Collaborative seabed mapping reveals rare coral colony in UK waters
29 September 2026
A rare pink sea fan colony (Eunicella verrucosa) has been discovered off the Southwest coast of England. The discovery was made using camera tow imagery and data collected during CSM2026, a four-week joint survey back in April 2026 that brought together scientists from 11 organisations to improve understanding of the marine environment.
Credit - Crown Copyright
Pink sea fans are a type of soft horny coral found in UK waters. They are nationally rare, classified as Vulnerable on the global IUCN Red List and protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The species is also a Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework.
The newly discovered colony falls outside any existing pink sea fan designation and so prompts discussion around protection for one of the UK’s most vulnerable marine species. This is a strong example of how evidence from collaborative survey work could be used to directly inform practical action to safeguard vulnerable marine habitats.
Anna Downie Lead Scientist CSM2026, Cefas
“Seeing the high numbers of pink sea fans on the rock features was remarkable. This area is currently protected for subtidal coarse sediment and subtidal sand. Our findings show why thorough, systematic surveying matters and how you cannot protect what you do not know is there. This discovery is a testament to what collaborative, evidence-led fieldwork can achieve."
James Albrecht, JNCC
"Pink sea fans are one of the UK's most vulnerable marine species. This finding, made possible by the joint seabed mapping survey, is an important step forward for the conservation of UK marine biodiversity and demonstrates that there are still plenty of surprises to be discover within the UK’s Marine Protected Areas."
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