Our UK coastline is under threat, and now the Marine Biological Association (MBA) is calling on ocean lovers of all ages to take part in the Big Rock Pool Challenge: National BioBlitz 2025, a nationwide citizen science effort to monitor the health of the UK’s coastline and track the spread of invasive (non-native) species.

Since the 1960s, new non-native marine species have continued to arrive on UK shores, with over 20 invasive species now established – and there is growing concern about further introductions in the years ahead.

Members of the public are invited to take part in exploring their local rock pools to collect information on the species living in and around our rocky shore from 17 to 25 May and beyond, following UK Invasive Species Week. If you spot any marine life you can submit your sightings via the iNaturalist app. By having fun exploring the many marine creatures on our aquatic doorstep you’ll also be helping to build a crucially important scientific dataset which will be used to protect our native marine biodiversity.