South West Marine Ecosystems Annual Report 2016

This is the third in the series of annual reports on the observations of species, ecology and ecosystems for a specific year. The report covers oceanography, plankton, seabed species, fish, birds and turtles, seals and cetaceans. Management issues from inshore fisheries and protected areas and plastics are also described. Highlights include a bowhead whale, the first female sperm whale to be stranded, a poor year for basking sharks, the growth of the spiny lobster population and the development of the wrasse fishery. This is a great collaboration illustrating how we can all learn more from working together. The next SWME meeting is April 13^th 2018 in Plymouth.

Unusual strandings: A sperm whale at Perranporth Beach. Image: Annabelle Lowe/Newquay Sea Safaris and Fishing.