Marine Life

The largest forms of marine life, are, of course, the mammals; see the mammals section for more details. A great diversity of marine life exists in Falkland waters close to and far from the shore. With over 700 islands making up the archipelago there is a large coastline to be discovered.

There is much to appeal to the casual observer – the views of kelp beds from the air are fascinating and the turquoise-blue of many bays presents a beautiful picture to rival many other destinations! Along the shoreline itself, various species of kelp contribute a range of colours, textures and patterns to the white sand beaches of the Islands.

From time to time washed-ashore krill adds swathes of pink and an interesting aroma!Barnacles, mussels, key-hole limpets and copper-top limpets are familiar shells along Falkland shores. Rock pools contain a variety of marine life with the occasional glimpse of crustaceans scuttling under rocks to escape would-be predators.

For those with a dedicated specialist interest, the Shallow Marines Survey Group is a non-profit organisation with staff including marine biologists and fisheries scientists.