At the Beach

Young or old, we all love a day at the beach!

Many species of marine life live in the intertidal zone --the area of the beach exposed when the tide goes out. Many other species - especially shorebirds - depend on the intertidal zone for food.

Because many beaches are very accessible, they're great for exploring, and learning about marine life. But beaches are ecologically sensitive - vulnerable to human impacts such as trampling, over-harvesting, pollution from plastic and other debris, oil spills and shoreline development. It's important we treat them with respect.

We hope you'll enjoy your local beach - and help to make sure its stays healthy for the long run. You might organize or participate in a beach clean-up, or get involved in other ways. Follow the links in this section for some ideas!

Learn more:

• Beach Etiquette

• Exploring the Shoreline

• Intertidal Quadrat Studies

• Bird Watching

• Beach Clean-Ups