National Marine Week | The Wildlife Trusts

Sunset cup coral

Sunset cup coral ©Paul Naylor www.marinephoto.co.uk

National Marine Week

26th July - 10th August 2025

What is National Marine Week?

National Marine Week is our celebration of UK seas! From 26th July - 10th August 2025 we showcased the 'Secrets of our Seabeds'.

Wildlife Trusts around the UK, Alderney and Isle of Man held lots of fun events, and we dove into our spectacular marine world on social media.

We have incredible seabeds off our coasts - from delicate cold-water corals to internationally important chalk reefs, to muds full of life! There are so many beautiful underwater worlds to discover.

Explore our incredible marine habitats

#campaign

Help marine wildlife at risk

If you watched David Attenborough's Ocean, you'll have seen the devastation that bottom trawling wreaks on the seabed. Did you know that bottom trawling is still allowed in many Marine Protected Areas? We want this to stop. We're calling for bottom trawling to be banned in seabed Marine Protected Areas, and we need your help.

#habitats

Our marine habitats

Discover the seven different rich habitats which surround our islands and store vast amounts of carbon.

Scampi

Mud

From vast plains spreading across the seabed to intertidal flats exposed by the low tide, mud supports an incredible variety of wildlife…

Cuttlefish digging for sand eels

Sand and gravel

Sand and gravel can be found from the shoreline down to the deep sea, attracting a host of burrowing creatures.

Seagrass bed

Seagrass

Meadows of seagrass spread across the seabed, their dense green leaves sheltering a wealth of wildlife including our two native species…

Grey seal in kelp forest

Kelp beds and forests

Forests of kelp sway in shallow sunlit waters, offering shelter to a host of sea life from tiny worms to juvenile fish.

Maerl, a hidden and precious habitat

Maerl beds

Maerl beds are special underwater habitats found in shallow seas. They’re made by rare types of red seaweeds that grow into hard, twig-…

Anemones in a rockpool

Rocky reefs

The nooks and crannies of rocky reefs are swimming with wildlife, from tiny fish to colourful anemones. When shoreline rocks are exposed…

Crab on Cromer Shoal Chalk reef

Chalk reefs

A chalk reef is a natural seabed made from chalk that rises above the surrounding seafloor.

#take-action

Take action at home to help marine wildlife!

litter

Do a litter pick or beach clean!

Be a wildlife saviour and do a litter pick or beach clean!

saving water illustration

How to conserve water

If we all do our part in saving precious water supplies, we can make a huge difference for the environment.

less plastic illustration

How to use less plastic

Plastic waste and its damaging effect on our seas and natural world has been big news recently. Here's what you can you do about it…

A coastal landscape, with the sea gently lapping at smooth rocks as the sun sets behind scattered clouds

Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

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Sea

Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

Seas in crisis

Plastic-strewn beaches, fisheries on the verge of collapse and the ever growing effects of global climate change.

What The Wildlife Trusts are doing