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seasearch.qxd 03/06/04 11:08 Page 1 Algae Seaweeds are often overlooked Table 1: Species recorded per group and most common species found. whilst diving, although 25 species Phylum Common name Number of species Common species were recorded during the 2003 Algae Seaweeds 25 Kelp surveys. Many were simply Porifera Sponges 19 Boring sponge included as ’mixed reds’ or Golf ball sponge similar. Further training in Orange encrusting sponge seaweed identification may be Cnidaria Anemones, jellyfish 30 Snakelocks anemone required. hydroids, corals Jewel anemone Dead mens fingers Sponges Pink sea fan A variety of sponges were Annelida Worms 13 Keelworm Peacock worm recorded, however this group of Crevice tube worm animals is notoriously difficult to identify in situ so very few of the Crustacea Crabs, lobsters, 17 Edible crab prawns, barnacles Velvet swimming crab rarer or less well known species Spiny spider crab were reported. Mollusca Shells, sea slugs, 33 Topshell cuttlefish Limpet Anemones, Corals, Hydroids Sea lemon and Jellyfish Bryozoa Sea mats, sea firs 8 Sea mat 13 different anemones were Potato crisp bryozoan recorded, including the nationally Echinodermata Starfish, brittlestars, 16 Common starfish scarce yellow cluster anemone urchins, cucumbers Spiny starfish Parazoanthus axinellae that Edible urchin inhabits dark overhangs and Tunicates Seasquirts 13 Lightbulb seasquirt Baked bean seasquirt crevices. Jewel anemones were Pisces Fish 42 Cuckoo wrasse very common on the vertical Ballan wrasse rock faces of many of the dive Pollack sites. Bib Of the corals, pink sea fan was Total Species 218 found at a lot of sites, including some new records. Historic problems for the oyster ballan wrasse which were seen at large number of sites. Amongst data does not reflect this wider Ballan wrasse distribution and it seems that this populations there. No native most rocky sites. Fish from the the rarer fish were ling, red Eel grass nationally scarce species isn’t as oysters were recorded from any cod family such as pollack and gurnard, john dory and sunfish. rare as thought in Cornish of the survey sites. bib were also recorded from a waters. A worrying note was 12 species of sea slug that about half of the sea fans at were recorded, the most Maen Garrick on the Manacles common being the sea Table 2 Nationally Rare and Scarce Species recorded during 2003 were in poor condition. lemon Archidoris pseudoargus. Several jellyfish species were Species Designation Where found seen. Starfish, sea urchins, Eelgrass BAP long list Helford. Zostera marina (Abundant off Durgan). Crabs and lobsters and sea cucumbers Edible crabs, velvet swimming The common starfish, Maerl rare / BAP Old Walls. Fal Bay. Lithothamnion coralloides Nare Head.(Occassional). crabs, and spiny spider crabs spiny starfish, edible urchin were recorded as common at and cotton spinner were Yellow cluster anemone scarce/ BAP long list Manacles. (Rare). many sites including rocky and recorded from most sites. Parazoanthus axinellae sandy habitats. Lobsters were Less common Trumpet anemone scarce/ BAP long list Manacles. (Rare). also recorded on several dives, echinoderms that were Aiptasia mutabilis found included the feather including within the St. Agnes No Pink sea fan scarce / BAP Wide distribution of sites Take Zone although pots were star Antedon bifida and Eunicella verrucosa including new records at also seen in the area, which gravel cucumber Port Quin, St. Agnes, indicates some non-compliance Neopentadactyla mixta. Gorren Haven. (Frequent.) Pink sea fan Slipper limpet with the voluntary designation. Fish Scarlet and gold coral scarce / BAP long list St. Agnes. (Rare). Balanophyllia regia Shells and sea slugs This was the most diverse Many of the usual shallow rocky group of animals recorded Ling BAP Porthallow. Manacles. Molva molva (Rare). reef species were recorded such with 42 different species. Fish were seen at most as limpets, mussels and topshells. Nationally rare and scarce as defined by JNCC The non-native slipper limpet sights surveyed. The most BAP = Biodiversity Action Plan Crepidula fornicata was found in common were the wrasse, the Helford which may cause particularly cuckoo and These survey dives were organised as part of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Seasearch is a volunteer underwater survey project for recreational divers to Seasearch training programme. Other surveys were carried out independently contribute to the conservation of the marine environment. Financial support and contribute to our database of information and records. for the project during 2003 and for the production of this summary report has been given by: Over 100 divers took part in Cornwall’s Seasearch surveys during 2003, too many to mention individually here, but thanks to all involved. This report has been prepared by Ruth Williams. The Photographs are by John Trenain, Paul Naylor and Seasearch Naturesave contributors. Trust Diver with sea fan Dogfish seasearch.qxd 03/06/04 11:09 Page 2 St. Agnes North Cornwall Seasearch divers were asked to survey the voluntary No Take Zone (NTZ) at St. Agnes to determine seabed cover and species diversity. The The north coast of Cornwall can be a difficult place to dive with big surf and limited access. Consequently there are very few initial dives at two locations within the NTZ were carried out in April 2003. records of what marine life is found along this stretch of coastline so it was a priority to get Seasearch underway here. The first site north of Green Island consists of a rocky reef and boulders going down to a Members of Bude BSAC surveyed Millook beach as part of their Seasearch Observer training during June 2004. This popular depth of 10m, with heavy sand scour at the base. Even though this site is within the NTZ, beach to the south west of Widemouth Bay, is well known to local divers. From the shore, a serrated rocky reef interspersed there was evidence of lobster potting activity. Attached life is limited due to the sand with sand patches extends out to 9m deep. scour, but includes cushion stars, dahlia and strawberry anemones, sponges including Kelp covered rocks in shallow water are replaced by mixed reds on the reef tops and coralline algae and Lithothamnion on the Esperiopsis fucorum and Hemimycale columella, the European cowrie Trivia monacha, and slopes. The angled reefs form sheltered crevices on the shoreward side, home to velvet swimming crabs, edible crabs, spider abundant sea lemon egg masses. Of particular note at this site is the nationally scarce crabs and the occasional lobster. Tompot and other blenny species scarlet and gold cup coral Balanophyllia regia. Rhizostoma octopus jellyfish were seen at the were also seen, as well as the usual rocky reef animal turf of limpets, surface. barnacles, strawberry and snakelocks anemones and seaquirts. Sand The second site, at Gadger Cave to the north of the NTZ, was accessed through a sea scour around the reef limits the species found. A seal watched arch. This is a rich site with abundant life including very large dahlia anemones and edible inquisitively at the surface. mussels amongst the kelp park. Dead men’s fingers, jewel anemones, and a variety of Other areas surveyed in North Cornwall include: encrusting sponges were recorded from the vertical rock faces and lobster were found Boscastle Harbour, Cow and Calf near Port Quin, Stepper Point and along with other crustaceans (edible, velvet swimming and spider crabs). wreck of Arthur town near Padstow, Mouls Island at Port Quin (new Other areas surveyed near St. Agnes include: Dahlia anemone: Paul Naylor record of pink sea fan Eunicella verrucosa), Trevose Head, Port Gaverne, The Arches, St. Agnes Head, King Harry Ferry wreck (including a new record of pink sea Newlands Rock in Camel fan Eunicella verrucosa), Bawden Rock, Trevellas Porth and Trevaunance Point. estuary (another new pink sea fan site). Velvet swimming crab: Paul Naylor Mounts Bay and Penwith Bude Low Lee Reef, about 2km out of Newlyn Harbour was the site Penzance BSAC chose as Fal Bay their Seasearch training dive in May. The rocky reef lies between 14 and 18m deep and Falmouth Bay has several well-known and well-surveyed sites. As part of their has been made into a roped underwater nature trail. The scattered wreckage of the SS Seasearch training, Fal SAC helped to re-survey the Old Walls, off St. Anthony Head in Primrose adds further interest. July 2003. This site has abundant marine life from all taxanomic groups. The reef tops and The Old Walls are patches of reef interspersed with sand and cobbles at a depth of surrounding boulders are covered in kelp and mixed red and brown seaweeds. Common Padstow 25m. Very little algae is recorded at this depth but the rocks are covered in a rich and spiny starfish, sea urchins and sea cucumbers Holothuria forskali are abundant on the animal turf. Dead men’s fingers, the boring sponge Cliona celata, sea beard hydroids, boulders and in gravel patches. The vertical rock faces of the reef itself are covered in spiny starfish, urchins and cotton spinners are abundant. Occasional patches of pink jewel anemones, Actinothoe sphyrodeta anemones, Devonshire cup corals, dead men’s sea fans are recorded with large colonies of potato crisp bryozoan Pentapora foliacea. fingers, sponges, lightbulb seasquirts, star seasquirts, and sea beard hydroids. A variety of Beds of brittlestars are found between the reefs and small patches of live maerl, a fish species were recorded including wrasse and flatfish species, bib, dogfish and conger Fowey nationally rare species and important habitat, are also recorded. eels, particularly around the wreck. St Agnes Duchy Divers surveyed Castle Beach in Falmouth in May 2003. This site is a well used Other areas surveyed in this area include: shore dive with a varied rocky reef interspersed with sand and pebbles going to a depth of about 7m.

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