Ways to volunteer Big Seaweed Search 1 minute read Our coast is home to an amazing array of seaweeds, which can tell us vital information about our climate. Get involved in the Big Seaweed Search to help monitor the impacts of climate change on our marine environment and the unique species that live there. What is the Big Seaweed Search? The Big Seaweed Search is a community science project that we run in partnership with the Natural History Museum. Through it we want to learn more about some of the key seaweed species found in our waters, record where they are and find out how their distribution is changing over time. You can help us collect this vital information. Credit: Mark Kirkland Why is seaweed important? Seaweeds play a major role in marine ecosystems and are a vital part in the marine food chain providing nutrients and energy for other animals. Importantly they also help mitigate the effects of climate change and store blue carbon. As climate change is affecting our marine environment we are seeing sea temperature increases, sea level rise and ocean acidification. These changes alter the distribution of different seaweed species. Through the Big Seaweed Survey we are recording the distribution of specific species to help us measure the impact of environmental changes. Know your dabberlocks from your bladder wrack? Some of the most common and best known seaweeds are the brown seaweeds bladder wrack, with distinctive air-filled bladders, and spiral wrack, which often has a spiral twist. Also common and easily identified is kelp, which forms thick strands of leathery brown leaves. Kelps are cold water species found all around the UK (and in many other parts of the world), though in particularly large quantities around the coast of Scotland. There are over 650 species of seaweed around the UK. But we just need you to help us map the distribution of 14 of them. Your survey data will help us learn more about how these seaweeds are important in preserving the health and diversity of our ocean. Credit: Joost Van Uffelen via Shutterstock How to get involved It’s easy to take part. The Big Seaweed Search guide explains what you need to do, and provides photos to help you to identify each of the seaweeds we are focussing on. You can complete the simple survey on a mobile, tablet or computer. The survey can be carried out at any time of year and as an individual or in groups – it's up to you. To get involved simply: Register to take part and download your guide and recording form at bigseaweedsearch.org Choose your 5m of coastline to survey Fill in your survey form Take LOTS of clear, close-up photographs for your survey to be accepted Submit your survey through bigseaweedsearch.org Share this article Also of interest Beach cleans Fun and learning Fundraising and events See the many ways to take action and get involved What you can do Contact us Media centre Work for us Useful information Terms and conditions Privacy policy Cookie policy © Marine Conservation Society 2021. Registered charity in England and Wales 1004005 and in Scotland SC037480. Registered company limited by guarantee in England and Wales 02550966. Registered office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7US. VAT number: 321491232. Site by Torchbox Some of these cookies are essential for the site to function, while others provide insights into how the site is being used. You can set your preferences for non-essential cookies using the check boxes below. For more information visit our cookie policy Accept recommended settings Essential cookies These cookies are necessary for our website to function. They are only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in to your account or filling in forms. Performance These cookies allow us to measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Performance Targeting These cookies may be set through our site by third party providers. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. Targeting