Shoresearch
Get involved and survey the shore! Shoresearch is a user friendly survey method that is being used by volunteers to collect vital information about marine life within important areas along the shores of Cornwall.
What is Shoresearch?
Shoresearch is a user-friendly and fun method of exploring the shore and recording the species and habitats found there. Shoresearch Cornwall has been run by Cornwall Wildlife Trust since 2012 and in this time we have carried out hundreds of surveys and have trained over 200 volunteers.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust provide Shoresearch training at specific events and on each survey. Volunteers are welcome to come along to organised events but are also encouraged to carry out their own Shoresearch surveys and to send in their findings.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust provide Shoresearch training at specific events and on each survey. Volunteers are welcome to come along to organised events but are also encouraged to carry out their own Shoresearch surveys and to send in their findings.
How does it work?
We use 4 different survey methods. Not all are used at every survey but we always try to incorporate a walkover survey which is the best fun!Timed Species Search.
A twenty minute search of an area of shore looking for a small number of key species. Using photo cards. This method creates useful, comparable data. (submitted to Marine Biology Association Shore Thing project)
Walkover Survey.
A targeted, informal search of an area of the shore with particular interest (usually the lower shore). All findings get recorded.
Biotope Transect Survey.
This is carried out when monitoring over a long time scale. We take a tape measure and walking from the low water to high water mark we record the position of biological zones across the shore.
Quadrat survey.
Fifty centimetre squared quadrats are used to survey each biotope along the transect.
Whilst surveying we fill in a Shoresearch recording form and photograph habitats and species found. It is also important to use a GPS to pinpoint the position of transects and significant finds. When we’ve finished on the shore, usually in about 2 - 3 hours, we gather together afterwards to make sure that we have recorded a full list of all the species seen, linked to the main habitat types in which they were found, and with an estimate of their abundance. A Dropbox account is being used by the volunteers and Wildlife Trust Staff to share photos, records and useful resources.
Once trained Shoresearches are encouraged to carry out their own surveys to help us gather as much data as possible. Instructions and recording forms are downloadable at the bottom of this page.
What happens to the information collected?
All the records gathered by Shoresearch will be used made available for all by the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS).The information helps us monitor change on the shore and provides biological information to counter potential threats. It has been particularly useful in gathering information on areas being considered as Marine Conservation Zones by the government in recent years and will be vital in monitoring these areas in future.We are also very lucky that a number of our Shoresearchers are incredibly knowledgeable about a wide range of plants and animals, and are always happy to help others learn on the shore.
Who can take part?
Anyone and everyone! If you are keen to learn and happy to give up a few hours of your time you are welcome. Prior knowledge of marine life is not necessary, but it is still great for those that do already have a good level of knowledge. The shore can be slippery and hard to access so you do need to be fit and mobile to take part. We also ask that under 18’s are accompanied by an adult.Matt Slater says;"Shoresearch surveys are fun and interesting and a great opportunity to meet like minded people. It is incredible how diverse the marine life is on our shores and exploring in a larger group means that you are pretty much guaranteed to find something new every time! Our volunteer team are really enthusiastic and the method we use is very user friendly and appeals to people with a wide range of experience and skills!".
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