Coastal Detectives

11/04/2026

04/04/2026

Found this grey sea slug at super low tide yesterday xx
Only on my phone camera though.
Battery rocks Penzance

03/04/2026

🤩

25/02/2026

The power of nature to comeback. If given the chance. 💙💚💪🏼

In New Zealand, marine scientists and coastal communities are turning to nature itself to improve ocean health. Mussel farms, traditionally used for seafood production, are now being recognized for their powerful environmental benefits. These shellfish act as natural filters, drawing in seawater and removing excess nutrients, algae, and suspended particles as they feed.

Each mussel can filter large volumes of water daily, trapping pollutants and organic matter that would otherwise contribute to harmful algal blooms and declining water quality. When farms are strategically placed in areas facing nutrient runoff from land, they help rebalance marine ecosystems without relying on chemicals or mechanical filtration systems.

Unlike artificial cleanup technologies, mussel farming works continuously and sustainably. The process requires no added energy beyond natural ocean currents. At the same time, it supports local aquaculture industries and coastal economies. Farmers harvest mature mussels for food while younger generations continue filtering the water below.

Researchers monitor the surrounding marine environment and have observed improvements in clarity and biodiversity near well-managed farms. Healthier water encourages the return of native fish and other species, strengthening the broader ecosystem.

New Zealand’s approach reflects a growing movement toward regenerative ocean practices — solutions that work with natural biological systems rather than against them. By harnessing the filtering power of mussels, the country demonstrates that restoring marine environments can be both productive and environmentally responsible.

12/02/2026

13th February 2026 marks the 29th anniversary of the Great Lego Spill, when nearly five million pieces of Lego fell into the ocean after a cargo ship laden with goods was hit by a storm.

The Tokio Express was on its way from Rotterdam in the Netherlands to North America on 13th February 1997 when it became engulfed in mountainous seas 20 miles off Land’s End, Cornwall and sixty-two shipping containers toppled into the ocean. One held 4,756,940 pieces of Lego, much of it sea-themed.

The Lego is still being found today, highlighting the lingering legacy of a cargo spill and revealing how long plastic persists in the sea and sand.

The image below shows some of the pieces you might find.

10/02/2026

🩵💙

22/01/2026

Crazy! 🤪 but so interesting and curious.

Another yellow Lego life raft has surfaced after nearly 29 years at the bottom of the sea. Back in 1997, 28,700 of these plummeted into the ocean when a shipping container with nearly five million pieces of Lego inside fell off the cargo ship Tokio Express, some 20 miles off Land's End, UK. Relatively few of these life rafts have been reported - most are thought to be still lying on the seabed.

21/11/2025

03/11/2025

01/10/2025

Love these.

This infographic got me thinking, followed by a bit of researching. Here are some other interesting collective nouns for animals that live in, upon, or adjacent to the ocean:

Comorants - Gulp, Flight
Clams - Bed
Crocodiles - Bask, Congregation, Float
Dogfish - Troop
Dolphin - School, Herd, Team
Dugongs - Herd
Flamingos - Flamboyance
Herons - Flight, Sedge, Sege, Seige
Herrings - Army, Glean, School
Jellyfish - Bloom, Brood, Flutter, Smuth
Loons - Asylum, Cry, Loomery, Raft, Water Dance
Manatees - Aggregation, Herd
Manta Rays - Fever, Squadron
Narwhales - Blessing
Octopus - Consortium
Otters - Romp, Bevy, Family (some may be freshwater only)
Pelicans - Squadron, Pod, Pouch or Scoop
Penguins (land) - Huddle, Colony, Tuxedo, Waddle
Penguins (water) - Raft
Porpoises - Pod, School, Shoal
Polar Bears - Aurora, Celebration, Pack
Sting Rays - Fever
Sardines - Family
Sandpipers - Fling
Sea Turtles - Flotilla, Bale
Starfish (Sea Stars) - Galaxy, Constellation
Walruses - Huddle, Herd, Pod

Graphic by Dive Buddies 4 Life

15/08/2025

😍🦈