A pair of orcas, a waving seal pup and rare sea slug that looks like a lump of glowing coal: Stunning photos from a year around the UK s coasts (including the scourge of discarded PPE)
Wildlife Trusts saw surge of public interest in marine life in a year of seaside staycations due to the pandemic
Volunteers and conservationists spotted rare bluefin tuna run, baby Risso s dolphin and found new seagrass bed - and recorded breeding successes for grey seals, guillemots and terns
Wildlife is still under threat from plastic, litter, discarded fishing gear and disposable PPE such as masks
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Wildlife Trusts – the federation of 46 independent wildlife conservation charities across the country – reported a surge of public interest in marine life and coastal species due to this year s pandemic.
This has resulted in a rich variety of fascinating photos and video footage – but PPE has become a mark of the human footprint in 2020. Disposable PPE gloves and face masks were everywhere this summer and our beach cleans find it every time, said Ruth Williams, marine conservation manager at Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
A disposable face mask on the beach in Yorkshire this year. Although they keep out pathogens effectively, single-use masks have a long afterlife after they are discarded, ending up in oceans
The coronavirus pandemic, which has devastated business and economies worldwide, has resulted in almost £1.7 million of losses in Scotland’s grouse moor estates, according to new research. Figures from Scotland’s Regional Moorland Groups indicate estates spent a total of £8.98 million over the period March to November – an average of more than £390,000 each. However, the survey, which took information from 23 grouse moor estates, shows each business lost an average of shoot and accommodation income of £73,000 due to the pandemic – totalling £1.67 million. Lianne MacLennan, co-ordinator of Scotland’s Regional Moorland Groups, said it shows “grouse estates continued to spend in their communities”.