Porcupine
Marine Natural History Society

 

The Bangor Conference 28th-30th March 2008

Marine Biodiversity Hotspots (and coldspots!)

The 2008 annual meeting proved a very successful event with over 70 delegates turning up, to partake in a rich and varied program of presentations. Many of the presentations and posters have been published in the Porcupine newsletter.

Friday started with an opening welcome by Prof Steve Hawkins of Bangor University, quickly further considering a number of non-native species in presentations by Martin Davis and Kathryn Birch. Beth Stoker and Annabelle Aish of JNCC, Hilmar Hinz of University of Bangor and Louise Lieberknecht of Finding Sanctuary demonstrated the development and use of Marine Protected Areas. Keith Hiscock explored the concepts of ‘hotspots and Ivor Rees broadened our horizons with his botanical observations of Limonium spp. Conservation issues were presented, in relation to offshore renewable energy sites, by Victoria Copley and of deep sea areas, by Jason Hall-Spencer, whilst Chris Wood brought us close to the heart of Porcupine members, recording of pipefish by volunteers.

On Saturday, Bill Sanderson opened the day considering the biodiverse nature of horse mussel reefs (Modiolus modiolus), whilst Tim Worsfold had committed considerable effort in accumulating data on amphipods for a consideration of their wider distribution in the NE Atlantic. Aethne Cook enlightened us on the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitats and species interest across Wales and Peter Barry took us back to our name sake location, the Porcupine Bank and its assemblage of bivalves. To wrap up in the afternoon, Claire Goodwin and Liz Sides presented the sponge diversity of Rathlin Island and the wider biodiversity hotspots of Ireland, respectively. John Tuner took us to tropical climes for the finishing touch on the marine life of The Chagos Islands, British Indian Ocean Territories.

Fourteen posters were also presented in the foyer and corridors of the Arts Building, Bangor University during the conference.

A sold out evening dinner at the Eryl Mor provided a great opportunity for socialising and discussing marine things, rounded off by the distribution of Shore Thing badges of a variety of marine life (giving it a sort of club feel)!

The annual meeting is also the opportunity to hold the AGM, the business of which was succinctly and effectively dealt with by the Chair, Julia Nunn and the Council Members.

Sunday saw 13 Porcupine members and others visiting 3 sites around the Inland Sea, near to Holyhead, where the tides are conveniently reversed from the open coast, where we would have been expected to turn up at around 5 O clock in the morning.

Previous Meetings