Recording what you find on the shore and under water

The shores and waters around Lundy are recognised as both a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and as a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), which together make up the Marine Protected Area, on account of the varied marine habitats and the diversity of species they contain. To make sure we can continue to conserve our marine life effectively, we need your help to monitor and record the MPA’s marine life through your sightings whilst rockpooling, snorkeling and diving.

We would love to hear about your sightings of wildlife and to see any photos you’d be happy to share!

Level 1: Intermediate Level 2: Confident Level1 : Observer Level 2: Surveyor  

We would also like to hear about any damage to wreck sites, significant pollution incidents or anything else you think might be concerning- you are our eyes and ears!

There are various ways you can do this:

• Please enter any notable sightings or findings on the form here
• If you are staying on the island, you can enter your sightings directly into our Marine Sightings Logbook, located on the bookshelf in the Marisco Tavern.
• Alternatively, if you aren't staying on the island, it would be great if you could put a post up on the Lundy Marine Sightings Facebook page (right). This could include a list of species seen that day, a collection of species photos (even if you aren’t sure what they are!) or just a post with a couple of sightings on it. We welcome any sightings that have been noted, no matter how common or boring you think they are!
• If you’re not sure what a particular species might be, take a photo of it with your mobile phone, upload it to iNaturalist and then wait to see what experts worldwide think it may be – simples! The app is free to download and to use, though it takes a little while to set up your personal settings. Several people used a version of the app (specially set up for the Lundy Marine Bioblitz in July 2022) and found it really helpful.

• If you have any specific questions or don’t want to post on Facebook, you could email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your sightings!

Please look out for the following species, which have been sighted at Lundy in the past but not for a number of years. It would be great if we found they’d returned or, in the case of the humpback whale, decided to make a first-time visit!

	Blue spot slug Polycera (Greilada) elegans An unmistakable sea slug, bright orange with blue spots, which grows to 4 cm long. Recorded from N. Devon to NW Wales. Last sighting at Lundy was in 1986. Photo © Keith Hiscock
	White sea fan Eunicella verrucosa Not all sea fans in SW Britain are pink! Very occasionally, a white one might be encountered, a colour variant. This photo was taken off the Battery, on Lundy’s west coast, in 1996. Is it still there? Photo © Robert Irving
	Grey triggerfish Balistes capriscus Grey triggerfish Balistes capriscus. A species originating from south-eastern US and Caribbean, though also now found in the Mediterranean. Not yet confirmed as breeding in British waters, though this is expected. Likely to be seen during the summer months and last recorded at Lundy in 2010. Photo © Chris Mandry
	Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae During February 2025, there were several sightings of humpback whales off the north Cornwall coast (particularly around Newquay). Might they make an appearance at Lundy soon? Photo © Pawl Warren