EXPLORE YOUR SHORE, Galway March 2025
Explore Your Shore, March 2025
LET’S EXPLORE YOUR SHORE-2025
How did we get on in March?
Our March Explore Your Shore (15th March) was quite exciting, we learned about adhesives and also discovered a beautiful community of Sea Hares (Aplysia punctata). The last record of this species on Grattan was in May 2021, so it was a pleasure to officially record it on the National Biodiversity Database.
Last week Sibéal had found a Glass eel, and it was this discovery that encouraged us to head out. Unfortunately we did not record a Glass eel this time.
There is a dodgy area on Grattan Beach, I call it ‘Leg Breaker Ridge’, and it is the BEST area for sponges so we explored and found some fantastic Breadcrumb Sponges. This area would only be for experienced Rockpoolers, so we would not recommend it at all. We only explored this area to record the Sponges for a particular Citizen Science project.
Otherwise we found a lovely Juvenile Brown Crab, and 25 other species, a good days outing and we look forward to the next Explore Your Shore.
It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. Henry David Thoreau
MARCH ALBUM – Top Species
There are so many resources and roles available for all walkers to learn about Explore Your Shore.
About Galway Atlantaquaria, and Explore Your Shore
Galway Atlantaquaria, is Ireland’s largest native species Aquarium in the heart of Sathill, Galway City. Our goal is to engage, educate, and inspire people to protect our most vulnerable biodiversity and ecosystems. The reason we support Explore Your Shore is to try and record every species that lives in Grattan Beach, so we can track these populations, identify vulnerable species, share high-quality images, share knowledge (and learn from our rockpool community), encourage others to champion Explore Your Shore, and finally have fun.
Recommended Reads
- The Essential Guide to Rockpooling, by Julie Hatcher and Steve Trewhella
2. Ireland’s Seashore by Lucy Taylor
3. A Beginner’s Guide to Ireland’s Seashore, by Helena Challinor
Galway Atlantaquaria wishes and welcomes our new Explore Your Shore Champions the very best of luck, and we hope you fall in love with the Rockpools of Galway City & County.