UK INVITED TO COMPETE IN NATIONWIDE ROCK POOLING CHALLENGE WITH PRIZES UP FOR GRABS

UK invited to compete in nationwide rock pooling challenge with prizes up for grabs. Communities across the UK are being invited to join in with a nationwide rock pooling competition this spring, with the Big Rock Pool Challenge National BioBlitz 2026. Combining marine species discovery with competitive wildlife recording, the event brings people of all ages and backgrounds together with the common aim of exploring and recording the incredible biodiversity of our coastal shores.

Open to individuals, families, schools, and community groups, the BioBlitz turns coastal exploration into a friendly, fun and competitive day out. Participants earn points for each species they record with the easy-to-use iNaturalist app, with rarer or harder-to-identify species, such as non-native discoveries, scoring higher.

Whether first-time rock pooler or seasoned wildlife enthusiast, anyone can take part, from a local beach visit to joining fun organised events across the UK.

Behind the competition lies a powerful purpose – helping marine scientists to build a clearer picture of UK marine biodiversity and track the spread of invasive non-native species. By encouraging thousands of people to record what they find hidden in their local rock pools, the National BioBlitz harnesses the enthusiasm and passion of these ‘citizen scientists’ across the country to drive marine research forward.

Over the last few decades, records of several non-native marine species around the UK coast have increased dramatically. Species such as Darwin’s barnacle, slipper limpet and wireweed are now being recorded far more frequently than in the past. This rise reflects both the spread of these species around UK shores and growing public involvement in marine wildlife recording. By contributing observations, citizen scientists are helping researchers track how our coastal ecosystems are changing over time.

Dr Ben Holt, CEO of The Rock Pool Project, said:

“This is about turning curiosity into action with a healthy bit of competition along the way! Whether you’re competing with your friends, exploring with your family, or just seeing what you can find, every record you upload helps build a national picture of life on our shores. There are some great prizes up for grabs, but the real reward is discovering the variety of amazing wildlife on your local coast.”

How it works

Participants can track their progress on live leader boards on the Rock Pool Project website, competing locally and nationally throughout the week. Prizes will be awarded for top performers, as well as for standout discoveries and contributions.

Participants simply:

• Visit a rocky shore anywhere in the UK
• Explore and photograph marine life in rock pools
• Upload their observations using the free iNaturalist app
• Watch their scores climb on the live leader board.

As we are particularly interested in non-native species – points for these records will be awarded double points! Bonus points are also available for covering locations that haven’t yet been investigated, so there are plenty of reasons to take part, with the exciting possibility of finding something rare that no one has ever seen before in an unexplored location.
Support from marine experts

A programme of live online sessions with marine experts will run throughout the week, helping participants to identify and learn about the species that they find. A large, friendly online community also helps participants to review their findings, while the iNaturalist app also has an excellent AI image recognition feature to help participants identify what they find.

The event builds on the success of the inaugural 2025 Big Rock Pool Challenge, which has already engaged communities across the UK to collect data on over 400 coastal species including 169 records of non-native species, helping marine scientists to track the biodiversity of species living in the UK’s rock pools.

Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at the ScottishPower Foundation, said:

“It’s exciting to see communities across the UK coming together for the National BioBlitz 2026. After getting involved last year, I can’t recommend it enough as a fun, accessible way for people of all ages to get outside, explore their local coastline and connect with the incredible biodiversity living in our rock pools.

“As The Big Rock Pool Challenge continues to thrive into its second year, the project encapsulates exactly what the ScottishPower Foundation’s Marine Biodiversity Fund is here to support by inspiring curiosity and helping protect our seas for generations to come.”

To find out more and to sign up go to:

therockpoolproject.co.uk/national-bioblitz

The Rock Pool Project

The Rock Pool Project is a community-driven marine conservation organisation dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to engage with the incredible biodiversity found in the UK’s coastal rock pools. Through hands-on events, citizen science projects, and educational outreach, we empower local communities to explore, protect, and contribute valuable data to marine conservation efforts.

We believe that marine conservation starts with connection. By engaging people directly with the marine environment, we help build a deeper understanding and appreciation for our coastal ecosystems, encouraging active participation in their protection. Visit our website to learn more: therockpoolproject.co.uk.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund

As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.

Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.

The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.

The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund www.heritagefund.org.uk.

ScottishPower Foundation

The ScottishPower Foundation was established in 2013 to make a significant and lasting contribution to society, enhancing the lives of people living in communities throughout the UK. As part of the Foundation’s commitment to supporting the protection of the environment, its Marine Biodiversity Fund supports projects that contribute to the global objectives of protecting our seas and enhancing marine biodiversity.

www.scottishpowerfoundation.com

Marine Biological Association

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is one of the world’s longest-running charitable societies dedicated to promoting research into our ocean and the life they support. Its in-depth scientific research into the interconnected marine environment is carried out from its prestigious laboratory in Plymouth, UK.

It has Royal Charter status for its world-leading role in marine biology research. Since 1884, the MBA has worked as a voice for the ocean and in the interests of the global marine biological community.

The MBA’s advanced knowledge has contributed to the work of several Nobel Laureates and over 170 Fellows of the Royal Society. King Charles is the charity’s Royal Patron.

The MBA is a centre of excellence for marine biodiversity data management, hosting DASSH, the UK archive for marine species and habitats data and the UK node of the global Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). For more information contact data@mba.ac.uk

The charity’s Membership offers unique opportunities to learn, collaborate, and access world-leading research and expertise through our dynamic global community of marine biologists from over 40 countries. For more information about MBA Membership and become a member today, please visit our webpage or contact the Membership team at membership@mba.ac.uk

The Big Rock Pool Challenge is run in partnership with the Marine Biological Association and funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the ScottishPower Foundation.

Image: MBA