardigan Bay for the first time in four Perry, a marine conservation and research manager with the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said she was "thrilled" by the "rare and exciting encounter" with the angel shark which lives and hunts on the endangered, the species was filmed on an underwater camera being used to study a group of bottlenose dolphins that make their home off the Welsh angel shark was common across the east Atlantic and Mediterranean seas but has declined because of a number of threats, including habitat disturbance and accidental fishing catch. A juvenile angel shark was caught on camera in September 2021 in Cardigan Perry said the latest sighting "comes at a crucial time, as the Senedd and UK government discuss a ban on bottom trawling in marine protected areas". "These findings highlight the urgent need to protect these fragile habitats from damaging activities like bottom trawling," she sharks, known as a "flat shark", spends much of the time camouflaged in the sediments on the seabed, where they lie in wait for 2019, experts said sightings suggested Wales could be a key habitat for the angel shark which has had a stronghold around the Canary Islands.
