Welcome to the marine world

The World's oceans are home to countless species, from tiny plankton to the great whales.

Marine life around the coast of the British Isles is as colourful and fascinating as that anywhere else in the World's oceans.

Yet marine life, and the sea on which we depend, is under threat from pollution, over-fishing and other damaging activities.

The pages in this section describe some of our wonderful marine life, the threats it faces ... and what you can do to help.