Habitat disturbance

A habitat is the natural home of a plant or animal. By respecting the habitat of marine and coastal animals you are helping them out! It's a bit like how important it is for people to respect other people's houses.

Here's some ideas to think about next time you are at the beach or coast:

When you are rock pooling at the beach - have fun and take care not to disturb animals. For example, limpets will die if you take them off the rocks. This might be bad news for other animals up the food chain too!

If you are sailing, surfing or in a boat keep a distance of at least 100m from seals, other animals or nesting birds. This way you won't disturb them.

Keep away from bird nesting sites on the coast in spring. If you don't know where these are, just listen and keep a look out as the birds will normally let you know!

Never touch a seal pup if you are lucky enough to see one on the beach. If you touch it his or her mum will reject it and the pup will die.

Leave shells and other natural things at the beach - they will in time break down to become the beach. If you take them away you are making the beach unhealthy.

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