Microplastics in a sieve

Rain or shine! An enjoyable, but very windy day on the Isle of Wight yesterday doing macro and micro plastic surveys with some UoP students.

We’ve become so used to seeing plastic on our beaches that many of us barely notice it anymore. A bottle here. A wrapper there. Just part of the scenery. But plastic is never just an eyesore. It entangles marine animals. Birds mistake it for food. Sun and waves break it down into microplastics that enter the ocean, the food chain, and ultimately us. What we’ve learned to ignore is quietly causing lasting harm. The environment shouldn’t be a dumping ground. #OceanIssues #PlasticPollution #ProtectOurOceans #OceanHealth #StopPlastic

Bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) are apex predators that play a key role in maintaining marine ecosystem stability. By regulating prey populations, they help preserve biodiversity and support healthy reef and coastal systems. Despite their ecological importance, bull sharks face increasing pressure from overfishing, bycatch, and habitat degradation. Protecting sharks is a science-based approach to protecting ocean health. #SharkScience #MarineConservation #BullShark #ApexPredators #OceanEcosystems ProtectOurOceans

Caught mid-yawn! This beautiful grouper isn’t sleepy—just showing off one of the many moments that make our ocean so extraordinary. Healthy reefs mean healthy groupers, and healthy groupers mean balanced ecosystems. Let’s protect the marine habitats they call home. #OceanIssues #MarineConservation #Grouper #OceanLife

Happy World Octopus Day to cephalopod lovers everywhere! 🐙 Here’s to the clever, curious, color-changing creatures of the deep — may we always have a spot in an octopus’s garden. 🎶 We recommend the sound to be ON. #WorldOctopusDay #OctopusGarden #CephalopodLove #OceanVibes

Bizarre and beautiful ocean creatures! Meet the Flamboyant Cuttlefish — found in the tropical waters of Indonesia, this tiny cuttlefish (usually no bigger than a hand) is famous for its color displays. Unlike most cuttlefish, it walks on the seafloor instead of swimming — and those amazing colors aren’t just for show, they’re a warning: this is the only known poisonous cuttlefish in the world. Strange, and spectacular; the ocean is full of surprises! #OceanIssues #MarineCreatures #WildOceans #UnderwaterBeauty #Cuttlefish #Cephalopod

The world has lost a tireless conservationist and advocate for our natural world.

Support like this is essential for us to be able to do our work. Thank you @evergreeninsuranceservices ❤️

🪼 Gentle Giant off Cornwall! Spotted this barrel jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo) drifting along the coast. They’re common in warmer waters but can be seen in UK seas, especially in summer when plankton blooms attract them. Warmer oceans may be making sightings more frequent — a reminder that protecting our seas from pollution and climate change keeps marine life in balance. Harmless to humans, vital for the ocean 🌊 #BarrelJellyfish #CornwallWildlife #MarineConservation #OceanIssues