Isles of Scilly Fish and Fisheries - Cornwall Wildlife Trust

2.5) Study of shore fish
The intertidal boulder beaches are a BAP habitat and so when possible a search was
carried out and records made of fish on these shores. Fish were recorded from
rockpool rambles, but especially during the Porcupine Marine Natural History Society
field meeting. This latter study included a number of boulder shores by hand
searching and the use of baited bottle traps in rockpools, and also some intertidal
sandflats by hand and push net. An effort was made to train Isles of Scilly Wildlife
Trust staff and volunteers in fish identification and some study methods. Further data
was forthcoming from the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust Shoresearch surveys, and a
study of rockpool fish undertaken by a student volunteer.
2.6) Review of literature and records
A search was carried out through contacts, on the Internet, and principally through the
resources of the National Marine Biological Library (Plymouth) for published material
on the fish and fisheries of the islands and a bibliography has been compiled. Records
of the occurrence and distribution of fish from the area were also collected from the
Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS), the
United Kingdom Marine Fish Recording Scheme (UKMFRS), Centre for Environment,
Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Trawl Surveys and the records of Seasearch
surveys.
3) Overview
The Isles of Scilly lie around 28 miles west of the Cornish mainland in the Western
Approaches and consist of over 30 small islands, of which five are inhabited. The
resident population of around 2000 is greatly increased from April to October by
visitors. The majority of these will partake of activities in the marine environment, -
boating, angling, diving or simply enjoying the shore, often rockpooling or exploring the
strandline. It is this maritime experience that makes the Isles of Scilly such a special
place.
The shores and clear water of the sea area around the islands create a suitable
environment for a variety of fish. The distance from the mainland and currents
sweeping through the islands maintain a relatively low level of pollution in the region.
The isolation from the Cornish coast and differences in environmental conditions
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