Marine
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A protected biodiverse chalk reef runs along much of the shoreline of The Living Coast (see interactive map) at places such as Ovingdean Gap, with intertidal rock pools full of fascinating life such as:
Strawberry Anemone - variable red colour with green spots like strawberry pips
Common Whelk - large edible mollusc, whose distinctive egg cases clusters are found on strand lines
Limpet - small conical shells, whose teeth have the strongest known natural material!Remember! Take care of both reef life and yourself, by:
wearing non-slip shoes
being mindful of where you tread
always putting any animals and stones back where you found them
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Even without a boat or scuba gear, you can still access some of the marine marvels of our The Living Coast at low tide, such as:
Undercliff MCZ coast, easy access route from Brighton Marina to Saltdean
Newhaven MCZ coast, by West Beach (car park) or to the east at Tide Mills nature reserve
Shoreham harbour and river estuary (SSSI), by Shoreham Fort
South West Rocks marine SNCI – a chalk reef just off Hove whose underwater life is known only to a few divers! -
Four types of marine animals are especially significant in The Living Coast, as found in our Marine Conservation Zone :
Short-snouted Seahorses (above) - a rare type of fish, with excellent eyesight but lacking teeth; unusually it is the male that has the babies!
Blue Mussel beds- found densely packed on the ridges of the chalk reef; threatened on the south coast
Native Oysters - also occurs on the chalk reef; all start life as males and then vary sex over their llifetime
Flat Fish - incl. sole, plaice, turbot, brill, & dab, for which the MCZ is a key nursery and spawning ground
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Four species of sea mammals are most frequently seen in The Living Coast, namely a dolphin, porpoise and two seals:
Bottlenose dolphin - most common cetacean, though transient and now rarely seen inshore as humans disturb them
Harbour porpoise - more rarely seen, with distinct triangular fin
Grey seal - less frequent locally, with dog-like head
Common seal - more commonly seen, especially in winter, hauled out by tidal rivers
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Take a look at our top tips for marine marvels in The Living Coast at:
Shoreham Beach & River Adur - Local Nature Reserve with wild flowers amongst shingle, over the river estuary with saltmarsh and mudflats for birds
Brighton Seafront Masses of starlings over the piers, and shingle beach wildflowers along the Volks railway
The Undercliff, Brighton Marina to Saltdean - Fossil-filled white chalk cliffs, towering above beach rock pools and chalk reef, with traffic-free path
Castle Hill, Newhaven - Extensive sea views from this flower-rich Local Nature Reserve, above Newhaven Fort, West Beach and Friars Bay marine conservation area
