@dassh-at-the-mba
The Archive for Marine Species and Habitats Data are a flagship initiative of the Marine Biological Association @thembauk.bsky.social , and are accredited through the Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) https://www.dassh.ac.uk
🚨🌊New marine data published!🚨 🌿
⛵️ 1962 MBA European Continental Slope RV Sarsia Cruise No. P1 July
⛵️ 1960 MBA European Continental Slope RV Sarsia Cruise No. P3 June
⛵️ 1958 MBA European Continental Slope RV Sarsia Cruise No. 6
🔍 start exploring on the MEDIN Discovery portal
🚨🐟 New marine data published!🚨 🪼
🪸 2023 Seasearch Surveys for Sussex
🪸 2023 University of Essex UK Juvenile Seabass Survey
🪸 2005 BP Exploration Operating Company Ltd North Everest Platform site survey May 2005 Environmental Report
🔍 start exploring on the MEDIN Discovery portal
🌊🪸 Welcome back to Sea Spectacles! 🐟🪼
February’s species is the Risso’s Dolphin, a striking deep‑water mammal known for it's lively surface behaviour🐬✨
Did you know Risso’s dolphins collect many pale scars throughout their lives causing adults to appear almost completely white?
📸 Sam Plowright
A Ross’s gull has turned up in a Cornish harbour. Sightings this far south are rare, making this a real treat for birders! If you’re lucky enough to spot it, please keep a respectful distance and upload your photos to iNaturalist - buff.ly/fADRIUo
Photo: Rex Leung
Exhausted - and in some cases dead - Atlantic puffins have been washing up around the UK recently after storms have left them weak and unable to feed.
If you find a puffin:
✍️Log your sighting on iNaturalist: buff.ly/sMJmnVF
🚑If it’s alive, contact a local veterinary practice who can advise you
🌊 Hey ocean data nerds (said with love 💙)!
Registration is OPEN for MEDIN’s free online workshop:
“Marine Data Management, Governance & the MEDIN Toolset”
📆 23–27 Feb 2026
Join in: buff.ly/tLdLJNv
Use enrolment key: MEDIN022026
Questions? Email Roseanna → roswri@noc.ac.uk
Happy end of Love Your Data Week 2026! 🩵
In the DASSH Mapper, we're proud to host 6,182,636 marine biodiversity occurrences across 5,085 surveys - all openly accessible for anyone to explore!
Dive into the data 👉 buff.ly/FcSz6pH
Here's to championing FAIR, high-quality marine data!
🪸 Tricky Taxon Thursday: parablennius pilicornis 🪸
The Ringneck Blenny thrives in rocky coastal areas, eating algae, tiny invertebrates, and detritus to support ecosystems. They move their fins to communicate and males guard their territories
🔍️ See 7 records at DASSH 👇
📸 Keith Hiscock
🔬 Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! 🔬
Today we want to celebrate the amazing women in the DASSH team, who's expertise and passion help to make Marine biodiversity data accessible to everyone 📊
Here's to empowering women and girls in STEM everywhere!👩🔬
#WomenInSTEM #Data
🌊🪸 Welcome back to sea spectacles🐟 🪼
January’s species is the Humpback Whale, one of the ocean’s most iconic giants known for its songs and spectacular breaches. 🐋✨
Did you know their complex songs can travel for miles underwater, playing a role in communication, navigation and courtship. 🎶
🪸Tricky Taxon Thursday: Patella pellucida 🪸
The striking blue-rayed limpet, with its vibrant azure streaks, measures just 2cm, and resides on kelp in fast-flowing waters, from the lower shore to depths of 25-27m. In autumn, they shift to the holdfast to survive winter storms.
🔍See 3782 records👇
🪸Tricky Taxon Thursday: Hydractinia echinata 🪸
Hermit crab fur is a colonial hydroid, a spiky mat on hermit crabs shells. It sprouts 3 polyp types: Tentacled feeding polyps, Gonozoids for larva production, Stinging defensive polyps. Larvae can sense and crawl to active shells.
See all records 👇
🎯 Marine sites wanted!
Join eDNA Expeditions, an OBIS-led project mobilizing environmental DNA to support local marine biodiversity monitoring and increase global ocean knowledge.
☑️ Kits, training & support provided
✅ Don't miss the opportunity!
➡️ ednaexpeditions.org
🪸 Tricky Taxon Thursday: Blennius ocellaris 🪸
The butterfly blenny is a small but fascinating fish found along rocky reefs and in seagrass beds. Its distinctive black eye-like marking (ocellus) on the dorsal fin helps deter predators.
🔍 Explore multiple records using our DASSH mapper 👇
🌊 Registration is OPEN! 🌊
Join MEDIN’s FREE online workshop:
Marine Data Management, Governance & the MEDIN Toolset
📅 23rd–27th Feb 2026
✅ Perfect for new starters & anyone improving data practices
🔗 Enrol via OceanTeacher: buff.ly/DCNCGHG
Use key: MEDIN022026
Questions? Contact roswri@noc.ac.uk
🪸Tricky Taxon Thursday: Watersipora subatra 🪸
The red ripple bryozoan forms rose-like sheets on rocks, walls, and boats. Composed of thousands of zooids, it thrives by collective feeding & growth. Although native to Japan and invasive in the UK, it hasn't caused negative impacts.
See 1357 records 👇
Why rock pools matter 🌊 They’re early warning systems for coastal health. Join our FREE marineLIVE with Dr Ben Holt @therockpoolproject.bsky.social) on Tue 10th Feb 2026 to see how citizen science protects biodiversity.
Sign up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1976620250...
@dassh-at-the-mba.bsky.social
🐟 New marine data published!🪼
📊 1990-1998 Port Erin Marine Laboratory (PEML) Isle of Man dive survey
📊 1999 UMBSM/ IUEM/ ICRAM/ MLA Clyde Sea Toothed Dredge Impact Survey - Grab and Suction Sampling
📊 1961 Marine Biological Association of the UK (MBA) Bay of Biscay RV Sarsia Cruise October
👀 iNaturalist Observation of the Month
From Mount Batten, iNaturalist user brittasaffron spotted a stunning blue-rayed limpet (Patella pellucida), a tiny gastropod known for the electric-blue lines shimmering through its shell
Share your observations on iNaturalist 👉 buff.ly/FTA6wQz
📸 brittasaffron
🎄✨ Merry Christmas from DASSH ✨🌊
As the year draws to a close, we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who contributes to, supports, and uses DASSH 💙
Wishing you a joyful Christmas and a peaceful New Year 🐚🐟
🌊🪸 Welcome back to sea spectacles🐟 🪼
This month's festive species is the common Angel shark, a small, flat ray-like shark that buries itself on the sea floor.🦈 Did you know this incredible species can launch into a lightning fast ambush, snapping up prey in the blink of an eye? ⚡
📹DASSHcam Diaries 🎬
On 4th Dec, The DASSH team attended the MEDIN Open Meeting 2025 at the Met Office, Exeter. Featuring talks highlighting the progress of addressing marine data management challenges. Dan Lear & Julie Bunt presented flash talks on marine recorder online and citizen science data.
🪸Tricky Taxon Thursday: Urticina felina🪸
The Dahlia anemone, a vibrant coastal treasure of the UK, has tentacles that resemble floral petals. Covered in sand and shell bits, they blend in to catch fish and crustaceans, using their stinging arms to capture prey. Explore 5000+ records👇
📹 DASSHcam Diaries 🎬
On 20th Nov, Lizi Sheppard attended the NBN Conference 2025, taking place at the SS Great Britain, Bristol. The conference celebrated the 25th anniversary of the NBN Trust and focused on the theme "25 years of making data work for nature"🌿
#NBNconf2025 #MarineData
🌊 New datasets on the DASSH Mapper! 🌿
• 2005 Total E&P – Rig Site Survey (UKCS 53/3c)
• 2006 Shell UK – Pipeline/Umbilical Route Infill Survey (21/25)
• 1981 SEPA – Irvine & Ayr Bay Grab Survey
• 2001 EA – Deben Estuary Intertidal Survey
Explore here 🔗 buff.ly/dZOqawL
#DASSH #MarineData
🎉 After celebrating DASSH’s 20th birthday, we thought it was time for a little shameless sharing… 😇
So here are a few testimonials that truly warmed our hearts. 💛✨
Thank you to everyone who’s been part of the journey!
@thembauk.bsky.social #DASSH #MarineData
Meet Dan Lear, Head of Data, Information and Technology, here to explain @dassh-at-the-mba.bsky.social ...
DASSH is the UK Data Archive Centre for marine species and habitats, working to improve data standards and data availability at a global level.
Find out more - www.dassh.ac.uk
👀 iNaturalist Observation of the Month 📷
This month’s featured sighting comes from The Helford in Cornwall, where Bill Gore snapped the beautiful nudibranch Aeolidia filomenae. 🐚✨
Seen something interesting by the coast? Share it on iNaturalist 👉 buff.ly/39dgFk0
🔍📲
📸 Photo by Bill Gore
Explore marine biodiversity data with @dassh-at-the-mba.bsky.social Mapper, an interactive map that lets you search, view and download species and biotope records by survey, species name, location, biotope type and more.
Visit: www.dassh.ac.uk/dasshmapper to start exploring UK marine life data.
🪸Tricky Taxon Thursday: Balistes capriscus🪸
The grey triggerfish has a remarkable defense: its first dorsal fin locks upright, securing it in rocky crevices. With powerful jaws, it crushes crabs and molluscs and flips urchins. Occasionally visiting UK shores during summer. See 106 records here👇
