Walk the coast with us: help BeachTrack NE build a picture of our shoreline

Why it matters

Since 2021, the northeast coast has seen several mass die-offs of crabs, lobsters and fish that still haven’t been fully explained. They’ve been deeply worrying for everyone who lives and works along this coast, from fishing families to scientists and beach users.

Plenty of records were gathered during and after those events, but there’s an important gap: hardly anyone records the days when nothing washes up. Without those “quiet day” records, it’s very hard to tell what’s normal for our beaches, spot when something unusual starts to happen, or understand what might be causing it.

That’s where you come in.

What you’d be doing

Using the free BeachTrack app, developed by the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS), you’d log what you see on your regular beach walk: any stranded or dying marine life, any marine litter, and, just as importantly, the walks where everything looks fine. Every record helps, including the empty ones.

You won’t be on your own. Volunteers get:

• Full training on how to use the app and what to look out for

• Workshops to share findings, learn more about marine life and meet other walkers

• Monthly updates on what the group has recorded

• A few thank-yous along the way, from merchandise and free coffees to recognition for your contribution

No scientific background is needed, just a beach you know well and a bit of curiosity.

Who’s involved

BeachTrack NE is led by North Sea Conservation, the charity behind Whitby Lobster Hatchery, working with SMASS, regional universities and the Fishmongers’ Company. The data you collect will be shared with researchers and environmental bodies to help them understand our coastline and respond more quickly if future incidents happen.

Get involved

Our first training workshops will take place in Whitby from Tuesday 10 to Friday 13 November, with sessions running depending on interest, so the sooner you register, the more say you’ll have in which day works for you.

Fill out our short form to register your interest and we’ll be in touch with the details: https://forms.gle/mxquJxhS48Bd18EA8

Questions? Drop Amber a line at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.