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Marine Dimensions

Connecting people with our marine world

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    • What can we find on the beach?
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  • Marine Conservation Projects
    • Purse Search Ireland
      • What is a Mermaid’s Purse?
      • Identifying Shark and Ray Eggcases
        • How to Identify a Mermaid’s Purse
      • Reporting your Mermaid’s Purse Sightings
      • Mermaid’s Purse Sightings Form
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    • What to do if you find a seal pup on the beach
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      • Do Marine Biologists Have to SCUBA Dive?
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        • A Beachcomber’s Guide to Shells and other Wildlife Found on the Seashore
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Choosing the Right Field Guide for the Seashore

Seashore-field-guides

The number one resource that we recommend through our work are field guides that we use for identifying shells and animals on seashore excursions. There are lots of guides out there to choose from but you will need to find a guide or species identification key that is right for you.

You’ll need to consider the following:

  • your geographical region,
  • your level,
  • likely wear and tear on the guide (will it be being used outdoors or just as a reference resource in your library?),
  • and of course your budget.

We have listed some of the various resources available with the above in mind so that you can download or purchase the guide that is right for you. We’ll also be adding more publications to this page as we discover more useful resources for countries around the world.

In the meantime and if you haven’t already done so, check out our Beachcomber’s Guide to Shells and other Wildlife Found on the Seashore. It provides an introduction to animals and plants commonly washed up on beaches around the world. You can also find some free guides for identifying shark and ray eggcases in our article on How to Identify a Mermaid’s Purse.

Seashore Identification Charts and Guides for Europe

North West Europe

Dublin-Bary-Biosphere-Seashells-Guide-Coastwatch-DCC

There are a number of free downloadable resources that you can avail of if beachcombing in Ireland or Britain: Coast Monkey’s Seashells of the Irish Coast describes 10 common species that you may find on sandy shores, while the Dublin Bay Biosphere Seashells chart, produced by Coastwatch and Dublin City Council, lists 41 species that you may find on sandy shores around Ireland’s coasts.

Rocky-Shore-Name-Trail-FSC

If you’d like to take a guide with you outdoors while beachcombing or rockpooling in Britain or Ireland, we recommend purchasing the Field Study Council’s Rocky Shore Name Trail- Field Guide and Identification Key. We’ve used this guide for over 15 years now on our field trips with schools and community groups and we’ve always found it to be a great resource. It’s basically an 8 panel fold out chart designed to help you identify some of the most common seashore animals and seaweeds that you might find on the rocky shore.

We find that the laminated waterproof version works really well as a resource for the outdoor classroom and then once we’re back indoors we refer to books that we don’t want to get damaged.

One of our favourite books is Sherkin Island Marine Centre’s Beginner’s Guide to Ireland’s Seashore. This small pocket sized guide serves as an introductory guide to the seashore for a range of levels, including children (aged 8+ yrs), teens and adults. It’s also worth checking out Sherkin Island Marine Centre’s other publications if you’re interested in marine conservation and awareness. This independent marine education and research station was established back in the 70’s and their director Matt Murphy is a bit of a legend as an advocate for the marine environment in Ireland.

We also frequently use Gibson, Hextall and Rogers’ Photographic Guide to the Sea and Shore Life of Britain and North-west Europe as a reference for identifying less common species on the shoreline. Experienced beachcombers will find this guide to be invaluable when identifying animals on the shoreline in North West Europe.

Seashore Identification charts and guides for North America

USA and Canada – Northwest Pacific coastline

 

Tidepools-of-the-Pacific-Northwest-CoastIf you’re looking for some waterproof field guides to take with you while out beachcombing or tidepooling along the great Northwest Pacific coastline, check out the Earth Sky + Water series. They do a series of some great laminated foldout guides which feature common species along the shoreline. Tidepools of the Pacific Northwest Coast covers cold water tidepools from the Oregon / Washington border up through British Columbia, while Tidepools of the California Coast covers the area further south from Santa Barbara to Oregon.  

For a more comprehensive field guide, check out The New Beachcomber’s Guide to the Pacific Northwest.  This paperback provides detailed descriptions of creatures that you might encounter, as well as information on the best beachcombing sites along the Northwest Pacific coastline and when to visit them. A great option for planning your trip to the seashore as well as a nice reference guide for your library.   

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Learn more and be part of our community!

We get a buzz from connecting people from around the world with our fascinating marine world, especially when it comes to Ireland’s rich natural heritage!  Why not join our community and sign up to our mailing list? We would love to keep you posted and you can of course unsubscribe at any time.

Rocky-Shore-Name-Trail-FSC

Choosing the Right Field Guide for the Seashore

The number one resource that we recommend through our work are field guides that we use for identifying shells and animals on seashore excursions. There are lots of guides out there to choose from but you will need to find a guide or species identification key that is right for you.

Check out our virtual Marine Experience workshop!

Find out more or make a booking at: The Virtual Marine Experience

Featured posts

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A Beachcomber’s Guide to Shells and other Wildlife Found on the Seashore

Many of us have enjoyed a stroll along a beautiful beach at some stage and we all have stories about the interesting things that we've found. In fact, the seashore is a great place to start learning about life in our oceans! A short walk along the wrack line can provide us with clues as to what's living in the sea close by. Natural things commonly found washed up on the beach … [Read More...] about A Beachcomber’s Guide to Shells and other Wildlife Found on the Seashore

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Do Marine Biologists Have to SCUBA Dive?

One question that we frequently get asked by students considering a career in marine biology is whether they need to learn to SCUBA dive. Marine biologists do not have to be able to dive.  Many roles are lab or office based and field work frequently involves surveys which are boat based or on the shoreline.  You actually don't even need to know how to swim!  Ofcourse, it is … [Read More...] about Do Marine Biologists Have to SCUBA Dive?

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How to Identify a Mermaid’s Purse

Collecting and identifying mermaids' purses on the shoreline can be a fun activity for the whole family, and although some skate and ray eggcases can be difficult to identify, there are a number of species that can be easily recognized without the eye of a specialist.  In fact, mermaid's purse spotting is fast becoming a popular beachcombing activity around the world, with citizen scientists … [Read More...] about How to Identify a Mermaid’s Purse



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