An Alternative Egg Hunt

An Taisce’s Clean Coasts Programme and the #2MinuteBeachClean campaign are encouraging people to head to their local beach this Easter in search of shark, skate and ray eggs, and record their findings for the National Biodiversity Data Centre and The Ray Project. This Easter, Clean Coasts is encouraging families, friends, and local Clean Coasts Groups across Ireland to take a break from the traditional chocolate egg hunt and get involved in a meaningful outdoor activity. Beachgoers are invited to participate in a #2MinuteBeachClean at their local beach, while also taking part in a fun and educational Egg Case Hunt. This initiative aims to inspire kids and adults of all ages to enjoy the outdoors, engage with nature, and help protect Ireland’s beautiful coastlines by removing litter and identifying egg cases along the shore for an exciting citizen science action. By tracking findings with The Ray Project, or the National Biodiversity Centre’s Explore Your Shore programme, this citizen collected information allows marine scientists to gain understanding of these species and identify nursery areas. “Here at The Ray Project, we are dedicated to the conservation and research of skates and rays. Help keep their homes clean by removing marine litter during beach cleans. It’s a great opportunity to support these animals and meet other people who are passionate about ocean conservation. Bring along one of our Egg Case ID Guides so you can identify any skate egg cases you find. Let’s protect and celebrate Ireland’s oceans!” said a representative from The Ray Project. Shark and skate eggs can be found along the coast at low tide along the wrack line, where seaweed and other debris is deposited at high tide. These leathery looking eggs, which are often also referred to as “Mermaid Purses” due to their unique texture and shape, can regularly be found attached to seaweed washed ashore. Planning to host an egg case hunt is a fun and educational way for individuals, groups or families to contribute to marine conservation, engage in citizen science and create a connection to the coast. Recording findings also helps marine scientists to track species and map nursery areas. “We encourage everyone who is near a beach over the Easter break to take some time to record shark and ray egg cases. Each record contributes to our understanding of these charismatic species and can help us identify areas important for their conservation”, said Dave Wall, Citizen Science Officer at the National Biodiversity Data Centre. The #2MinuteBeachClean campaign is hosting an event at Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford, on April 22nd at 2pm in conjunction with this action. Participants will meet at the bottom of the steps on The Burrow Beach for a quick #2MinuteBeachClean followed by an egg case hunt. This initiative encourages small, impactful actions to help protect the environment while exploring local wildlife,...