Marine vomit…and other aliens

A SCIENTIST from Scalloway’s NAFC Marine Centre is touring Shetland’s many marinas to find out which alien species have set up in residence, potentially harming the local environment.

One of the species Jacqui Tweddle is looking out for this summer is called carpet sea squirt, or marine vomit, which has been hitching a lift around the globe on boat hulls and in ballast water.

Originally from Japan, carpet sea squirt has been found at marinas in Wales and Scotland. It can cause problems for the shellfish industry by smothering farmed mussels.

As well as checking for introduced species, Ms Tweddle will be developing information sheets for marinas, the aquaculture industry and other marine users so they can keep a look out for anything unusual living around the coast.

She said she would be interested to hear of any unusual species people might have seen. Pictures can be sent to marine.plan@nafc.uhi.ac.uk, and Ms Tweddle can be contacted on 01595 772 000.