Clear, accessible guidance on UK seafood, fisheries and marine conservation
Love the ocean but tired of confusing labels, guilt-driven messaging, and mixed advice about seafood?
An Ocean Warrior helps you understand UK seafood and marine conservation clearly and honestly so you can make informed choices that support both the ocean and coastal communities.
What you’ll find here: 🐟 How to read UK seafood labels and what they really mean 🐟 🦞 Which UK seafood choices best support sustainability and local fishing communities 🦞 🐟 How marine conservation works in the real world, including within commercial fisheries 🐟 🦞 Accessible marine science, explained without jargon or fear-based messaging 🦞
No guilt. No greenwashing. Just clear information you can trust.
Meet Your Marine Biologist — Becki Jarvis
Based in Cornwall, Becki is a marine biologist and commercial fisheries consultant with first-hand experience working within industry, science, academia, consultancy, nature conservation, regulation and enforcement. Her mission is simple: make marine science accessible and to reconnect people with the fishermen and coastal communities behind UK seafood
🦀 Build confidence in understanding British marine species and habitats 🦀 🌊 Support the UK fishing industry in ways that genuinely benefit ocean health 🌊 🦀 Strengthen coastal community livelihoods alongside conservation goals 🦀
An Ocean Warrior exists to bridge the gap between the public, marine science, and the fishing industry.
When you subscribe, you help support:
Conservation approaches that protect both the ocean and coastal livelihoods Accessible marine science without fear or guilt Public understanding of UK commercial fishing and sustainable seafood
You’ll receive thoughtful articles, explainers, and updates.
Start Your Ocean Advocacy Journey
🌊 Ready to embrace the title of Ocean Warrior? Join our community of seafood lovers, conservationists, and coastal advocates.
It’s finally time to move over to a better system so I can share ocean conservation and sustainable seafood content and resources in a more organised, accessible way.
If you’ve already subscribed to the newsletter on my website, thank you so much for being here. To confirm you’re still happy to be part of the An Ocean Warrior community, you’ll just need to resubscribe.
If you enjoy learning about the ocean, UK marine species, sustainable seafood, commercial fishing, rock pooling, or actionable marine conservation, you’ll feel right at home in our new space.
Some of the FREE resources and content available in the newsletter and on the YouTube channel, include:
🦀 Marine species ID videos 🌊 Rockpool ramble videos filmed in Cornwall 📘 Marine Science infographics 🐟 Range of Sustainable seafood resources 🏖 Coastal encounter clips 🦀 Behind the scenes of the Cornish fishing industry 📘 Marine Science Worksheets
An Ocean Warrior is growing!
Over the past year, An Ocean Warrior has grown. We’re still very much grassroots, with plenty of growing left to do, but heading into the New Year, there will be lots of announcements about what’s coming in 2026.
An Ocean Warrior is slowly growing into a larger, connected initiative that brings together:
Ocean education
We’re building a growing library of UK-focused marine science content; clear, accessible resources that help people understand our seas, from rockpools and coastal wildlife to sustainable seafood and the realities of working on the water.
A fishermen-led media company
We’ll help fishermen share their work, knowledge and heritage directly with the public; giving them the tools, confidence and support to tell their own stories.
A developing community driven marine conservation model
Inspired by the values and success of organisations like Mossy Earth and Leave Curious but built specifically for UK marine science, we’re developing a new model, that instead of traditional top down conservation and marine science, is rooted in real coastal knowledge and needs; where fishermen help shape data collection and take part in monitoring, research and management. The aim is to combine public support and education, with marine science that really makes a difference.
An Ocean Warrior is growing into a bigger, interconnected project built on three strands that strengthen each other.
If you’d like to follow the next stage of An Ocean Warrior and get access to our resources, updates, and upcoming projects, you can join the newsletter here:
During my latest adventure along the intertidal zone of the seashore, I came across a fellow ocean enthusiast who, in his adventuring, had found a berried lobster.
In marvelling at her size and the presence of not one, but two V notches in the tail, I thought about how this simple conservation initiative would likely go unnoticed by many, and that the fact it was the fishermen themselves who created and championed the effort so successfully that it was written into law would also slip through the net.
So to raise awareness, that’s today’s topic. V-Notching.
What is V-Notching?
V notching began as a voluntary effort, and conservation minded fishermen were crucial advocates; seeing it not as a further restriction but as stock investment. If a fishermen caught a female with eggs, they cut a small V in the tail. This would allow the fishermen to know with a quick glance that this is a successful breeding female, even when she’s not carrying eggs. If a V notch is present in the tail, the lobster is to be returned to the sea, protecting the future of the stock. Hearing of the efforts being undertaken in Ireland, Cornish fishermen began to adopt the practice. Working with Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committees (SFC), the predecessor of Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs), they formalised and tested the idea.
From local initiative to National Law
By the late 90s the evidence showed strong benefits: Increased egg production and recruitment, high survival rates of notched females, and a strong uptake in fishermen compliance. This grassroots success was the start of wider legal protection. Local byelaws were put in place prohibiting the landing, storage or sale of v-notched lobsters. By the 2000s, the concept was embedded in UK wide shellfish management policy and subsequently consolidated into later regulations.
This conservation effort worked because fishermen raised the alarm and were listened to. They worked together as an industry to design a working conservation solution and then embedded it into the fishery. It remains one of the most successful examples of co-management and it’s a reminder of the power and importance of fishermen being part of fisheries management across all levels.
A legacy worth remembering
So next time you see a lobster, whether on the shore, in a photo, or on a menu, remember: some of the most powerful conservation ideas don’t always start in laboratories or government offices – they start at sea.
Have you heard about the “Great British Fish Gap”?
New research from the brilliant teams at Mindfully Wired and Discover Seafood shows that while most of us want to eat more locally caught fish, many of us don’t recognise the species caught right here in UK waters, like hake or gurnard, and even fewer can confidently read seafood labels. That’s a huge missed opportunity. Not just for eating more sustainable seafood, but for directly supporting our UK fishing industry and coastal communities.
So it’s the perfect moment to share something I’ve been working on: a ‘How to Read Seafood Labels’ infographic. It’s a simple guide to help you:
🦞 Find the catch area: know exactly where your seafood was sourced. 🐟 Make confident, informed choices that support UK fishermen and the marine environment. 🦞 Recognise sustainability certifications — such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
As a marine biologist, commercial fisheries consultant and former warranted marine enforcement officer, I’ve spent years working alongside the UK fishing industry. Listening, learning, and advocating. I’m passionate about making marine science accessible and work to connect people with the fishermen, and the stories behind the seafood on our plates.
Scroll down to check out the infographic. Subscribe to the YouTube channel, where I’ll be breaking down UK commercial fishing, species ID, and how we can all play a part in a thriving ocean!
How to understand seafood labels – infographic
If you’ve ever stood in a shop staring at a packet of fish, wondering what the words on the label actually mean, you’re not alone. Understanding how to read seafood labels in the UK can be confusing but it’s one of the most powerful ways you can make better choices for the ocean, the environment, and our British fishing communities.
Knowing what’s really behind the label means you can: Try delicious, under-used species like hake, gurnard, or monkfish. Support the UK fishing industry directly. Choose sustainable UK fish with confidence. Avoid misleading marketing claims.
In 2023, there were around 10,000 registered commercial fishermen, a decline of over 2000 in 10 years.
85% of seafood caught in the UK is exported
The UK imports almost all of the seafood it eats
In 2023*, there were around 10,000 registered commercial fishermen in the UK, in 1938 there were around 40,000. You might think, maybe the UK’s love for seafood has dwindled, but it’s not that.
Early fisheries records are patchy but we know in 1945 we landed around 500,000 tonnes of finfish and we imported 280,000 tonnes of seafood.
In 2023 we landed just over 700,000 tonnes of seafood and we imported 611,000 tonnes of seafood products.
So if we’re eating more seafood as a nation, why is our commercial fishing industry slowly dying?
Mismanagement. Over and over again.
🐟 Of the top five species eaten by the UK, four of them are imported. 🦞 The most sustainable and lowest impact vessels are under 15m, yet our landings are dominated by industrial fishing boats and though under 10m vessels make up 79% of the fleet, they get less than 5% of the UK’s allocated fishing quota. 🐟 Historically quotas have been too high, and repeatedly ignored inshore fishermen’s warnings and scientists data analysis, time and time again the small vessel voices were drowned out by big company lobbyists, and we moved from sustainable, easy to manage, lower impact vessels and fishing techniques to industrial factory vessels, with minimal fishermen required to operate but so big they have their own fork lift trucks for use inside their onboard fish freezers, indiscriminately taking thousands of tonnes of fish at a time. 🦞 Fishing licences were given out by the government for free, but included no proper systems or rules on what happened to a licence when a fishermen died, or decided they no longer wanted to commercially fish. So licences were sold, or traded, or hoarded by larger companies to prevent competition or kept by individual fishermen hoping for something to help them survive retirement, or bought up by foreign companies.
And that’s just part of it. The earliest forms of fisheries management in the UK were in the 14th century; that’s a lot of getting it wrong between then and now.
Yet it’s always the fishermen we blame. These stewards of the ocean, many with generations of connection to the sea, are the ones we’ve demonised and chastised. Though i’m yet to meet a fishermen who isn’t passionate about the ocean and its health, I have met many who are tired of their knowledge being ignored, and of being blamed for working within failing regulations and systems they had no hand in creating.
It’s important as a nation we understand the true issues of our commercial fishing industry; and who’s really to blame for them, so we can direct our energies where it’s most powerful. We need to learn how to support the smaller, lower impact fishing vessels, or one day we’ll turn around to empty harbours, dead coastal towns and months old imported frozen seafood portions, and wonder how did our once glorious fishing industry die before our eyes?
To get us started on our journey to seafood enlightenment, I’ve created a Youtube video covering 9 facts about UK seafood and commercial fishing.
we need to talk about commercial fishing
Video transcript
In 2022 there were around 10,000 commercial fishermen in the UK, But their numbers have been reducing, and have declined by over 2000 during the last 10 years, losing predominantly single manned under 12m vessels.
There are around 5500 fishing vessels that hold a commercial fishing licence in the UK, with nearly 80% of them being under 10m In length.
Despite making the majority, around 85% of the seafood landed in the UK, is done so by vessels over 10m in length.
On a whole, the narrative is that larger vessels catch more fish because they are more capable, able to stay at sea for longer and catch larger amounts at a time which whilst true, is not the full extent of the issue.
Larger vessels can catch more fish because they are literally allowed to do so, over 10m vessels despite, making up only 21% of the UK fleet, are allocated 95% of the UKs fishing quota.
Quota disparity is a real issue for the survival of the smaller, more sustainable, inshore fishermen, and is a topic we’ll cover further in future videos!
So what seafood does the UK eat?
The top 5 species make up 85% of the seafood consumed, and unfortunately despite the fact the UK fleet landed 680,000 tonnes of seafood in 2023, the top 5 species landed doesn’t match the top 5 eaten in the UK.
This makes The uk a net importer of seafood products – which means they import more than they export.
The top 5 species imported, matches the top 5 species eaten. Highlighting a need for us to learn how to swap out our past favourites for options coming from UK waters, caught by UK fishermen.
But why do these facts matter?
It’s important that we understand what’s happening with and to our fishing industry, this allows us to drive the market – by supporting the sustainable fishing that is currently happening, it increases demand for sustainable seafood products, which in turn drives innovation and further adoption of sustainable methods
To transition to even mbetter sustainable management the fishing industry will need support,
We can support them by purchasing local, and by purchasing seafood products that utilise lower impact methods.
If you’ve enjoyed this video and want to learn more about the UKs fishing industry, look out for our ‘fisheries 101’ series on our YouTube channel or head to anoceanwarrior.com and sign up for the newsletter to be sure to receive the latest ocean science content!
Thank you to all my subscribers, and I’ll see you next time, Ocean Warrior!
One of the questions I am regularly asked is how to get involved in marine conservation efforts when you don’t have a relevant degree or don’t live by the coast. It’s a great question! So here’s the answer: you can most definitely get involved in marine conservation. A passion for the oceans is all you need!
I’ve compiled a list of ways you could get involved, including some options for those who don’t have access to the coast.
Marine conservation for those who can’t access the coast
One of my favourites is NeMO-Net. If you have access to an iPad, you can help NASA by playing their single-player iPad game, where players help to classify coral reefs by painting 3D and 2D images of coral. Players can rate the classifications of other players and level up in the food chain as they explore and classify coral reefs and other shallow marine environments and creatures from locations all over the world!
2. Zooniverse – Floating Forests: An online platform where volunteers can help scientists study the health of the world’s kelp forests by analyzing satellite images. Participants look for kelp in ocean photos from around the globe, aiding in understanding and conserving these important marine habitats.
3. The Plastic Tide – Although operations might vary or evolve, The Plastic Tide has used drone technology and image recognition to map plastic pollution on beaches around the world. Volunteers can help by tagging images of marine debris online, improving the algorithm’s ability to identify plastics. This contributes to larger efforts in combating plastic pollution in the oceans.
4. Seabird Watch – A citizen science project that uses remote cameras around the world to monitor seabird colonies. Volunteers help by tagging images to contribute to conservation research.
5. Plankton Portal – A web-based project where volunteers classify plankton images collected from automated underwater vehicles. The classifications help scientists understand plankton distribution and health, which are foundational to marine food webs.
6. Fish doorbell – Every spring, fish swim right through Utrecht, looking for a place to spawn and reproduce. Some swim all the way to Germany. There is a problem, however: they often have to wait a long time at the Weerdsluis lock on the west side of the inner city, as the lock rarely opens in spring. But there is a solution: the fish doorbell! If you see a fish, press the digital fish doorbell. The lock operator is sent a signal and can open the lock if there are enough fish. Now, you can help fish make it through the canals of Utrecht.
These projects enable people, regardless of their proximity to the ocean, to contribute to marine conservation efforts, highlighting the global nature of preserving marine environments. Participation in these initiatives helps in collecting valuable data for scientific research, advocacy, and policy-making aimed at protecting the world’s oceans and marine life.
Marine conservation projects for those who can access the coast
Focusing specifically on UK marine conservation and for those who have access to the coast, here are six citizen science projects and initiatives that aim to involve volunteers in protecting and understanding marine life and habitats around the UK. These projects offer engaging ways for volunteers to contribute to marine conservation in the UK, aiding in the protection and study of the country’s rich marine environments and biodiversity.
1. Seasearch – This is a project for volunteer scuba divers who want to contribute to the knowledge of marine life and the conservation of marine habitats around the UK and Ireland. During their dives, divers collect data on marine species and habitats, which contributes to marine conservation and protection efforts.
2. Capturing Our Coast (CoCoast) – A UK-wide project that invites volunteers to get involved in scientific research along the coast. Participants help by conducting surveys and collecting data on coastal species and habitats, contributing to the understanding of biodiversity and responses to environmental changes.
3. The Big Seaweed Search – Run by the Marine Conservation Society in partnership with the Natural History Museum, this project encourages people to record different seaweed species along the UK’s shores. The data helps scientists understand how marine environments are changing in response to factors like climate change and invasive species.
4. Shark Trust’s Great Eggcase Hunt – The Shark Trust’s initiative engages the public in searching for and identifying shark, skate, and ray eggcases (mermaid’s purses) along the coastline. The sightings contribute to the knowledge of shark nursery grounds and species distributions in UK waters.
5. ORCA OceanWatchers – Part of ORCA, a UK-based marine conservation organization, this project trains ferry and cruise passengers and crew to collect data on whale, dolphin, and porpoise sightings during their voyages around the UK. The data aims to enhance the understanding of cetacean distribution and support conservation measures.
6. British Diver Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) – was formed in 1988 when a few like-minded divers got together in response to a mass mortality of common seals. BDMLR is a people’s charity. Some people become supporters of our charity with a yearly subscription, whilst others want to get much more hands-on and undertake the training to be a Marine Mammal Medic.
7. Marine Debris Tracker – A mobile app that lets users report the location of marine debris, including in inland waterways, which eventually lead to the ocean. This project contributes to understanding the sources and distribution of marine trash, informing efforts to prevent plastic pollution and protect marine life.
8. SharkBase – A global shark encounter database run by project AWARE, where divers and non-divers can report shark sightings. The data helps in the conservation efforts for sharks around the world.
Interested in learning more?
If you’d like to deepen your understanding of the UK’s seas, I offer clear, engaging marine education courses designed to make complex science easy to grasp.
From one-page Marine Science Explainers to fully customised 4-week courses, each resource is created and illustrated by me, a marine biologist and commercial fisheries consultant, so you can trust the content is both accurate and engaging.
Whether you’re a student, educator, or simply ocean-curious, these courses are a practical way to build your knowledge and get closer to the marine career or conservation goals you care about.
Throughout the years, I have been asked for advice on how to become a marine biologist and to explain how I got to where I am in my career. Whilst I am more than happy to answer these questions, I must highlight that my journey is merely an example of a path taken. There are many paths to get there, so if your life doesn’t look like mine, it doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t achieve great things!
Who can study marine biology?
Anyone, and at any age. If you want to go to university straight from college, that’s an option, but so is going at 21, like I did, or at 30, like my Dad did. All you need to study marine biology is a passion for the ocean; even without A levels, you can get a marine biology degree. I did; I got 2! Many universities offer a foundation year alongside their marine biology degrees, meaning those without A levels or those who have been out of education for some time can undertake a degree. I know the message to young people is often that university is a must and it must be straight from school, but this isn’t true, and it isn’t the only option. Taking the time to experience the world and work out what you don’t want can be an important step to realising what you do want. Many universities encourage ‘mature’ students, as usually, it means they are truly sure of the path they want to take, so if you’re not sure, you don’t need to decide straight away; you’ve got time.
I have compiled a list of the universities offering a marine course with a foundation year and included it below.
Studying Marine Biology in the UK
The UK has an affinity with the ocean; being an island nation, the furthest from the sea you can be is around 80 miles; because of this, numerous universities offer marine biology courses, giving you many options.
This list is not exhaustive, and offerings may change, so it’s advisable to check directly with universities for the most current information.
1. University of Aberdeen
2. Bangor University
3. University of Plymouth
4. University of Portsmouth
5. Newcastle University
6. University of Southampton
7. Heriot-Watt University
8. University of St Andrews
9. University of Stirling
10. University of Dundee
11. Queen’s University Belfast
12. University of Swansea
13. University of Exeter
14. University of Glasgow
15. University of Hull
16. University of Essex
17. University of York
18. Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (MBA) – Offers postgraduate degrees in partnership with the University of Plymouth.
19. Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)—An academic partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands, SAMS offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
20. University of Sussex
21. University of Edinburgh
22. University of Liverpool
These universities offer a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD opportunities in marine biology and related fields such as oceanography, marine science, marine conservation, and coastal ecology. Programs may focus on specific aspects like marine biotechnology, fisheries biology, marine policy and management, marine environmental management, fisheries management, or marine and freshwater biology.
Prospective students should explore each university’s specific course offerings, facilities (like marine stations and research vessels), fieldwork opportunities, and faculty expertise to find the program that best matches their interests and career goals.
Universities that offer a foundation year
Universities offering marine biology degrees with an integrated foundation year provide a valuable pathway for students who may not meet the direct entry requirements for a standard degree course. Foundation years are designed to equip students with the necessary academic skills and knowledge to progress onto the full degree program in marine biology or a related field. Here’s a list of UK universities that typically offer a marine biology degree with an option for a foundation year. This might change, however, so, it’s essential to verify the current availability and specific entry requirements directly with each university:
1. Bangor University: Offers a foundation year that leads into its marine biology degrees.
2. University of Plymouth: Known for its ocean and marine courses, including a foundation year option for those needing it.
3. University of Portsmouth: Provides an integrated foundation year for students aiming to study marine biology.
4. University of Hull: Offers a foundation year in biological and environmental sciences, suitable for progression to its marine biology courses.
5. Swansea University: Provides foundation years for various science degrees, including marine biology.
6. University of Sussex: Offers a Science Foundation Year, including pathways into biology, which may accommodate students interested in marine biology.
7. University of Liverpool: This university offers a foundation year option for Science and Engineering, which can lead to its marine biology undergraduate programs.
8. Heriot-Watt University: Offers an International Foundation Programme for Global Environmental and Sustainability Studies, a potential pathway into marine biology.
9. Newcastle University: Through the INTO Newcastle University program, the university provides a foundation year for many of its science degrees, including marine biology.
When looking at courses with foundation years, it’s crucial to check:
– The specific content and focus of the foundation year to ensure it aligns with your interests and goals. – Entry requirements and progression criteria to the full degree program. – How integrated the foundation year is with the subsequent degree years, in terms of both academic content and student support.
My journey so far
From a young age, I knew I wanted to work with animals, but I hadn’t enjoyed my veterinary work experience, so I was unsure what career path I wanted to take; that was until one day, I found myself looking through uni prospectus’ where I came across the marine biology course at Hull university – it was a light bulb moment. Despite watching any ocean documentary I could find, I hadn’t thought it a viable option to study marine biology in the UK; after reading the Hull course layout, I promptly googled ‘What job could I get with a marine biology degree’ and decided I liked the options, and that was that.
Before starting university, I volunteered with the RSPB. It was nerve-wracking initially, learning how to approach people and engage them on conservation topics, but I gave it my all, and my engagement skills grew. Through this volunteering, I made a contact who recommended me for a job role with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust; here, I developed my engagement skills further, attending local events, garden centres, and farmers markets to engage the public in local conservation. I continued to volunteer for the RSBP and was lucky enough to attend the Birmingham Dive Show, representing the RSPB on a stand; I signed up so many new members that my manager treated me to a year’s subscription to the shark magazine – I was thrilled. Also, I met Monty Hall, whose Fishermen Apprentice TV series had convinced me I needed to be in Cornwall to work in fisheries management. (Nerdy selfie included below).
Whilst my time with both the RSPB and the Wildlife Trust covered predominantly local land conservation, the skills I developed were the reason I got my job with Surfers Against Sewage. If you are able to volunteer at a local conservation charity, you might feel at times like you’re wasting your time because it’s not marine-relevant, but you genuinely are not. Not only are you helping raise awareness of some great conservation efforts and help garner support, but it’s also an excellent opportunity to develop your skillset and contact base; I would 100% recommend it. Being able to volunteer your time is not always easy and sometimes just not possible, though I had to work full time alongside my volunteering, so it often meant volunteering at weekends. If volunteering in this manner is not feasible for you, do not worry; there are lots of marine conservation efforts you can get involved in from home, and I have compiled a list for my next post!
I went to university at 21, without A levels. That statement usually garners shock – most people aren’t aware you can go to university without them, so I tell whoever I can so no opportunities are missed.
I undertook a foundation year at the University of Hull before progressing to the Marine and Freshwater Biology, Bachelor of Science degree. I loved Hull; I had a great four years. My lecturers were inspiring and so knowledgeable. It was here my passion for fisheries management was first ignited.
Once my degree at Hull University was completed, I returned to Nottingham and took a few years to do other grown-up things, but I had my heart set on Cornwall. So, in 2017, I applied for a master’s at Plymouth University. I was accepted in June and moved on September 12th. Three days later, I started my master’s degree. I loved my year at Plymouth, but I have to be truthful. It was hard and realistically only possible for me to undertake because I had my husband’s support. I worked full-time as a face-to-face fundraiser for Surfers Against Sewage, as well as undertaking a full-time research project. I convinced the lab technicians to let me take a microscope home to process my samples late at night or while working away. At times, I didn’t think I’d make it – but I did, and in 2018, I graduated with a Master of Applied Marine Science.
After graduating from Plymouth, I looked for work in fisheries management. It was six months before I landed my role with the Marine Management Organisation. I spent four and a half years with the MMO as a warranted Marine Enforcement Officer. It taught me a lot, and I’m grateful to have experienced fisheries management within the UK first-hand. Still, for various reasons, I wanted to move on, and in 2023, I became a commercial fisheries consultant.
What’s my advice for prospective marine biologists
I won’t lie – its a hard journey wanting to work in conservation, jobs are competitive, many expect years of experience for little pay. You will hear no, many times. But I truly believe if it’s what you want and you persevere even when it feels hopeless, you can achieve it. Ultimately, the ones who get where they want to be are the ones who don’t give up.
So, my main advice is to persevere and follow your passion.
There are so many fields within marine biology; find your niche. if you’re unsure of what niche you want to work in, don’t limit yourself too quickly; try a few first. If you get years of experience in one particular topic but then want to change, it can be hard to move without the experience.
Stick with marine biology — if marine biology is the area you want to work in, don’t pursue opportunities within freshwater. I’ve heard some people advise getting experience in freshwater and then transitioning to marine, but if I’m completely honest, I’ve seen this backfire for people, and it can be really hard to move to marine when you’ve got years of freshwater experience, and you’re competing for roles with people who have years of marine experience.
Work on your LinkedIn. Many people underestimate its usefulness. Many times, it’s about who you know rather than what you know. Build your contacts in relevant areas, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
If you’re going to do a PhD, make sure you are obsessed with the topic. It is a long slog, and if you’re merely interested in the thing you’re studying, it will be immensely hard (and it’s hard even when you are obsessed)
So that’s it. The basics of becoming a marine biologist, i hope you’ve found it useful and are on your way to following your passion. You can do it!
If you’d like to deepen your understanding of the UK’s seas, I offer clear, engaging marine education courses designed to make complex science easy to grasp.
Interested in learning more?
From one-page Marine Science Explainers to fully customised 4-week courses, each resource is created and illustrated by me, a marine biologist and commercial fisheries consultant, so you can trust the content is both accurate and engaging.
Whether you’re a student, educator, or simply ocean-curious, these courses are a practical way to build your knowledge and get closer to the marine career or conservation goals you care about.
Exploring the variety of creatures found in British rockpools with the Ocean Warrior rockpooling series, with interesting facts, photos, videos and scientific I.D drawings that help you identify which marine creature you’ve found – this is the page for you if you love exploring rockpools.
The Common Hermit Crab – Eupagurus bernhardus
There are many species of hermit crab around the UK but the most common, is the aptly named, common hermit crab. Identified by its size, the large right claw which is covered in tubercles (small lumps on the shell) and the distinctive red and cream banded markings the hermit is easy to spot if you stand and wait patiently for them to run across the rockpool.
The common hermit crab grows up to 3.5cm in length – so not your biggest rockpool occupant.
Unable to make their own shells they instead live in empty sea snail shells, particularly those of whelks and periwinkles. They move in and out of these shells, swapping them out for bigger as they grow. Hermit crabs have incredibly tough pincers but a soft body which is protected by the sea shell home.
Found on rocky shores down to around 150m depth, they are plentiful along the UK coast. Opportunistic scavengers they walk across the seabed feeding on whatever plant or animal matter they find.
Usually observed amongst rockpools hidden inside their shell, their eyes, claws and legs protruding outwards if threatened they will retreat into their shell completely. When escaping a threat they will run backwards with their claws trailing and can move at impressive speeds for such small oddly shaped creatures.
If you gently lift a hermit crab out of the water and sit them in the palm of your hand you may discover you’ve found a brave hermit and be lucky enough to see them poke out their legs and stand up. If no legs appear after a minute you’ve found a ‘play dead’er’ so pop them back where you found them and move on.
When two hermit crabs meet each other, one may attempt to steal the others shell by forcibly evicting the current owner. The aggressor will size up the shell and determine if its larger than their current home and if it is – they will knock on the shell. This draws out its current owner (because apparently even in the world of hermit crabs its rude not to answer the door! ha) they then fight and the victorious keeps the larger shell.
Don’t forget – when rockpooling be gentle and light footed, don’t hold sea creatures for long and return them (and any rocks you move) back to where you found them.
infographic detailing impact of sun and moons gravitational pull on earths oceans and the resulting tides
Working along the Cornish coast means I have to be aware of when the high and low tides are each day to get my job done, but for many tides are a thing they know happen but don’t understand and some people aren’t aware that the ocean moves at all.
Knowing the basics about the tides is important if you are going to be around the ocean. Especially if you want to enjoy ocean-related activities – you can’t go rock pooling at high tide!
A simple explanation of the tides
Tides refer to the rise and fall of the ocean which is caused by the interactions between the moon, sun and earth. Generally, most coastal areas have two high and low tides a day.
There are 4 stages of tides:
1. Sea level rises gradually over several hours – flood tide 2. The water level is at its highest level – high tide 3. Sea level falls gradually over several hours – ebb tide 4. The sea level stops falling, reaching its lowest level – low tide
But what causes tides?
The short answer is that the moon’s gravitypulls the ocean towards it. But in fact, what generates tides is the combined gravitational pull of the sun and moon on the earth. The gravitational pull of the moon and the earth’s daily rotation cause the tides to go in and out, the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun combined with their position compared to the earth, causes the tidal range to vary throughout the month, causing the highest high tide and lowest low tide.
How?
The moon’s gravity pulls the ocean towards it causing a bulge, (lunar tide/high tide) on the side of the earth closest to the moon.
This causes a ‘squeeze’ on the earth and pushes the ocean into another bulge on the opposite side of the earth.
The suns gravity also affects the tides, although much weaker than the effects of the moon, when both are in line with the earth (when a full moon or new moon occurs) their combined gravity cause very high tides (spring tides) and very low tides (neap tides).
infographic showing the gravitational pull of the moon and sun relative to the earths position and its impact on tides
It is important to be aware of tides when around the ocean; flood tides can be fast-moving and cut you off quickly if you aren’t paying attention, and the tide going out can be deadly if in the water at the wrong place and time. Always check your tides before heading to the sea – a quick google search ‘high tide’ and the beach you’re visiting.
Tide tables
A tide table is essential for low-tide exploration. If you’re planning activities that depend on a low tide, it is wise to be sure of when the low tide is. But what is a tide table?
A tide table is a handy tool that outlines a particular area’s dates, times and tide predictions. Tide tables are used to determine when the tide changes and when it will be at its very lowest and very highest, helping you find the best tidal conditions for your favourite water activity.
A typical page from a tide table:
diagram of typical tide table with labels
Find the right date
Once you know what activity you want to undertake, pick your date and look for it on the appropriate tide table.
Determine high tide
If you want to get out in or on the water for wild swimming, boating or kayaking, you will want to know how high the tide will be at its highest and at what time. High tide predicts how high above chart datum, the average of low tide heights for the area, the tide will be at its biggest swell. Look at what time low and high tides will occur, remembering that in most places, the low and high tides are semi-diurnal and occur twice daily. In an area that experiences high tides twice a day, it generally takes about 6 hours for the tide to recede from high to low completely.
You want to organise your visit around the low tide for rock pooling. It’s worth arriving well before low tide, following the tide out, allowing you the maximum time to explore the lower shore and affording the opportunity to observe marine life as it retreats into hiding. Take care to avoid getting carried away and too distracted discovering various Rockpool species not to notice the tide rushing in on the returning tide. Be careful to stay ahead of the incoming tide and be wary, as gullies can fill in quickly. Allow plenty of time to return to the high beach before the tide comes rushing in.
Time and tide wait for no man. William Shakespeare 1606
Don’t forget to check the weather alongside the tide chart; weather can influence the height of the waves. For example, high wind can cause waves to rise by more than a foot.
