As part of the Heritage on the Dock Festival 2016 we ran a Wildlife Discovery and Talk at Albert Dock in Liverpool, Merseyside. At the height of its power, Albert Dock was home to many international innovations, however, these were short-lived and it thrived for a mere half a century before its days were numbered. The story of its regeneration and the subsequent colonisation by marine wildlife is both fascinating and a great illustration of the power of nature.
After an introduction to the main groups of species we could expect to find below the water of the dock, in the beautiful classroom setting of Ziferblat, we headed out onto the pontoons to investigate the vast array of life growing on the dock walls and darting around in the clear water.
We discovered a veritable feast of marine life which one would be forgiven for mistaking as a reef from some far away foreign land. The secret to this diversity, is that life here originates from all over the world, brought here on the bottom of boats and in the ballast water from the shipping industry. Growing on the encrusting bed of mussels were brightly coloured sponges, sea squirts, anemones and bryozoans (moss animals) of many varieties and forms. European eels patrolled the dock walls as moon jellies majestically pulsed along the surface of the water. A closer look revealed shrimps, crabs, worms and the many species of fish hiding in the algae and whizzing past our nets at high speed, evading capture. The highlight of the day was the sheer surprise and delight on everyone’s faces when we plucked the day’s best find from the water…. a greater pipefish!
A wonderful day celebrating the diversity of life which regularly goes un-noticed as thousands of people visit the world famous museums, bars and restaurants that now inhabit the dock, unaware of the captivating marine community bustling beneath their feet.
Written by Sally Tapp, Marine Community Engagement Officer (North Merseyside)
www.lancswt.org.uk
www.irishsea.org
