Recording Marine Life


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Records of Carcinus maenas

Number seen/Abundance Date Location Comments Recorded by
5 2003-05-17
Firestone Bay, Plymouth		 Various sizes seen. Seashore Safari
4 2003-06-25
Trevone/Newstrain Beach - flat slate rock outcrop		 Seen in rock pools, under overhangs and rocks. St Issey School Group
1 2003-07-16
Polzeath, north Cornwall. Rocky shore		 Hiding under rock, 1 pincer missing. Carapace 5-5.5 cm. Liz Barton
5 2003-07-11
Constantine Bay - rocky shore with sandy inlets & gullies		 Hiding under stones/seaweeds 3 dead crabs also seen.
1 2003-07-14
Bude (north coast, rocky area seawardside of breakwater (13:00-14:00).		 Juvenile seen in rockpool.
1 2003-08-12
Wembury, voluntary marine conservation area (VMCA), devon.		 Male, about 4-5cm across. Found under rock in lower shore rockpool. Caroline Farrell
1 2004-02-20
Batten Bay rocky shore with boulders		 Rock pool Daniel Davy
1
found sheltering under rock upper shore zone.
3 2002-05-11
Batten Bay, nr Plymouth		 Found in upper shore rock pool under boulders. 1 male, 2 female. BTCV/ MilleniumVolunteers
1 2002-05-11
Batten Bay, nr Plymouth		 Found under rock in lower shore rock pool BTCV/ MilleniumVolunteers
P 2004-03-26
Woddy Bay - North sheltered bay approx 2km long comprising mainly boulders,and pebbles with some overhangs and rockpools. Waterfalls onto beach (photos enclosed)		 present - 3 under rocks Barbara Haddrill
C 2004-04-06
Batten Bay, Mountbatten, near Plymouth		 Common, found all over the shore, huge variety of sizes. Seashore Safari
F 2004-04-07
Helford passage + Bar beach, Helford River, Cornwall.		 All over shore Ruth Williams
C 2004-05-08
Jennycliff Bay, near Plymouth. Rocky shore, alongside sandy/gravelly beach.		 Common under rocks and in pools Seashore Safari
P 2004-04-06
Wembury VMCA		 Cat Ridout
10 2004-07-05 Batten Bay
Batten Bay, Nr Plymouth.		 in rockpools Seashore Safari
2 2004-06-07 Tunnels beach
Tunnels beach, Ilfracombe, North Devon. Low shore between pools		 Seen in high shore pool Kim-Marie Clothier
2 2004-05-06 Barricane Beach
Barricane Beach, near Woolacombe. West facing shingle and sandy beach surrounded by numerous sloping rock with rockpools. Quite heavily scoured.		 In rockpool Barbara Haddrill
7 2004-07-03 Lee Beach
Lee Beach		 In rockpools under rocks, 1 with eggs Barbara Haddrill
1 2004-06-18 Croyde Beach
Croyde Beach, west facing rocky platforms north of sandy bay. Midshore area, rock rocks with frequent pools, shallow and deep. Sunny & cloudy, strong breeze site 2		 In water in seaweed David Butt (Brauton School)
F 2002-03-28
Batten Bay, nr Plymouth		 Frequent, seen under boulders Caroline Farrell
C 2002-09-07
Batten Bay, Mount Batten, Plymouth Sound.		 Found during Seashore safari. Common, various sizes found, carapace <1cm (approx) - carapace 7cm (approx). Samuel Parr
4 2001-09-16
Shankill Beach between Bray and Killiney, County Dublin Ireland.		 No information entered Tim Clabon
P 2004-09-18 Batten Bay
Batten bay, Plymouth		 More than ten counted Marina Marltby
P 2004-09-07 Saltstone
West of Saltstone, Salcombe Estuary		 Shifting through anoxic sediment Nigel Mortimer
2 2004-10-26 Wembury beach
Wembury beach		 Very Common Simon Roper
P 2005-02-23
Sillery Sands foreshore low tide level (springs), Lynmouth Bay		 Many in small pools (1 cm) S R Hewlett
P 2005-03-10
Sillery Sands foreshore between Point Perilous and the bottom of the decent path 9-10/3/05.		 A few seen in a crevice and on edge of rockpool Horspath Primary
F 2005-04-09 Batten Bay
Batten Bay, Plymouth Sound		 Seen under rocks Seashore Safari
P 2005-05-06
Foreshore from Lynmouth to Sillery Sands		 Lots seen at pool edges Wheatley Park
P 2004-05-18 River Lyn
East Bank of the River Lyn at 12 noon on a rising neap tide.		 Many seen in pools St Michaels School
P 2005-05-27 Batten Bay
Batten Bay, Plymouth Sound		 Loads seen underneath rocks, in rock pools. Mid-lower shore. Carapace up to 4 cm diameter. Sonia Rowley
15 2005-05-31
Portscatho beach		 Various sizes seen Sam Parr
1 2005-07-08 Blackstone Rocks
on Blackstone Rocks at Wembury Beach		 with orange eggs, approx 50mm carapace length, mid shore rockpool Cat Ridout
P 2005-05-24 Mothecombe Beach
Mothecombe Beach near Erme Estuary, South Devon		 Seen by group 10,years 4-6, Alice, Keira, Rachel, Olivia and Holly Gask Holbeton School
P 2005-05-24 Mothecombe Beach
Mothecombe Beach near Erme Estuary, South Devon		 Seen by group 2, year 4-6, Tom, Jacob Houzehan, Will, Steve and Ben Holbeton School
10 2005-07-20 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone Rocks Wembury Beach		 mostly juveniles between 10-35 carapace length. one approx 70mm with new eggs. Cat Ridout
O 2005-08-02
Far pontoon, Queen Anne's Battery marina		 occasional amongst algae Judith Oakley
6 2005-10-01 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone Rocks, Wembury		 3 pairs of pre-mating crabs, all low shore Cat Ridout
many 2005-10-04
Lynmouth shore west.		 under rocks Deddington School
8 2005-10-13
Lynmouth foreshore		 Under big rocks mill lane
1 2005-10-26
marina pontoons, Falmouth marina, Falmouth,Cornwall		 Amongst kelp on pontoon Judith Oakley
3 2005-09-26 Fowey estuary
Fowey estuary, marina, Cornwall		 In tyre and on pontoon Judith Oakley
lots 2005-11-08
Lynmouth beach, East of rivermouth		 Under rocks Caroline Farrell
3 2005-12-01 Lynmouth foreshore
Lynmouth fore shore.		 One was carrying eggs New Marstom
many 2005-12-07
e.g. South coast of Lindisfarne, near the harbour.		 In crevice in rock pool
Present 2006-01-11
Lynmouth Beach		 Lots seen under rocks Shellingford Ducklington
Present 2006-01-17
Sillery Sands, Lynmouth.		 A few seen in the rock pools Bampton Newman
7 2006-01-11 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone Rocks, Wembury, South Devon		 Found in various rockpools at mid to low tide level. Three females berried with eggs. Caroline Farrell
10 2003-06-17 Wembury
Rocky shore, Wembury Beach, South Devon.		 In rockpools. Cat Ridout
15 2003-06-18 Wembury
Rocky shore, Wembury Beach, South Devon.		 Cat Ridout
3 2003-06-25 Wembury
Wembury Beach, South Devon		 Cat Ridout
3 2003-07-14 Wembury
Rocky shore, Wembury Beach, South Devon.		 Cat Ridout
4 2003-07-17 Wembury
Wembury Beach, south Devon.		 Cat Ridout
3 2006-02-11
Babbacombe bay - few metres off shore		 On sea bed and in reef Faye Wood
12 2006-03-19 Blackstone Reef
Blackstone reef, Wembury		 At least 4 with eggs. Faye Wood
Present 2006-03-01
Intertidal below Hen Cliff, Kimmeridge		 Steve Trewhella
1 2006-03-15 Llanon Beach
Llanon Beach, Ceredigion, Wales		 On pebbles Rose Eades
abundant 2006-06-13 Batten Bay
Batten Bay, PLymouth		 Juveniles Judith Oakley
70+ 2006-07-13 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone Rocks		 Cat Ridout
1 2006-07-15
Freathy Cliff, in a large rockpool		 Seen hiding in a crevice, approx 5cm wide on carpace. Had just moulted. James Park
1 2006-05-31
Woodside Beach in Wootton, Isle of Wight		 In a small pool in the upper intertidal zone Jo Read
lots 2006-06-06
Lynmouth Foreshore East at midtide.		 Rock pools Madley Brook School
40+ 2005-06-09 Blackstone Reef
Blackstone Reef		 Cat Ridout
25 2006-06-14 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone Rocks		 Cat Ridout
50+ 2006-06-15 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstine Rocks		 Cat Ridout
abundant 2006-09-11
Poole harbour		 Burrowing in soft mud all sizes Steve Trewhella
7 2006-08-30 Blackstone Rocks
Wembury Devon, rocky shoreline		 Near rocks and water on beach George Hosegood
very common 2006-09-24
baiter beach poole harbour		 Steve Trewhella
lots 2006-10-18
Lynmouth Beach E at low tide.		 Low tide thomas pounder
3 2007-03-16 Lee Bay
Lee Bay, near Ilfracombe, North devon		 2 in rockpools (1 juevnile) 1 in crevice Caroline Roberts
2003-04-15
Strandline Kathryn Turner
@1 per meter 2003-03-23 Fleetwood north
Fleetwood north, Flyde coast		 Alive Kathryn Turner

Abundant 2007-05-01 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone Rocks		 Many seen with eggs Cat Ridout
Common
Some seen carrying eggs
Common 2007-05-03 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone Rocks		 Cat Ridout
common 2005-08-24
East side of sugary cove - Dartmouth		 lowshore on rocks amongst algae, tiny Sonia Rowley
30
under rocks
Common 2007-05-15 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone Rocks		 Cat Ridout
4 2007-05-16 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone Rocks		 Cat Ridout
Rare 2007-05-17 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone Rocks		 Cat Ridout
present 2007-05-17
hen cliff kimmeridge		 Steve Trewhella
20 2007-06-02 Downend
Downend Headland, between Croyde & Saunton		 A few large mature crabs in crevices, many small crabs under stones Paula Ferris
c.6 2007-07-14
Jennycliff		 Jayne Evans
Occasional
Occasional 2007-08-02 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone Rocks		 Cat Ridout
lots 2007-09-26 Lynmouth
Lynmouth		 All levels tony jones
2007-10-25 Oxwich Point
Oxwich Point, Swansea		 Shore Thing
Common 2008-01-12
Mount Batten, Plymouth		 Seashore Safari
1 2008-01-12
Mount Batten, Plymouth		 In a pool Seashore Safari
rare 2008-01-24 Oxwich Point
Oxwich bay and Oxwich Point		 1 feeding in freshwater runoff stream on sand Judith Oakley
Present 2008-06-06
Batten Bay, Mount Batten, Plymouth		 Seashore Safari
25 2008-06-19 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone rocks wembury beach		 everywhere in the rockpools, 2 females had eggs Cat Ridout
Abundant 2008-06-21 South East Cornwall
South East Cornwall, rocky shore.		 All living within clumps of spiral rack. All half a cm to 1cm in length at low tide. Middle shore. Amelia Bridges
4 2008-07-01 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone rocks		 1 large female with eggs, all under rocks Cat Ridout
common 2008-07-01 Blackstone Rocks
Blackstone rocks		 in rockpools Cat Ridout
12 2008-07-25
Mothecombe Beach, South Devon		 lots - some good size Jon Parr
Common 2008-10-17
Cawsand beach		 Lower shore Milly Hatton-Brown
Abundant 2009-04-07 Blackstone Rocks
Rockpools		 One had eggs Cat Ridout
Common 2009-04-09 Blackstone Rocks, Wembury
Rockpools		 Cat Ridout
Common 2009-04-10 Blackstone Rocks, Wembury
Rockpools		 Cat Ridout
5 2009-04-11 Blackstone Rocks, Wembury
Rockpools		 Cat Ridout
1 2009-04-24 Aberavon Beach
Near the break water at Aberavon Beach		 Rockpool Adrian Cooke
1 2009-04-24 Aberavon Beach
Near the break water at Aberavon Beach		 In rockpool Adrian Cooke
Abundant 2009-05-12 Blackstone Rocks, Wembury
Rockpools		 Cat Ridout
Abundant 2009-05-24 Blackstone Rocks, Wembury
Rockpools		 One with eggs Cat Ridout
50 2009-05-24 West Runton Beach
Littoral zone		 Jeff Blincow
Common 2009-06-04 Fairlie
Fairlie Bay, overlooking Cumbrae and Hunterston Deep water quay		 Amongst rocks Roger Griffith
2 2009-06-20 Hastings
Rocky shore below East Hill with some sand patches, shingle, pebbles and boulders. There is also a rocky \"platform\" mid-low shore with many crevices and small rock pools. Other species certainly present including some hydroids, bryzoans, brown flatworms, probable Bullhead and other fish		 Under stones. No doubt many more present Nigel Sawyer
2 2009-07-05 Cow Gap, Eastbourne
Boulder, rocks and stone leading down to sea, some sandy/gravel patches, with small rock pools and some finer sediment. Un identified Spirobius sp, Sandhoppers and worm (prob Hermanthoe impar - picture sent via post) as well as seaweeds		 Under stones Nigel Sawyer
Very common 2009-07-18 Eastbourne, below Pinnacle
Mainly soft bedrock with pools and some pebble and sandy areas. Storms previous day and persistant strong wind. Some unidentified hydroids (?Obelia) also found 2 metre low tide so water level fairly high		 In bait bucket must have been 5-10 times as many of these as Cancer pagurus. Nigel Sawyer
Occasional 2009-07-07 Blakeney
long shingle and sandy beach		 Most of the crabs that were found were female. Tom Young
Common 2009-08-21 Cow Gap near Eastbourne
Beach consisting mainly of bolders, cobbles, pebbles with patchs of clay and sand.		 Under stones Nigel Sawyer
Common 2009-08-31 Herne Bay Kent
Below \"soft cliffs\" mainly sandy with some pools and bedrock of sandy clay. Some boulders on the shore often seaweed covered		 Many small (carpace c.10mm) under stones and several dead individuals Nigel Sawyer
NA 2009-08-24 Silloth
Shell beach with mussels.		 NA North West Wildlife Trusts Irish sea
4 2009-09-26 Perranporth
Middle Shore - Sheltered Sandy rockpools with an abundance of Ulva lactuca Rockpools were freshly revealed by the tide (less than 2 hours)		 One very large specimen (120mm carapace), three medium sized crabs (50-80mm carapace) James Park
Abdundant 2009-08-29 Two Tree Island Essex
Mudflats and saltmarsh		 Washed up on strand line in the hundreds and living ones under stones. All sizes Nigel Sawyer
Common 2009-09-21 Eastbourne Pier
The pier at Eastbourne. Sandy beach below shingle with some soft bedrock with pools. In addition to the list Mactra stultrom common, as were hydroids (unidentified on the pier structure)		 Under stones Nigel Sawyer
Rare 2009-09-29 West Mud
West side of river Tamar, opposite dockyard, between Millbrook and St John\'s Lake		 In mud/gravel patches between the eelgrass John Hepburn
2 2009-09-07 Aberavon Beach
Aberavon Beach, Wales		 Traethmelyn Primary School Doyle
1 2009-09-07 Aberavon Beach
Aberavon Beach, Wales		 See in a rockpool Traethmelyn Primary School Doyle
1 2009-11-01 Fleetwood North
Sunken car park in Fleetwood, Lancashire.		 Living specimen North West Wildlife Trusts Irish sea
1 2009-10-27 St Anne's Pier
Area North of the pier.		 North West Wildlife Trusts Irish sea
NA 2009-08-13 Blackpool Central - South Shore
Sandy beach		 Alive North West Wildlife Trusts Irish sea
n/a 2010-01-22 Morecambe
Morecambe, Polo Tower, Lancashire		 Live specimens North West Wildlife Trusts Irish sea
5 2010-04-21 Cow Gap, Beachy Head Sussex
Rock pools and sandstone area. Area of sand and some mud/ sand patches amongst the boulders and other rocks. Jaera sp also seen. Pools near the cliff had the seaweed Dumontia incrassata and shells of Mactra stultorum were also found (neither listed in DB)		 Under stones Nigel Sawyer
Common 2010-04-25 Hope Gap, Seaford, Sussex
Low tide on chalk platform boulders, pebbles, with gulleys present lower on shore		 Found understones Nigel Sawyer
Occasional 2010-04-17 North Landing, Flamborough
Mainly chalk bedrock with cobbles and boulders- about 1/3 of the side is exposed rock. Live cover is mainly algae with limpits being far less abundant.		 Anthony Hurd
Occasional 2010-05-15 Holbeck, Scarborough
Rocky shore with large tidal pools, kelp forest and bare sediment		 Anthony Hurd
Common 2010-09-09 Westward Ho!
Semi-exposed shore, rocky shore at end sandy beach, rock platform cut by gullies and pools, sand at low tide		 Various sizes, probably less than a dozen adults seen Paula Ferris
15 2010-10-06 Plimont, Guernsey
Semi enclosed bay, sand with outcrops of rock perpemdicular to low water mark. Associated with the outcrops are motile stones and pools. (many alga species in rock pools dieing back)		 Under rocks and in pools. Tabitha Pearman
common 2011-01-20 Portreath harbour entrance
A narrow North Cornwall coast harbour. Very exposed. Some sand/mud, some loose rocks.Mostly hard rock.		 small specimens under some rocks. one had carried eggs Treve Opie
>10 05/02/2011 Gyllyngvase Beach
Rocky shore to the left and right hand sides of the beach.		 Many females bearing eggs Kristie Wilkinson
2 05/03/2011 Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth
Rocky shore		 Kristie Wilkinson
1 03/04/2011 Bognor Regis
Following tide out. Strandline to tide line. Shingle to sand but with little washed up on sand. Many worm casts/ holes. Orange sponges also washed up. A single Pollachius sp (full size) was on the beach but too badly damaged to id to Pollock or COley (Gull attacked!)		 Dead up Nigel Sawyer
Common 16/04/2011 Nothe Fort, Weymouth
Rocky shore below Nothe Gardens towards the Stone Pier. Some shells look more like Venerupis rhomboides than sengalensis. Some unidentified small shrimps/ prawns seen in wide crevices		 Understone and many also in childrens buckets along the river bank Nigel Sawyer
5 20/05/2011 Hornsea East Yorkshire
Beach at low tide		 carapaces jeff lyons
30 02/06/2011 Batten Bay
Rocky shore at Mount Batten		 Marlin Beach Rangers
30 01/06/2011 Devil's Point
Rocky shore at Devil's Point		 Marlin Beach Rangers
Common 26/06/2011 Hope Gap, Sussex
Chalk platform with seaweed covering		 Variety of sizes from 10mm upwards. Under stones Nigel Sawyer
Common 10/07/2011 Hope Gap, Susex
Chalk platform with channels, flints and a seaweed covering (Pepper Dulse being dominant)		 Many under stones. Size varied from 10mm upto 40mm or more Nigel Sawyer
Uncommon 22/07/2011 Hope Gap Sussex
Chalk platform. 1m low tide and investigated area straight in front of the steps. Many cobbles and stones in the gulleys which were turned and looked at. A bootlace worm, encrusting bryozoan, a couple of unidentitied (and not photographed) chitons also seen - had to escape the rising tide)		 Only a few seen of all sizes. Normally much more common than C.pagurus but not so this time possibly because spent more time nearer the low tide mark Nigel Sawyer
20 02/08/2011 Devil's Point
Rocky shore		 Big ones fighting in the heat all over the beach. Marlin Beach Rangers
Common 06/08/2011 Hope Gap, Sussex
Chalk platform at low tide (1.2m) Several unidentified seaweeds seen and two scale worms (?Harmothoe impar). ALso Halurus equisetifolius which does not appear in the list		 Nearly all small inviduals mainly under stones but often in the open in rock pools - well disguised until they move Nigel Sawyer
Uncommon 28/09/2011 Eastbourne
Chalk platform in the east and sandy areas at low tide with soft rock and rock pools.		 Mainly small specimens 10mm or so Nigel Sawyer
2 02/07/2011 Corton
Sand and shingle beach with occassional areas of exposed hard substratum comprising 'soft' sedimentary rock in which shallow pools have formed. Groynes and wooden defenders situated near the mid tide mark behind which pools have formed.		 In rock pool Tabitha Pearman
10/07/2011 Lerwick
Description: Sheltered embayment with an East facing aspect; Full salinity Use and impacts: Fishing, drains, rockpooling Sub stratum: Bed rock, large to small boulders Features: Crevices, gullies, pools, overhangs Modifiers: Possible fresh run off from drains		 Tabitha Pearman
6 18/09/2011 Cape Clear Island
South Harbour under stones at low tide		 Varios sizes, none bigger than 60 mm. Becky Williamson
1 12/02/2012 South Promenade, Blackpool
Man made rock pools forming sea wall defence. Large sandy beach (exposed site).		 Female found on sand next to disused discharge pipe extending out to sea. Dawn Brange
2 07/04/2012 Gorey
Flat sandy area		 Kevin McIlwee
Common 04/06/2012 Greencliff
Area of overhanging rock strata running at right-angles to the sea, with gullies open to NW, often sandy-bottomed. Lower part of wave-cut platform, with upper beach comprising large and very dynamic pebble ridge backed by high cliffs. Erosion of softer rock has created many shady crevices.		 Frequently found, often with C. pagarus and N. puber, but less common than these, more mid- than lower-shore. Robert Durrant
Rare 17/06/2012 Splash Point, Seaford
Chalk platform and shingle beach		 Broken carapaces of various sizes seen Nigel Sawyer