News and views from the world of marine heritage and conservation
Dearne Valley’ s tope trip
Marine heatwaves hit southern England
Fire on the shore
ENVIRONMENT
Protect Our Seas
News and views from the world of marine heritage and conservation
Dearne Valley’ s tope trip
BSAC club Dearne Valley Divers have announced a scientific expedition taking place in August. A team of 20 snorkellers and scuba divers will travel to a remote Hebridean island to study the schooling behaviour of
Critically Endangered tope sharks. The exped’ s leaders have consulted conservation and research organisations, including Shark Trust, NatureScot, and Edinburgh Napier University. Their aim is
to gather valuable data that will contribute to a deeper understanding of tope shark population and their behaviour in UK waters.
Tope sharks are currently facing significant threats due to overfishing and habitat pressures. It is hoped that the data collected during this expedition will support ongoing conservation efforts and help inform future protection.
Tony Hinchcliffe, Dearne Valley Divers Chair, said:“ This expedition represents an incredible opportunity not only for our club members to take part in meaningful scientific research, but also to raise awareness about the urgent need to protect these remarkable animals.”
For further information, email hello @ dearnevalleydivers. org. uk
Marine heatwaves hit southern England
Marine heatwaves hit the UK over summer 2026, sparking fears they may trigger dieoffs among seagrasses and shellfish.
July’ s marine heatwave was fuelled by the‘ heat domes’ that brought record-breaking air temperatures in May and June. While the UK has experienced such prolonged periods of high sea surface temperatures in the past, scientists fear the 2026 event could be particularly long-lasting.
Speaking in July, Dr Zoe Jacobs of Southampton’ s National Oceanography Centre said UK waters were experiencing temperatures she would normally expect
to see at the end of August.“ If this event keeps coming, we might start to see some serious impacts on ecological systems,” Dr Jacobs said.
Researchers have identified longer term
Cool water species such as cod have shifted further north
shifts in the UK’ s marine life, with cold water fish such as cod moving further north. Meanwhile, water species such as the common octopus have become more abundant around south west England.
PHOTO: JACK TAYLOR-BRUCE / DEVON WILDLIFE TRUST
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Fire on the shore
It was the opportunity of a lifetime for Jack Taylor-Bruce, a marine engagement assistant with the Devon Wildlife Trust. During a Shoresearch survey at Wembury, one of the volunteers found a fire tip sea slug, Hermaea variopicta, only the seventh time the species has been recorded in the UK. The creature is usually found in the Mediterranean and prefers warmer waters, meaning its appearance off the Devon coast is being seen as an indicator of climate change.