National Marine Week

National Marine Week 2023

Dive into our mysterious underwater world with The Wildlife Trusts' annual celebration of all things marine! National Marine Week is now over for 2023, but don't worry, we'll be back next year! You can still find out about our magnificent seas below as well as some of the mysterious creatures that live there.

We owe so much to our seas. Our marine areas are key to tackling climate change and have also had an enormous cultural impact on society. Our rocky coastlines, sandy beaches and sublime seas are wonderful places to explore. It's no surprise that throughout history this fascinating habitat has inspired many a storyteller, artist and poet, making our lives all the richer.

You may have spotted that National Marine Week actually lasts longer than a week. This is so we can make the most of the different tide times around the country.

For 2023, we focused on the unsung heroes of the marine world. These are species you might not have known we get in the UK, some you might not have ever heard of before. Scroll down to learn about them!

HELP WILDLIFE AT HOME

WHERE TO SPOT OUR UNSUNG HEROES

Meet our mysterious marine life

Species

Sea hare

The sea hare looks like a sea slug – but in fact has an internal shell. They can be up to 20cm long but are usually much shorter.

Species

Honeycomb worm

Ever spotted a honeycomb-like mound on the beach and wondered what it was? It's a reef built entirely by worms!

Species

Undulate ray

The undulate ray has beautiful wavy patterns on its back, which helps it camouflage against the sandy seabed.

Species

Bottlenose dolphin

Bottlenose dolphins in British waters are the biggest of their kind – they need to be able to cope with our chilly waters! They are very…

Species

Minke whale

The UK's smallest whale, the minke whale, is notoriously inquisitive around boats and is even known to breach clear of the water.…

Species

Common cuttlefish

Cuttlefish are related to squids and octopuses – a group of molluscs known as cephalopods. You may have seen the chalky internal shell,…

Activities to do at home

Why not try some fun marine-themed activities? There are spotting sheets, colouring in and even crafts to try. Let us know how you get on!

Love it, protect it!

The marine environment around the UK is alive with corals, seahorses, whales, dolphins, seals and sharks! Marine habitats include undersea cliffs, caves, chasms, mountains, dunes and plains. Our seas are home to thousands of creatures and plants but in many areas they are threatened by damaging activities. These include building, fishing and plastics. We need to make sure our wonderful marine environment is given the proper protection it deserves!

What can I do to help?