Countryside Jobs Service       CJS Weekly: Special Edition Supplements. 21/8/06 - Coast and Marine Environments.     Jobs Training Advertising CJS Stuff Information

 Coast and Marine environments Supplement

 The World's oceans are home to countless species, from the tiniest plankton to the greatest whales. And marine life around the coast of the British Isles is just as colourful and fascinating as that found anywhere else in the World's oceans, with bright blue lobsters, jewel-like anemones, and giant basking sharks to name just a few.

Yet this marine life, and the sea on which so many people depend, is under threat from pollution, over-fishing and other damaging activities. And, because the sea is vast and hides its ills well, it remains largely unprotected. You may not know, for example, that:

• Less than 0.002% of UK seas is fully protected (a small patch of sea off Lundy Island);

• Only 3 of the 8 main commercial fish stocks in the North Sea are fished within safe biological limits;

• Many hundreds of dolphins and porpoises wash up on our beaches each year, killed as bycatch in some fisheries.

There are ways that the UK public can help MCS make headway in protecting our seas, one of which is the forthcoming Beachwatch beachclean and survey over the weekend of September 16^th and 17^th 2006; every year, on the third weekend of September, thousands of volunteers clear selected sections of their chosen beach and record what they find.

Beachwatch surveys have found that the number of items of this most visible form of pollution, marine litter, has more than doubled on UK beaches over the last decade. Apart from being an eyesore, debris has an impact on marine life. Turtles, whales and dolphins are regularly found to have swallowed plastic bags, possibly mistaking them for their jellyfish prey. Some frightening research found that 96% of fulmars (seabirds) autopsied from North Sea populations had swallowed plastic. 

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife.  As a charity of very limited resources, MCS has a huge cause to get behind - campaigning for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, protection of marine life and their habitats, and the sensitive use of our marine resources for future generations. All forms of support are welcome, and you may like to join MCS, or help with the MCS “Coastal Challenge”, a drive to combine the efforts of thousands of people to achieve a total distance of 18,470 km (11,477 miles) - the length of the UK's beautiful and varied coastline – and raise £50,000 in sponsorship by World Oceans Day, June 8th 2007.

naturalists who were aware of claims from around the coast that fish species, especially soles, were becoming increasingly scarce.  By the late nineteenth century there was little knowledge about the biology and life histories of food fishes and shellfish, and the founding members of The Marine Biological Association committed themselves to raising funds for the construction of a laboratory on the coast, to help them undertake the independent research needed to investigate the reports of declining fish stocks.  The site chosen for the laboratory was Plymouth to provide easy access to a wide range of marine and intertidal habitats, and the building was completed in 1888.  During the first 30 years the Association’s work was dominated by the International Investigations on North Sea Fisheries, to provide evidence for the Government.  However, from the earliest days it was made clear that these aims were not exclusive and that the laboratory facilities were available to all branches of marine science. 

Today, our charity undertakes the latest research to provide information within the fields of coastal ecology, algal cell biology, reproduction of non-native species and behavioural fish ecology.  Recently our findings have provided practical information to assess the appropriateness of the UK protection zone for basking sharks.  Long term studies in the English Channel and around South West England have followed what happens to fishes and other marine life when the climate changes or when serious pollution occurs.  In addition, our biogeochemical research programmes have helped to illustrate how microscopic phytoplankton play an important role in the regulation of global warming, through the uptake of dissolved carbon dioxide in seawater.            

The Marine Biological Association endeavours to respond to the needs of those responsible for the stewardship of the seas, and in 1998, the organisation launched a project called the Marine Life Information Network, MarLIN, to provide an internet based data product for use by environmental managers.  The MarLIN team undertake much of the charity’s education and outreach work and help to deliver one of the charity’s key missions - the dissemination of information for the benefit of the public.  The Marine Biological Association is a research charity and you can support the work by becoming a member; if you would like information about joining, please visit www.mba.ac.uk .  

The Wildlife Trusts’ Marine Bill Campaign [click here for printable version of poster]

There are three ways in which you can support the campaign:

• Write a letter or email to the Government. This is one of the most powerful ways to have your say. To help you, we have written a standard letter for you to adapt, plus a brief Supporters' Guide telling you more about the Marine Bill Campaign.

• Print out our Campaign Petition and encourage friends, family and colleagues to sign it.

• Pin up copies of the Campaign Poster in your workplace, library and other public areas.

For the above resources, further information and The Wildlife Trusts’ full response to the Government’s recent consultation on the Marine Bill, please visit www.wildlifetrusts.org.

The Marine Conservation Society are also asking for your input to the bill:

A major opportunity to protect our seas has arisen, with the UK Government’s proposal for changes to marine laws through a “Marine Bill”. MCS is campaigning for a suite of Highly Protected Marine Reserves as part of the marine bill - sanctuaries for marine life from which NO natural resources can be extracted, and no developments occur which damage marine life.

At present, we have one such area in the entire UK, at Lundy Island, where all extractive activities are restricted - but this site is tiny, at only 3.3km sq. in area. We must make space for wildlife at sea, and a network of reserves will benefit both wildlife and people.

You can help - download the Marine Reserves Now poster from www.mcsuk.org - place it somewhere prominent, or take a photo showing your support for the campaign and send it to MCS at info@mcsuk.org

REF        VOL-DIRECT-27/11                            JOB        WEST SUSSEX BEACH WARDEN SCHEME

BE4        ?                                                              LOC        WEST SUSSEX OR AS A CONCEPT IN YOUR OWN AREA

PAY         0 but training incl                                 FOR        BTCV funded by The Onyx Environmental Trust

DES/BUT               The Scheme trains & supports vols to adopt a stretch of beach which they look after by carrying out wildlife surveys, doing beach cleans, leading educational walks & generally being eyes & ears on the beach. The vols work closely with their local Biodiversity Records Centre & it is planned to incl inter-tidal surveying in the future. Training consists of 6 events covering coastal ecology; plant, strand line & bird identification; organising projects & working with the wider community.  Scheme has been running for 3 years & now has 40 fully trained vols with another 12 being trained this year. Recruiting again in November for the final year's intake & hope to extend the scheme beyond West Sussex after that.    ASK        Dee Christensen, btcvbeachwardens@naturecoast.org.uk  01903 737949. www.wsbw.aruncomputers.co.uk

REF        VOL-DIRECT-11/9                               JOB        VOLUNTEER WARDENS

BE4        8/9/2006  IV overnight TBA LOC        FLAT HOLM ISLAND

PAY         0 + accom/food/travel/ training & equipment budget   FOR        CARDIFF COUNTY COUNCIL

DES        Great opportunity to live & work on an Island Nature Reserve (SSSI & LNR) in the Bristol Channel. A  demanding yet rewarding position. Gain experience in: practical habitat work; livestock husbandry; leading guided tours for visitors; leading vol work parties, wildlife monitoring; env education; building maintenance & more.  Rota: vols work 10 days on island followed by 4 days leave (all weather dependent).          BUT        Need enthusiasm, flexibility, 6+ months commitment, with strong social skills.  ASK         SEND CV & covering letter to Flat Holm Project, Pierhead, Barry Docks, Barry, CF62 5QS       flatholmproject@cardiff.gov.uk    Further information on the island: www.cardiff.gov.uk/flatholm 

and local coastal defence strategies are forecasting what the UK coastline will look like in years to come and what actions need to be taken now (if any) to manage our shores in the future.

In some cases this leaves us with a dilemma. Certain areas of our coastline may well disappear over the next 100 years with no policy in place to defend it. With increased storminess, sea level rise, drier summers and wetter winters the change seems inevitable but with the realisation, understanding and acceptance of this, great opportunities begin to arise. No longer is it acceptable, both economically and environmentally, to defend ‘at all costs’ all the assets that we feel are at risk. Sea defences that are being installed now may well become redundant in 50 -100 years time, and, although they may suitable as a short term measure, perhaps we need to start to plan a strategic retreat from the coast if all the predictions are correct.

However, with these changes come great opportunities for the natural environment. Creation of habitats inland from the sea defences in certain area, by breaching sea walls, using natural features as buffers between land and sea, such as saltmarsh & sand dunes being good examples of this. With this also comes the realisation that we need to work with natural forces and not against them. So, this next round of Shoreline Management Plan reviews may bring about one or two dilemmas, but if we are to use the resources of this planet sustainably maybe we need to relax our stronghold grip on defending certain areas of the coast and look at alternative solutions. 

John Beech, Coastal Projects Officer, North Yorkshire & Cleveland (This section of coastline is just nine miles away from the CJS office.)

REF        VOL-DIRECT-11/9                               JOB        VISITOR CENTRE VOLUNTEERS  

BE4        ?                                                              LOC        GIBRALTAR POINT NNR, SKEGNESS          

PAY         0                                                              FOR        LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST               

DES        Gibraltar Point is one of the largest unspoilt areas of coastline in eastern England & is recognised as an area of international scientific interest, attracting approx 170,000 visitors each year.  Help offer advice information to visitors & serve customers in gift shop. Or join the team of Education Volunteers working the Nature Discovery room.          May also be opportunities for New Deal, Duke of Edinburgh Award & work experience placements.       BUT        Keen to interact with the public & help people learn more about wildlife.                 ASK        Gibraltar Point NNR, Gibraltar Road, Skegness PE24 4SU 01754 898057 educationatgib@aol.com  www.lincstrust.org.uk         

REF        VOL-DIRECT-11/9                               JOB        CETACEAN & SEABIRD RESEARCHERS

BE4        ?                                                              LOC        ENGLISH CHANNEL & BAY OF BISCAY        

PAY         0                                                              FOR        MARINELIFE

DES        Since 1995 Marinelife, through the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme, has carried out scientific cetacean & seabird monitoring from ferries & other ships of opportunity. Keen to hear from volunteers. Some training is given.

BUT        Excellent observations skills incl land or sea based cetacean observations; good working knowledge of cetacean identification & / or seabird identification; good team-working skills; good tolerance of working at sea on large ships in all weather conditions & patience & motivation.         ASK        www.marinelife.org.uk  CV incl photo: john.arnott@biscay-dolphin.org.uk 

REF        VOL-DIRECT-11/9                               JOB        DOLPHIN WATCH VOLUNTEERS  

BE4        ?                                                              LOC        CEREDIGION COAST       

PAY         0                                                              FOR        CEREDIGION COUNCIL  

DES        Annual summer survey between June & September taking place from six land based sites running from Aberystwyth to Mwnt.  The project is Bottlenose dolphins along the Ceredigion coastline: Site use & interactions with boat traffic. Aims to improve understanding of bottlenose dolphins site use, monitor trends in dolphin occurrence & levels of boat traffic, assess effectiveness & need of management measures  that aim to reduce the risk of disturbance or injury to dolphins by boats, increase public awareness & appreciation of marine wildlife in Cardigan Bay.          BUT        Must be located locally as requirement is a few hours a week.                ASK                Liz Allan, Conservation Management Officer, Ceredigion County Council, 01545 572142 liza@ceredigion.gov.uk

home to the first radio message across water, has been fortified twice, is home to a cholera isolation hospital and has tales of smugglers and ghosts.  Sited within the Severn Estuary SPA, Flat Holm is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for the gull colony, wild leeks, geology and maritime grassland. The island is managed in two halves: one half as a grassland and is grazed by sheep and the other half is left to the scrub habitats which provide cover for the nesting gulls.

Our morning starts with daily duties - the only routine part of our day - with no mains electricity we need to complete daily generator checks to ensure we can get some electricity, feed the chickens and collect eggs, write the weather forecast down from the coastguard, record the climatological observations at our mini weather station and during the winter feed the sheep. We don’t have 'mains' anything here not even water so we collect rainwater form the roofs and the water is stored in  a huge underground tank and then when it is needed it is pumped form the tank through UV filters to make it safe to drink. We only collect water between September and April as there is too much guano on the roofs in the summer. As water is limited we can’t shower every day or waste water because once its gone… its gone.

Recently we have dedicated a lot of time to repairing the strained fence which separates the managed and unmanaged parts of the island, which had been subject to high winds and to naughty sheep squeezing their way through. We have had some amazing storms out here with waves crashing up onto the island with gale force winds. It’s a good job we have a small wood burner to help keep us warm and dry. We collect driftwood from the beach throughout the year to burn for warmth during the winter!!

Of course gale force winds out here can cause a lot of damage and being an island we can’t nip down the local DIY store to buy replacements parts or callout a contractor. We have to fix things ourselves as best we can with what we have….I believe you call it being resourceful. The longest anyone has been stuck out here is about 10 days because during the winter those north easterly winds can stick around for a long time. Our boat can’t travel in high winds so getting stuck here is always a possibility, more so in the winter. Good job we keep a freezer full of food and we always have the RAF rations they left behind if we get desperate.

Early this morning we had visitors from Trinity House, the lighthouse maintenance guys. They allowed us to go up the lighthouse where the views over the island were amazing. We had to hang on tight to the railings though as there was quite a breeze at the top.

As it is a sunny day we have carried out slow worm monitoring, butterfly transects and butterfly canopy trapping. Tomorrow we are doing the annual wild leek count, a lot less frantic than the annual gull count which we carried out in May. Gull parents are very protective and so donned with hard hats (very important) overalls (just as important if you want clean clothes), tally counters and spray paint we braved the gull colony to count the number of nests so we knew how many breeding pairs there were. Amazing but not for the faint hearted.  This afternoon we have a party of school children coming to stay. This is the really fun part running round the island on treasure hunts, bug hunts and survival activities - all in the name of education. The best part though are the ghost stories we tell them down in the Victorian underground ammunition pits at night. This certainly stops them from leaving their dormitories at night.

Our food and post will arrive on this trip which is great because we only have a main grocery shop sent to us once a month and fruit and vegetables are sent out about once a week. We have started our own vegetable patch however  which is great. Of course with no postman to deliver our mail the post arrives sporadically and is dependent on boat trips. This means sometimes we can get it delivered it daily but at other times we may only get mail once a week especially during the winter.

With no cinema or pub for entertainment we do have a TV on the island, a pool table, table tennis table and lots of games plus of course it is a perfect place for barbecues and beach fires. It is important to be able to entertain yourself here but with such a great place to explore evenings are easily filled.                 

 REF        VOL-DIRECT-11/9                               JOB        VOLUNTEERS – TORBAY SEAGRASS PROJECT

BE4        ?                                                              LOC        TORBAY

PAY         0                                                              FOR        TORBAY COAST & COUNTRYSIDE TRUST

DES/BUT               With funding from SITA Trust’s Landfill Tax Scheme the Trust have launched the Torbay Seagrass Project. There are over 20 ha of seagrass beds in the shallow waters of the Bay and volunteer divers & snorkellers are needed to help map & survey the beds throughout August & September. Data gathered will form part of ‘The Nature of Torbay’, a local BAP to protect & raise awareness of vulnerable species & habitats.         ASK        Dominic Flint 01803 528841 seagrass@countryside-trust.org.uk  www.countryside-trust.org.uk 

REF        VOL-DIRECT-11/9                               JOB        MARINE WILDLIFE VOLUNTEERS

BE4        ?                                                              LOC        NEW QUAY, WEST WALES, UK

PAY         0                                                              FOR        CARDIGAN BAY MARINE WILDLIFE GROUP

DES/BUT               Vol positions available at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, two weeks to 6 months, priority to those who can commit longer periods. Positions available from April through until October every year. Assist with CBMWC’s ongoing research & education programmes concerning the marine wildlife of Cardigan Bay. The main focus of current research is photo-identification of the bottlenose dolphins in Cardigan Bay. Learn about the marine wildlife, educate & interact with the public & gain valuable skills used in env & conservation fields. We work with various orgs around the Welsh coast. No experience necessary, but interest in Marine Wildlife, marine or zoological background, enthusiasm, a willingness to work hard & as a team member advantage.              ASK                www.cbmwc.org  volunteer@cbmwc.org,  include CV & cover letter detailing experience & availability.  

REF        VOL-DIRECT-11/9                               JOB        MARINE BIOLOGY GRADUATE VOLUNTEER

BE4        ?                                                              LOC        PURBECK MARINE WILDLIFE RESERVE

PAY         0                                                              FOR        DORSET WILDLIFE TRUST

DES/BUT               Work will incl research & monitoring projects, helping run the Marine Centre & aquaria & assisting with events & school gps.        ASK        Julie Hatcher, Reserve Manager 01929 481044

Fieldwork and Surveys – coastal and marine related. 

Managing a coastline - for the benefit of man and wildlife 

Coastal processes mean that our term ‘coastline’ is a bit of an anachronism. The ‘coast’ is anything but a ‘line’. Everyday – twice a day – it changes, as the tide rises and falls. To think of the coastline as static does it a disservice.

There are situations and locations where this dynamic state forces change onto an area of land that has, up to that point, been defended from the sea. A storm may breach a sea wall, for instance, flooding the land behind it.

Alternatively, though, a positive decision can be made to allow the sea to breach the defence in such a location. In fact, the breach can be man-made on behalf of the sea. This process is known as managed realignment.

But why – and where - would we choose to do that?

To answer the why: firstly, because it takes pressure of the remaining sea wall, prolonging its life as a defence. Secondly, because it allows a new habitat – saltmarsh – to develop behind the old, breached sea wall, and in front of a new sea wall, which is built further back inland. This saltmarsh in itself has immense value: not only is it a natural sea defence, but because each year, over 100 hectares of saltmarsh are lost in the UK alone.

Managed realignment comes out of an acceptance that working with natural coastal processes is far more effective in the long term than simply trying to ‘hold the line’, and build up a hard defence.

And where? Freiston Shore RSPB nature reserve is one such location where managed realignment has taken place for the benefit of both wildlife and people. The reserve, which came into being when the Environment Agency deliberately breached the old sea wall in summer 2002, lies on the Lincolnshire Wash coast, about four miles east of Boston.

Severe erosion was occurring on part of an outer sea bank at Freiston Shore. The opportunity for managed realignment to be used to overcome this – as well as the opportunity to establish a new nature reserve – was chosen as the way forward. First, the old inner bank was strengthened, after which then three breaches were cut in the eroding outer bank. The sea was therefore allowed to flood in to the 66 hectare area between the two banks.

Over time, saltmarsh has started to form in this area. It provides a defence, as well as a valuable habitat. We expect that eventually it will be able to support 40 pairs of nesting redshanks, skylarks and other typical saltmarsh birds. It should also be popular with feeding twites and dark-bellied brent geese in the winter.

But saltmarsh is not the only habitat created as a result of this process. Material required to build up the sea banks was taken from a ‘borrow area’ immediately adjacent to the sea banks. This area was then landscaped and a series of islands created. Finally the borrow area was linked to the sea, and has now become a saline lagoon.

Although this lagoon is not large (15 hectares), it is home to a significant number of nesting waders, including avocets and little ringed plovers. The lagoon has also become a high tide wader roost site, and a feeding/loafing area for

Events Diary – Marine and Coastal related events. All one day courses unless specified. Details of all these events and much more are available on our website at: countryside-jobs.com/Training/Training_Courses.htm

Thursday 7 September: Rocky Shore Invertebrates, 3 days at Dale Fort Field Centre (Pembrokeshire Coast) run by the Centre which is part of the Field Studies Council. For information or to book a place please contact the Centre by telephone on: 0845 3307365 or email: enquiries.df@field-studies-council.org.

Sunday 10th September: Exploring our Seashores, at and by Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve, Skegness, part of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust. For details contact the Centre, 01754 762677; gibpoint@lincstrust.co.uk.

Sunday 17th September: A Day on Brownsea Island run by the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species at Bromley, Kent. For information call the trust on: 020 74984533 or email them at: enquiries@ptes.org.

Wednesday 27th September: The Essex Coastline and Wednesday 8 November: Sand Dune, Mudflat, Saltmarsh Coastal Ecology, both organized by Essex Wildlife Trust and based at Abbotts Hall Farm. For information about either event please call 01621 862991 or email: rachels@essexwt.org.uk.

Thursday 30th November: Wading Birds, run by Grampian SCRA from Nigg, Aberdeen. To book and for information call:01224 897400 or email: robrowe@aberdeencity.gov.uk.

Formal Training:

7 pages in this Special Edition Supplement.         Details believed correct but given without prejudice. Ends.