Dive into the data
Your wildlife sighting reports are helping make a difference to our ocean. We use scientific data, like this, to campaign for real change in the way we manage and protect our seas.
Your contributions make a difference
Here's what you found
A deeper dive
Wildlife Sightings Annual Report
We've been collecting and analysing your Wildlife Sightings over the past year, and have created this report to highlight what you found.
We had over 1,700 jellyfish reports from hundreds of you across the UK and Ireland, as well as 12 turtle sightings! You can read the full report below.
Jellyfish
We work with universities to publish the data collected as part of this project. If you fancy a deeper dive into our wildlife sightings, read the latest published paper on the Sea Turtle website.
We've been running the jellyfish survey for 20 years and we used your sightings to publish the below above, which was the first time jellyfish distribution had been mapped since 1970. We're currently working to publish the latest trends on jellyfish in UK waters. Stay tuned to find out what your sightings tell us!
Turtles
We are a leading partner in The UK Turtle Implementation Group. Together with other organisations, we contribute our data to an annual report of marine turtle sightings around the UK and Ireland.
In 2023, 47 marine turtles were reported. The most reported species was the loggerhead, with 28 sightings recorded. 13 leatherbacks were spotted, as well as 6 Kemp's ridley turtles.
Other ways to get involved
This project is funded by the Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. It is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.
