Diver spots rare seahorse off UK
Biologists have been treated to a sighting of a rare seahorse off the coast of the UK.
Mark Parry, a development officer with the Ocean Conservation Trust (OCT), was surveying seagrass near Plymouth in Devon when he spotted the long-snouted seahorse, also known as a spiny seahorse.
Mr Parry said: "After seven years of working in seagrass
conservation, it was humbling to experience this rare seahorse sighting, as it highlights the significance of what we're trying to do with our seagrass restoration work."
Long-snouted seahorses are native to UK waters, but their numbers have been in decline in part because of the destruction of seagrass.
The OCT has been working to restore seagrass meadows off the south-west coast, with the aim of protecting marine wildlife.
Mr Parry said that in seven years and about 700 dives he had "never seen one of these animals".