Marine Conservation Society

Just off the North Devon coast, Lundy Island was the UK's first Marine Protected Area. This means that human activities are restricted in the area of sea surrounding the island. Since protection, lobster numbers have increased by ten times.

Size: Can grow up to one metre in length. The heaviest recorded individual weighed over nine kilograms. The pincers are different sizes as they have different jobs - one is for cutting and one for crushing. Colour: Blue, they only change to red when cooked. Habitat: Found in the NE Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. They prefer hard surfaces, such as rocks or hard mud, and live in holes or crevices, emerging at night to feed. Usually found at a depth of no more than 50 metres. Facts: As well as walking, lobsters are able to swim short distances. Considered a delicacy and caught in lobster pots around the UK. (Photograph taken by Mark Thomas)

Size: Maximum recorded size 1 metre but usually no bigger than 80cm Colour: Grey with a pattern of small dark spots on its back, white underneath. Habitat: NE Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea Facts: Also known as: Lesser Spotted Dogfish, Rough Hound, Rock Salmon, Sandy Dogfish, Doggie (Photograph taken by Mark Thomas)

Size: Small, spiny, rounded animals. The shell, or "test", of sea urchins is round and spiny, typically from 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 3.9 in) across. Colour: Common colours include black and dull shades of green, olive, brown, purple, blue, and red. Habitat: Found in warm and cold seas all over the world. Live on the seabed. Facts: Sea urchins move slowly, and feed on mostly algae. Sea urchins move slowly, grazing on small seaweeds. They have a spiny skin, which helps to keep predators away (Photograph taken by Mark Thomas)

Size: Can grow up to 66 cm but most only grow to 50 cm Colour: Ranges from brown/reddish to dark green, with light spots and a paler belly Habitat: Native to NE Atlantic Ocean, found at depths between 1 and 50 metres, amongst rocks, seaweed and reefs. Facts: All Ballan wrasses are female for their first four to 14 years before a few change into males. Large Ballan wrasses are almost certainly male (Photograph taken my Mark Thomas)

Size: Up to 16cm long Colour: Variable, usually brown and green with dark markings Habitat: Rocky shores under rocks and amongst seaweed Facts: These fish change colour to blend in with rocks and seaweed They have powerful jaws for crunching barnacles off rocks. Will bite humans when frightened. As the tide retreats they can survive in a damp hole out of water Photograph taken by Paul Naylor.

An underwater view of our amazing UK seas. This picture was taken in shallow water where sunlight helps seaweeds grow. Deeper down, seaweeds can’t grow, and animal life, which is just as colourful, covers the seabed. (Photograph taken by Mark Thomas)

The thornback ray, our most common native ray, can be found in shallow waters around the UK. It can grow to a metre long. They mainly eat prawns, herring, sand eels, crabs and flatfish. Photograph taken by Chris Wood.

A relative of Tuna, mackerel swim quickly in large shoals and can be seen out to sea around our coasts. They are a popular food for us! Photograph taken by Marine Scotland.

There are several species of flatfish native to the UK including, Dover Sole, halibut, bril, dab, turbot and plaice. This image shows a plaice. Flatfish are unusual as they lie on the seabed on their sides and have both their eyes on the same side of their head. Most start life with eyes on opposite sides, with one migrating to join the other as they grow! Lying flat on the seabed helps them to stay camouflaged. Photograph taken by Paul Naylor.

Leatherbacks are true ocean wanderers, travelling thousands of miles between feeding and breeding grounds. Although awkward on land, they are powerful swimmers. Photo taken by Seapics.com

This enormous whale with has a distinctive hump near its dorsal fin. Can be seen to the west of the British Isles, out at sea, especially during spring and autumn migrations. Once whaled closed to extinction, their populations are slowly recovering. Photograph taken by Judith Scott.

The orca is at the top of the food chain. They are a top predators which means that they eat virtually everything and have no natural predators themselves, aside from humans.

Chunkier than the common seal, with a dog-like face, visible ears and mottled grey in colour, these seals grow up to 2.1 metres long. They are found all around the UK, especially the North and East coasts, but only occasionally in the South East. Photograph taken by Paul Naylor.

The common dolphin can be identified by its distinctive wave pattern of cream along its side. A medium-sized dolphin, and really acrobatic – they will often rides the waves in front of a moving boat. Just occasionally, a "superpod" of hundreds of these dolphins will appear from the wider Atlantic. Can be spotted from clifftops or boats around the UK - Cardigan Bay, Wales can be a hotspot. Photograph taken by Sealife Surveys.

One of our best known fish, the cod used to be common in our waters. As cod has traditionally been the fish used in Britain’s staple food, fish and chips, numbers have fallen greatly due to overfishing. If you enjoy fish and chips, be sure to vary your choice so you don’t always eat the same fish. Photograph taken by Paul Kay.

This video about marine reserves was produced by National Geographic and is available from Youtube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAQQAcbtl5w). This resource can be used in conjuction with the learning outline, 'What's the big deal about marine reserves?'.