CUMBRIA Wildlife Trust's marine team is driving home the importance of respect and conservation of nature, as they recount a year of inspiring success stories and alarming threats to sea wildlife.

April saw exciting marine mammal sightings at St Bees, which included grey seals, harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins.

Coastal walkers were treated to a spectacle of massive barrel jellyfish alongside a pod of dolphins.

The Cumbria Wildlife Trust, in collaboration with North West Wildlife Trusts, encourage maritime enthusiasts to consider joining Sea Watch to help record these sightings going ahead. 

Sadly however, there was a more upsetting sighting at Seascale beach in March, when a young grey seal was washed up, tangled in fishing gear. 

Georgia de Jong Cleyndert, head of marine at North West Wildlife Trusts, said:  "This gear continues to needlessly catch and kill marine life, such as seals.

"Lost fishing gear is one of the most common types of marine litter found in the sea today," she said.

In what Georgia calls 'one step in the right direction', Allonby Bay was confirmed one of the UK’s three Highly Protected Marine Areas in March 2023. 

This designation will give the highest level of protection, with only non-damaging activities, such as swimming, kayaking and scuba diving, allowed in this area. 

There’ll be no fishing, construction or digging in the protected area, giving nature the best chance of recovery. 

"There are several key species and habitats here, including honeycomb worm reefs and blue mussels.

"It’s an important spawning and nursery ground for commercially-important fish species, such as bass and thornback rays, and there’s anecdotal evidence that the area is a potential pupping ground for harbour porpoise, with mothers and young calves frequently seen in the area. 

“This designation for Allonby Bay is just one step in the right direction.

"We look forward to more designations right across the country, in order to protect our marine environment, which is under significant and increasing pressure," Georgia said. 

In south Cumbria,  January drone counting at South Walney Nature Reserve recorded 466 grey seals, the highest count of the season.

This seal colony, existing since the 1980s, showed a recovery of numbers after a dip in 2022.

For more information, visit www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/