0:00:24 > 0:00:26It's day four of Big Blue UK and Lindsay and I
0:00:26 > 0:00:31are on one of Britain's most recognisable beaches.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33This is Lulworth Cove in Dorset.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36We are here to explore the most accessible
0:00:36 > 0:00:40of all our marine habitats, the one that is right here
0:00:40 > 0:00:42under our feet - our shoreline.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46We have over 11,000 miles of stunning coastline to explore
0:00:46 > 0:00:50here in the UK. And, if you sail away from the mainland,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53there are over 7,000 islands to see, too.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59And it is in these special places, where the sea meets the land,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02that we can get to meet some of our most unusual,
0:01:02 > 0:01:04and surprising, marine creatures.
0:01:07 > 0:01:08Hi, Adam.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11'Later, I'll be investigating how we can protect
0:01:11 > 0:01:13'our seashores for years to come.'
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Wow, is this a conger eel just coming in here?
0:01:16 > 0:01:17This is a baby conger eel.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18I'll be finding out
0:01:18 > 0:01:21how studying this humble gastropod,
0:01:21 > 0:01:23the toothed top shell,
0:01:23 > 0:01:24can help save the world,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26while some familiar faces
0:01:26 > 0:01:30share their favourite past encounters from the shoreline.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32And all week, we are joined by roving wildlife cameraman
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Richard Taylor-Jones. Today, he is after the truth behind
0:01:36 > 0:01:38this year's seaside scare story.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41This summer, we have seen the most enormous number
0:01:41 > 0:01:43of jellyfish sightings across the UK.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46I am going to try and track down the misunderstood monster
0:01:46 > 0:01:51that grows up to a metre wide, known as the barrel jellyfish.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56The weird and the wonderful can be found all along our shoreline
0:01:56 > 0:01:58and some of our native sea creatures are so extraordinary
0:01:58 > 0:02:00that they seem almost the stuff of fantasy.
0:02:02 > 0:02:0520 miles east from here lies the inshore breeding ground
0:02:05 > 0:02:07of a very unusual fish,
0:02:07 > 0:02:10as marine biologist Tooni Mahto found out.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14This bay is home to one of Britain's most unexpected inhabitants.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Small in size, but large in character.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19You might think you would only see them in tropical waters,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22but Studland Bay is famous for its seahorses.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29Local conservationist Steve Trewhella discovered
0:02:29 > 0:02:32a pregnant seahorse here, suggesting that Studland Bay
0:02:32 > 0:02:35is home to a breeding colony.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38I know it sounds silly, but when we are looking for seahorses,
0:02:38 > 0:02:42you have to go into seahorse mode. You have to think like a seahorse.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Where would you be if you were a seahorse?
0:02:45 > 0:02:46They are very hard to find.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Studland Bay is now recognised as one of the most important
0:02:53 > 0:02:56seahorse sites in Europe - and there is a good reason they are here.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Just a few metres deep lies this bed of thick eelgrass -
0:03:02 > 0:03:05a perfect seahorse habitat...
0:03:05 > 0:03:07but one that makes them difficult to find.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13So, Steve, what is the best method to try to find seahorses
0:03:13 > 0:03:14in the eelgrass?
0:03:14 > 0:03:18A combination of extreme patience and good eyesight.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23You have to just take your time and sweep through carefully. OK.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Eelgrass needs shallow, protected waters to flourish,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32so the sheltered bays of the South Coast are ideal.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39Eelgrass is incredibly important for a whole range of species,
0:03:39 > 0:03:45because it provides this fantastic wealth of places to hide.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48It would be incredibly difficult for a predator to come in here
0:03:48 > 0:03:50and find anything -
0:03:50 > 0:03:53as it's proving for us to find a seahorse.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07SHE LAUGHS
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Look! I have found a spiny seahorse.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18I know that you're not meant to get sentimental about creatures,
0:04:18 > 0:04:22but she is so beautiful!
0:04:23 > 0:04:24Astonishing.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Seahorses may not look like it, but they are, in fact, fish.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32They blend into the weeds and prey on passing tiny animals.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Those little spikes that are coming off her head,
0:04:37 > 0:04:40they help her camouflage herself,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42to, basically, disappear into the eelgrass.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57The next time we see her, she may be with a mate,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59so, hopefully, breeding successfully.
0:04:59 > 0:05:00That's what she has come here to do.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Bye-bye, beautiful!
0:05:11 > 0:05:15Remarkable little creatures, aren't they? They are absolutely fabulous.
0:05:15 > 0:05:20I love seahorses. And I am sure Tooni will be delighted to hear that
0:05:20 > 0:05:25we followed up on her sighting and, on 8th August, a female and a male
0:05:25 > 0:05:28seahorse were spotted by Julie Hatcher. She is the marine officer
0:05:28 > 0:05:31at the Dorset Wildlife Trust. She said they were both
0:05:31 > 0:05:34in excellent condition. That is brilliant news.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38But did you know that seahorses are the only creatures in the world
0:05:38 > 0:05:41where the male, rather than the female, goes through pregnancy?
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Now, Hugh, I think that sounds like a fantastic idea.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Well, let's hope it doesn't catch on among the mammals!
0:05:46 > 0:05:49But here on the seashore, we should always be ready
0:05:49 > 0:05:53to expect the unexpected, because with every new tide,
0:05:53 > 0:05:56more flotsam and jetsam washes up on the shoreline.
0:05:57 > 0:06:02Like this swordfish. It was found on the Severn Beach on June 13th.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05It is very unusual, but swordfish do pop up
0:06:05 > 0:06:06from time to time on our shores.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09And this is a Kemp Ridley turtle.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11It is one of the rarest turtles
0:06:11 > 0:06:13in the sea. There's only 1,000
0:06:13 > 0:06:16breeding females left in the world.
0:06:16 > 0:06:17But one was washed to shore
0:06:17 > 0:06:19on Greencliff Beach in Devon.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Back in June, it was the arrival of huge jellyfish on our shores
0:06:24 > 0:06:28that made the headlines. Take a look at this.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Hundreds were washed up on our beaches on the South Coast.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33It was likened to an alien invasion,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36but should we really be in fear of these creatures?
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Richard Taylor-Jones went to investigate.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47I bet loads of you have walked along our shores in the summer
0:06:47 > 0:06:50and found a jellyfish just like this.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Perhaps you have got your phone, taken a quick snap of it
0:06:53 > 0:06:56to show your friends and then moved on without thinking
0:06:56 > 0:06:58any more about it. But do you know what?
0:06:58 > 0:07:01I think jellyfish are absolutely fascinating
0:07:01 > 0:07:04and one of the most interesting visitors to our coast this summer.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10There are over 200 species of true jellyfish in the world
0:07:10 > 0:07:13and we have six that are regularly seen in UK waters.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16They are renowned for being deadly if you get stung,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20but actually ours are all pretty friendly, although you would
0:07:20 > 0:07:25certainly feel a sting if you ran into this lion's mane jellyfish.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28They seem alien, unlike any other life form we know.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32So to help understand them,
0:07:32 > 0:07:36let's look at an animal easily found whilst out rock-pooling.
0:07:37 > 0:07:38The beadlet anemone.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Anemones are from the same group of animals that jellyfish are -
0:07:45 > 0:07:47they are all called cnidarians.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50And cnidarians have stinging cells called nematocysts,
0:07:50 > 0:07:51often on tentacles.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55When you get them out of the water, both jellyfish and anemone
0:07:55 > 0:07:57look like a lump of gunk.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00As did this one until I put it in the tank.
0:08:00 > 0:08:01When I put it in the tank,
0:08:01 > 0:08:05I started a time-lapse running with this camera and you can see
0:08:05 > 0:08:08from the image that tentacles suddenly spread out, allowing those
0:08:08 > 0:08:11nematocysts to try and hunt out microscopic prey
0:08:11 > 0:08:13floating through the water.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Essentially, jellyfish do exactly the same thing
0:08:17 > 0:08:20but they're not stuck to a rock, they're floating out there at sea.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Jellyfish are actually able to swim.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29They have an umbrella-like structure with muscles running through it
0:08:29 > 0:08:31that contract rhythmically.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34However, they are not strong swimmers.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37Having only a small amount of control over their orientation
0:08:37 > 0:08:42and little else, generally they are swept along by ocean currents.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46Whilst often seen on their own, they can turn up en masse
0:08:46 > 0:08:51on our UK beaches, which has been happening an awful lot this year.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55I've come to meet jellyfish expert Cathy Lucas to find out why
0:08:55 > 0:08:58we've been getting so many sightings.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Because it's been quite nice over the winter, that has enabled
0:09:01 > 0:09:04probably more individuals to survive, breed quite extensively,
0:09:04 > 0:09:08and it might be that the water currents that come in off the Atlantic
0:09:08 > 0:09:11and flow up the English Channel are quite strong this year and
0:09:11 > 0:09:14that might be bringing a lot of them further into the English Channel.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17So what are the consequences of these larger numbers
0:09:17 > 0:09:18of jellyfish in our waters?
0:09:18 > 0:09:23Jellyfish are actually quite good food for things like turtles
0:09:23 > 0:09:25and also fish and sunfish as well.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27But they themselves eat plankton
0:09:27 > 0:09:33and also the larvae of a lot of fish species, and so they are
0:09:33 > 0:09:37going to be competing with fish for the plankton food resource.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41So they can have quite a dramatic impact on the natural food web.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44In terms of how they impact tourism, if a lot of jellyfish
0:09:44 > 0:09:47are being stranded up on the beach, people don't like to see
0:09:47 > 0:09:50jellyfish, or they certainly don't like to go swimming amongst them.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54I guess I can't finish without asking you a question
0:09:54 > 0:09:56that's probably on everyone's minds -
0:09:56 > 0:09:59are jellyfish going to be harmful to you?
0:09:59 > 0:10:02In the vast majority of cases, the answer is absolutely not.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07There are a couple of species in UK waters that have quite a nasty sting,
0:10:07 > 0:10:11so the lion's mane and the mauve stinger, but they're not dangerous.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15It's been great to hear about all these animals
0:10:15 > 0:10:19but as a wildlife cameraman, what I really want to do is see them.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23There have been dozens of sightings of huge barrel jellyfish -
0:10:23 > 0:10:26one of the biggest jellyfish we get in the UK -
0:10:26 > 0:10:28off Bournemouth Beach,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31so I have raced down with my camera to see if I can find them.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37'After the first hour, I'm not feeling hopeful.'
0:10:37 > 0:10:38So far, not so good.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43The water is relatively cloudy
0:10:43 > 0:10:44and quite choppy
0:10:44 > 0:10:46so it's really quite hard to see
0:10:46 > 0:10:48what's down there.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53'The chances of finding one seem quite slim.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58'But just a couple of minutes later, everything changes.'
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Whoa, whoa, whoa, we've got one. Look at that.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07With no time to waste, I get into the water
0:11:07 > 0:11:11and the jellyfish's size is quickly apparent.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13It's enormous.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19The barrel jellyfish is one of the largest to visit our shores.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23And it can grow to almost a metre in diameter.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29And weigh up to 35 kilos.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36The edge of its bell-shaped body is covered in blue organs
0:11:36 > 0:11:40called statocysts, which help with balance,
0:11:40 > 0:11:45and it has eight thick arms covered in frills, which are tiny
0:11:45 > 0:11:47tentacles used to catch prey.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52It's a beautiful sight
0:11:52 > 0:11:56and I can't quite believe I've managed to film one.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03An enormous barrel jellyfish was right beneath me there.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05Incredibly close!
0:12:05 > 0:12:10It's just such a wonderful way to enjoy these magnificent creatures
0:12:10 > 0:12:12that visit our summer shores.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14HE LAUGHS
0:12:14 > 0:12:16Yes!
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Wherever you are in the world, including here in the UK,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23there are always, unfortunately, marine species under threat.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27Often their future depends on the hard work of conservationists
0:12:27 > 0:12:29working around the coast.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Something they know all about in the Solent.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36In 2013, Countryfile's Ellie Harrison joined a project
0:12:36 > 0:12:38hoping to save a prized seashore creature.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42This is Fareham Creek.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46At low tide, the mudflats stretch as far as the eye can see.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55I'm on the hunt for one of our most threatened native shellfish.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59But to find out if they are here, I need to head out there -
0:12:59 > 0:13:01not as easy as you might think.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05What I'm hoping to see are native oysters.
0:13:06 > 0:13:10In its heyday, the Solent had one of the largest natural populations.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13They were harvested and shipped to London and Paris
0:13:13 > 0:13:16to meet the demands of high society.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19But since 2000, they've been in decline.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25'Jolyon Chesworth is running a project
0:13:25 > 0:13:28'to try and gauge accurate numbers.'
0:13:28 > 0:13:31Some extraordinary footwear you've got here. That's right.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34These are mud shoes and it's what we wear when we go out onto
0:13:34 > 0:13:37the mudflats and carry out surveys, to help stop us sinking.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40They're based on the design of herons' feet,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43and they have these expandable wings so, when you put your foot down,
0:13:43 > 0:13:47the pressure lifts the wings up, and helps evenly spread your weight
0:13:47 > 0:13:49and stops you going too far into the mud.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51That's the wrong way round, Ellie.
0:13:51 > 0:13:54You need to turn them round and slip them on like normal shoes.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57There's nothing normal about these shoes! Nearly there.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59A real tighten... There we go. Perfect.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01I was born into them!
0:14:01 > 0:14:03Shall we give them a try? Yeah, let's go. OK.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05SHE LAUGHS
0:14:05 > 0:14:07I feel like a clown.
0:14:07 > 0:14:12'It is tough going in the mud, but it's the only way to find them.'
0:14:12 > 0:14:15# Giant steps are what you take
0:14:15 > 0:14:18# Walking on the moon
0:14:18 > 0:14:21# I hope my legs don't break... #
0:14:21 > 0:14:24This is loads of work, Jolyon.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Why do you do it? This area has been recommended for protection
0:14:27 > 0:14:30through a marine conservation zone for native oysters,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33but it hasn't progressed because there's a lack of evidence
0:14:33 > 0:14:36to suggest that they are here in enough numbers
0:14:36 > 0:14:37to actually designate this site,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40so what we're going to be doing over the coming months
0:14:40 > 0:14:43is to be going out, looking for them, monitoring them and gathering
0:14:43 > 0:14:46the evidence to make sure that this site does get designated.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48We're not going to do the whole patch today?
0:14:48 > 0:14:51No. We're just going to have a little recce today.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54Cool. We are against the tide, so let's get on with it, shall we?
0:14:54 > 0:14:59'For a full survey, Jolyon will be out here for up to six hours
0:14:59 > 0:15:01'and will cover around two miles.'
0:15:01 > 0:15:05So, what you've found there, Ellie, is a Pacific oyster,
0:15:05 > 0:15:06and a large one at that.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09The reason you can tell the difference between a Pacific
0:15:09 > 0:15:10and a native oyster is,
0:15:10 > 0:15:12the Pacific oysters, they have
0:15:12 > 0:15:14quite a sharp point and they fan out,
0:15:14 > 0:15:15and they have a very
0:15:15 > 0:15:17corrugated rim to them.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20The native oysters, as we'll hopefully find later,
0:15:20 > 0:15:22are a lot smoother and flatter.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25'Jolyon records all Pacific oyster sightings
0:15:25 > 0:15:27'to keep track of their numbers too,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30'because they're a known invasive species.'
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Are they a problem, then, for our native oysters?
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Well, in some areas possibly. In this area,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38we don't have them in such numbers that they are likely to compete.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Also, the native oysters, they prefer, generally,
0:15:40 > 0:15:44deeper water, whereas these prefer shallow, intertidal areas,
0:15:44 > 0:15:46so their ranges don't necessarily overlap.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50'It doesn't take long before we find what we're looking for.'
0:15:51 > 0:15:55Here we've got a native oyster, sometimes called a flat oyster,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58because it has a very flat shell to it.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01You can see it is quite a different shape from the Pacific. It is.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04It's much rounder. It's much smoother.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05Obviously, this one is a lot smaller
0:16:05 > 0:16:08but that's because it's quite a few years younger than this one.
0:16:08 > 0:16:10These can get, like you say, quite a bit bigger,
0:16:10 > 0:16:12so the size isn't the giveaway. No.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14So, this is probably a year or two old,
0:16:14 > 0:16:17whereas that one is probably more like seven years.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20'Hopefully, Jolyon can find enough native oysters to get these
0:16:20 > 0:16:24'mudflats protected, ensuring their survival for years to come.'
0:16:25 > 0:16:29LINDSAY: Fareham Creek is still awaiting designation,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32but the UK does have 277 Marine Protected Areas,
0:16:32 > 0:16:37so a few weeks ago, I went to visit one of the most famous.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43This is Lyme Bay, an area renowned for its seafood.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45In the 1990s, the seabed here was suffering.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Heavy fishing gear used for beam trawling and scallop-dredging
0:16:49 > 0:16:53were scouring the sea floor, affecting the bay's famed sea fans,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56the juvenile scallops trying to grow here,
0:16:56 > 0:16:58and the whole ecosystem surrounding them.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Fishermen and scientists were concerned,
0:17:01 > 0:17:04so they came together with a common purpose -
0:17:04 > 0:17:07to protect the bay for future generations.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11In 2008, Lyme Bay became Britain's largest Marine Protected Area -
0:17:11 > 0:17:1560 square miles of sea that is off limits to fishing practices
0:17:15 > 0:17:17like trawling and dredging.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20But the question is, has it made any difference?
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Hi, Adam. Hi, Lindsey.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28'Adam Rees is one of a team of scientists
0:17:28 > 0:17:31'from Plymouth University Marine Institute,
0:17:31 > 0:17:34'who've been studying the area for eight years.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37'We're heading into the middle of the Marine Protected Area
0:17:37 > 0:17:39'to look at one of the sites that he studies.'
0:17:39 > 0:17:41So, what have we got here, Adam?
0:17:41 > 0:17:44This is our baited underwater static camera that sits on the seabed
0:17:44 > 0:17:46to monitor the mobile species.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49So that's the camera there. What's that bit on the end?
0:17:49 > 0:17:52That's the bait to attract all the species in. OK, I see.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55And I guess it just goes straight off the back? Away we go. OK.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58'Adam uses this technique to monitor the seabed every summer,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01'sampling 24 sites within the bay.'
0:18:01 > 0:18:03How far down does it go?
0:18:03 > 0:18:05I think we are about 25 metres here.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08'To survey each site, the camera stays down for 40 minutes
0:18:08 > 0:18:10'so, while we wait,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13'he shows me what the bay looked like seven years ago.'
0:18:13 > 0:18:15So, this is some of the footage we gathered
0:18:15 > 0:18:16back in 2008.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18'You can clearly see from this footage
0:18:18 > 0:18:23'the sea floor looks completely barren and lifeless.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25'This is not how it should look.'
0:18:25 > 0:18:30Basically, a lot of these sensitive species underwent varying
0:18:30 > 0:18:35degrees of damage, and some of the most sensitive species were removed.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39'These were species like pink sea fans, Ross corals and scallops.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42'Trawling had severely damaged much of their rocky reef habitat
0:18:42 > 0:18:47'on which so much life depends, but was it beyond repair?'
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Many of these species are particularly sensitive to
0:18:50 > 0:18:52trawling activities.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54These species are now starting to show signs of recovery.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58Pink sea fans, Ross corals are starting to look bigger
0:18:58 > 0:19:00and starting to be in higher abundance
0:19:00 > 0:19:02than they were back in 2008.
0:19:04 > 0:19:08'So it's time to pull up the camera and see what we've got today.'
0:19:12 > 0:19:15So, I can see, I think, the bait here. Yes, that's it.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17What have we got? A fish there?
0:19:17 > 0:19:20You can see a small school of whiting here.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22You can also see a scallop in the foreground.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Right in the foreground. Look at that!
0:19:25 > 0:19:27And a starfish starting to creep in...
0:19:29 > 0:19:31..along with a conger eel. Wow.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34Is this a conger eel just coming in here? This is a baby conger eel.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36'Conger eels are a rare sight.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39'This is only the second they've seen this year.'
0:19:39 > 0:19:41And a dogfish. Look at that!
0:19:41 > 0:19:42It's stunning, isn't it?
0:19:42 > 0:19:45So many different types of species
0:19:45 > 0:19:47all around that one bit of bait. I think we got lucky.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49Yeah, I think we did.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51'It's actually not just luck.
0:19:51 > 0:19:55'Seeing so many species in just 40 minutes is a remarkable sign
0:19:55 > 0:19:58'of how the reef and the species it supports are all recovering.
0:19:58 > 0:20:02'Scientist Adam isn't the only person noticing a difference
0:20:02 > 0:20:04'to the ecosystem in Lyme Bay.
0:20:04 > 0:20:09'John Warswick has been hand-diving for scallops in the area since 1999.'
0:20:09 > 0:20:11These are the scallops? Do you mind if I pick one up?
0:20:11 > 0:20:14No, help yourself. Wow, look at this. It's beautiful.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16So, what's the size like, compared to before?
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Because that looks quite good. That's a really good-sized scallop.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22This one here, that's a just sizeable one.
0:20:22 > 0:20:23As you can see,
0:20:23 > 0:20:27if you put them together, that's obviously had another year,
0:20:27 > 0:20:28maybe a year and a half to grow,
0:20:28 > 0:20:31and that's the sort of difference.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34We are getting far more of that size than of that size.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37It's quite a considerable difference, isn't it? Yes.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40And catches have improved from sort of 50 dozen a day
0:20:40 > 0:20:42to sort of 80, 90 dozen.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46And obviously, the bigger they are, they're worth more as well.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49'Lyme Bay Reserve isn't just about conserving
0:20:49 > 0:20:53'the 1,300 species of marine flora and fauna that are found here,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57'but also about protecting traditional fishing communities,
0:20:57 > 0:21:00'because fish stocks, on which livelihoods depend,
0:21:00 > 0:21:01'are now improving.'
0:21:03 > 0:21:06I think that when we come to the seaside,
0:21:06 > 0:21:09we should consider what lies just offshore.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13The sea needs our help and Marine Protected Areas are just one way
0:21:13 > 0:21:18of ensuring that our thriving seashores continue into the future.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24So encouraging to see the sea floor just teeming with life again.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27And it was really interesting for me to see
0:21:27 > 0:21:29that footage of our underwater world. It's incredible.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32And there's also been some really good news this year
0:21:32 > 0:21:34in British seas further afield.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40You may not have heard of the group of four volcanic islands
0:21:40 > 0:21:42called Pitcairn.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45They form the last Overseas British Territory in the Pacific.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50The fantastic news is that the UK Government has just given the
0:21:50 > 0:21:54go-ahead to establish the largest marine reserve in the world here.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59The 322,000-square-mile zone is expected to
0:21:59 > 0:22:01ban commercial fishing and become
0:22:01 > 0:22:06a marine sanctuary for hundreds of species of fish, algae and coral.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12The hope is that these species will act as lungs for the rest of
0:22:12 > 0:22:15the world's oceans, breathing new life into areas
0:22:15 > 0:22:18affected by human activity.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Rock-pooling is an ideal way of introducing marine life to
0:22:22 > 0:22:24younger members of the family,
0:22:24 > 0:22:26and once you've caught the rock-pooling bug,
0:22:26 > 0:22:31it remains a lifelong obsession, as Hugh knows all too well.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38Rock-pooling is a classic British summer pastime.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42As a kid I would spend hours delving deep into the seashore pools.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44And, yep, that's me.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Nothing beats a summer's day wading through the shallow water,
0:22:48 > 0:22:53lifting up rocks and revealing otherwise hidden wildlife.
0:22:53 > 0:22:54# When the weather's fine
0:22:54 > 0:22:57# We go fishin' or go swimmin' in the sea. #
0:22:57 > 0:23:01I've been clambering around on Britain's rocky beaches
0:23:01 > 0:23:05sticking my nose into rock pools for as long as I can remember.
0:23:05 > 0:23:09And I love it just as much now as I did when I was a kid.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14It's still the best possible way to get acquainted with Britain's
0:23:14 > 0:23:16amazing marine life.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20The great thing about rock pools is that they're such an easy
0:23:20 > 0:23:23window into our remarkable marine world.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27There are weird and wonderful creatures hiding under every
0:23:27 > 0:23:28nook and cranny.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33If you take an even closer look, there's high drama to be seen.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Anemones using their poisonous tentacles to try
0:23:40 > 0:23:42and capture shrimps.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51Limpets fending off predatory starfish.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58And feisty crabs always battling for space.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05Even more surprising is that these rock pools can also give us
0:24:05 > 0:24:07a perspective on wider aspects of our world.
0:24:11 > 0:24:16On Hannafore Beach in Cornwall, Dr Nova Mieszkowska is dabbling
0:24:16 > 0:24:21in rock pools in the name of science to learn more about climate change.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23And there's one little species called
0:24:23 > 0:24:26the toothed top shell that can help her.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28I want you to put as many of these into this
0:24:28 > 0:24:31bag as you can in three minutes. OK, well, I'm ready to go.
0:24:31 > 0:24:35Am I trying to break a record here? You're trying to break my record.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39OK, and what's your record? My record for here would be about 150.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42In three minutes? In three minutes. I'll never do that.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Ready, steady, go!
0:24:45 > 0:24:47Ooh, I've found a real treasure trove here.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49It's a hot spot all right.
0:24:49 > 0:24:53'This survey may seem like a bit of fun, but if we find more
0:24:53 > 0:24:55'shells here than last year,
0:24:55 > 0:24:57'it's an indicator that our seas are warming.'
0:24:57 > 0:25:00How long have I got?
0:25:00 > 0:25:02A minute and a half left.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06I've got to average almost one a second, haven't I? Yes.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08I don't know if I'm doing that.
0:25:10 > 0:25:15Three, two, one, stop! Right.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17How does that look?
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Very impressive for a first effort. I think I'd have you on my team.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Time to count and measure every one.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Yeah. 18.5.
0:25:25 > 0:25:33Yeah. 19.4, and last, but by all means not least, 19.1.
0:25:33 > 0:25:40Wow! 12 columns, 17 entries in each column. 204? It is, isn't it?
0:25:40 > 0:25:42I think you broke my record!
0:25:42 > 0:25:45Well, I don't know what to say, but the fact that I've collected
0:25:45 > 0:25:48so many here today doesn't necessarily mean that I'm
0:25:48 > 0:25:51a quicker top shell picker than you, does it? No.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54What we're actually seeing with your results is part of
0:25:54 > 0:25:56a longer-term trend, cos each time we come and visit this site
0:25:56 > 0:25:59and survey it, we're seeing more and more of them.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02In 2002, we were only getting 20 or 30 per bag.
0:26:02 > 0:26:03Really?
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Well, these are very good early warning indicator species
0:26:06 > 0:26:09of change because they react so quickly to climates.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12But also, they're the basis of the entire food web,
0:26:12 > 0:26:15so what we see here cascades up the food chain, and then eventually
0:26:15 > 0:26:19we'll see the impact in the fish and the mammals.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21It's not just top shells.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Nova monitors barnacles and limpets
0:26:23 > 0:26:26as they also act as warm-water indicators.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33So rock pool science isn't just about what happens along the shore,
0:26:33 > 0:26:37it can tell us about whole ecosystems and food chains.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39More than just a fun pastime,
0:26:39 > 0:26:44rock-pooling also reveals our hidden sea shell superheroes.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48Tiny creatures that are nevertheless helping scientists to save our seas.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56Well, I'll never overlook a toothed top shell again.
0:26:56 > 0:26:57Remember, if you go rock-pooling,
0:26:57 > 0:27:00please follow the seashore code of conduct.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04Always put rock pool creatures back in the place where you found them.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08If you move rocks, make sure they go back the same way up
0:27:08 > 0:27:10and in their original position.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Seaweed can take years to grow so don't remove
0:27:13 > 0:27:16it from its anchorage, and look after yourselves too.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18Make sure you're wearing sensible shoes and keep
0:27:18 > 0:27:20an eye on the tide times.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24That's all from Lulworth Cove today,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27but don't forget to check out our website for inspiration
0:27:27 > 0:27:31and conversation to help you make contact with the incredible
0:27:31 > 0:27:33sea life on our shoreline.
0:27:33 > 0:27:34We're back tomorrow,
0:27:34 > 0:27:38when we'll be taking a look at the most British of our marine mammals.
0:27:40 > 0:27:45Never mind a bulldog, I'm taking a dip with the grey seals of Lundy.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47One was just nibbling my fins
0:27:47 > 0:27:49while the other was trying to steal my camera.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51It was like a cunning double act.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55And I'm helping to return a rescued seal pup to the sea.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58Off he goes! Heading straight back into he sea.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00But for now, we'll leave you with some
0:28:00 > 0:28:03inspiring scenes of wildlife from around our UK shoreline.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06See you tomorrow.