Porcupine Marine Natural History Society meeting, includes shore visits, diving and grab sampling.
Announcement and Programme:
The next Porcupine Marine Natural History Society field trip will take place in North East England, based at Newcastle University’s Dove Marine Laboratory in Cullercoats, just north of the River Tyne. It is five minutes’ walk from Cullercoats metro station and there is free parking nearby. Basic lab equipment and microscopes are available, or participants may bring their own. There will be visits to rocky and sediment shores every day from the 6th-10th September. The Durham Heritage Coast, Coquet to St Mary’s Marine Conservation Zone and Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC are all within easy driving distance of the Dove Lab. The tides are ideal for combining fieldwork in the morning with lab work in the afternoon. We are delighted to confirm the following programme of activities:
Sunday 3rd September Fish Identification Course taught by Frances Dipper at the Dove Marine Lab and Blue Reef Aquarium. £40 per person includes course pack and entry to the aquarium.
Wednesday 6th September Intertidal survey at Cresswell, Northumberland – an exposed and very diverse rocky shore at the southern end of Druridge Bay.
Thursday 7th September Intertidal survey at Featherbed Rocks, Seaham, Co. Durham – a limestone shore with interesting topography of surge gullies and overhangs. Seabed sampling from Northumberland IFCA’s new survey and patrol vessel the St Aidan departing from Blyth in the Coquet to St Mary’s MCZ. Group meal in North Shields
Friday 8th September Intertidal survey at Inner Farne. £22 per person to cover boat and landing fees. Seasearch dives at the Farne Islands with Sovereign Diving departing from Seahouses in the afternoon. £40 for two dives.
Saturday 9th September Intertidal survey at Sugar Sands and Howdiemont Sands, Northumberland – a beautiful secluded site with sandy bays, rocky outcrops and channels. Seasearch dives at the Farne Islands with Sovereign Diving departing from Seahouses in the afternoon. £40 for two dives.
Sunday 10th September Intertidal survey at Blackhall Rocks on the Durham Heritage Coast – an area formerly heavily polluted by coal spoil dumping but now recovering well. Seasearch dives on the Durham Heritage Coast from Spellbinder II departing from the Tyne in the morning. £20 for two dives.
Everyone is welcome for any or all the days but booking is essential and participants should ensure they are members of Porcupine before the event. A booking form is available on the Porcupine website (http://pmnhs.co.uk).
Information: contact Paula Lightfoot (p.lightfoot@btinternet.com).