National Marine Week 2023

We’re celebrating all things marine and Dorset’s mysterious underwater world!

We owe so much to our seas. Our marine areas are key to tackling climate change and have also had an enormous cultural impact on society. Our rocky coastlines, sandy beaches and sublime seas are wonderful places to explore. It's no surprise that throughout history this fascinating habitat has inspired many a storyteller, artist and poet, making our lives all the richer.

You may have spotted that National Marine Week actually lasts longer than a week. This is so we can make the most of the different tide times around the country - check out the tide times to make sure you go when you can explore the rockpools at Kimmeridge either side of low tide.

This year, we're focusing on the unsung heroes of the marine world. These are species you might not have known we get in Dorset (some more commonly than others), and perhaps a few you might not have even heard of before. Scroll down to learn about some of our enigmatic marine creatures.

If you'd like to delve even deeper we have lots more ways for you to get involved in National Marine Week. From FIN-tastic events in Dorset to ways you can KELP marine wildlife at home.

Find an event.

Save Our Wild Seas. 

Listen to our marine-themed podcast.

Help marine wildlife at home.

Get involved this National Marine Week with our exciting range of marine events taking place in Dorset! 

Can you imagine a sea so full of plastic that every fish and every seabird has plastic in its stomach? A world where there is more plastic in the sea than fish? 

If we don't act now, this could become reality for Dorset's coast and marine wildlife. 

Donate to our urgent appeal and you will be powering work to stop plastic destroying our seas and the wonderful wildlife living there. Your donation could provide equipment to help remove deadly litter from our coast, or fund essential camera equipment to monitor the effects of pollution on seals and more wildlife. 

Your donation will help our seas survive, and our marine wildlife thrive.

Save Our Wild Seas

In this special marine themed episode of our Wildlife Matters podcast series we join Marine Awareness Officer, Julie Hatcher and award-winning videographer Doug Anderson as they chat about his remarkable career as one of the world’s top underwater cameramen. Doug shares some of the highs and lows of his fascinating career which spans more than 20 years as well as sharing his views on the damage he has witnessed to our seabeds and marine wildlife. You can read more about Doug’s extensive portfolio of work and awards here.