Volunteers have been recording the wildlife on South East Cornwall’s rocky seashore to contribute to a nationwide survey.

The ‘Capturing our Coast’ project aims to collect information about the different types of marine species living in and near the UK’s coastal waters.

It is a ‘citizen science’ project, meaning that members of the public are encouraged to join scientists in collecting data and analysing findings.

Hundreds of volunteers joined the South West hub of the project, which is focusing on 15 Marine Protected Areas around Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Beach surveys were carried out at Polhawn in Whitsand Bay, Readymoney Cove in Fowey, and Hannafore in Looe.

The 20 minute timed surveys involve checking for the presence – or absence – of a list of marine species, said South West project coordinator Ben Holt.

There’s more on this in the current edition of the Cornish Times, on sale until Thursday evening.