By bringing to the attention of the general public the magical world of small marine creatures, we are increasing the profile of this wildlife habitat. By stimulating interest, we can increase the amenity value of rocky shores , and, hopefully, prevent some of the pollution abuses. It may well be that eating contaminated seafood is a far greater danger than swimming in sewage-laden seas. At present some shores can resemble a dumping ground for waste products and the packaging discards of this throwaway society. This is not always a problem for marine life.
Blennies happily make a home for themselves in discarded coke cans.
Plastic sheeting found in the sea off Dawlish, Devon, England, is reported by fishermen to be the only known habitat in the area for the uncommon sea anemone Hormathia coronata . However, there is one word of warning. In Victorian times, publicity by Philip Henry Gosse, who established the first aquarium , and shipped seawater to London Zoo on the first trains, introduced the urban public to the creatures of the sea. The result was hordes of holidaymakers descending to the rock pools and stripping them of their rich life. The craze did not last long.