Jersey's Living Coast: SpecialitiesJersey's southerly location and unusual tidal conditions allow it to support a numberof marine species that are rare or absent from the rest of the British Isles. In yearsgone by scientists would travel from far and wide to see these animals but you canfind many of them by careful searching on the seashore.

ORMER(Haliotis tuberculata); 10 cmThe Channel Islands represent the northernlimit for this Mediterranean mollusc. Ormersare found under large rocks and are highlyprized as seafood but in recent decadeslocal populations have been affected byover-fishing and disease. They are currentlysubject to severe restrictions and, if foundalive, should not be disturbed. The nameormer is a contraction of the French 'orielleder mer' or 'sea ear', which refers to theshell shape.

TRIGGER FISH(Balistes capriscus); 40 cmThere are normally one or two reports of this southernvisitor each year. The trigger fish is a large animal thathas been known to harass divers which stray too closeto its territory. They sometimes manage to get them-selves stuck inside lobster pots.

MINT SAUCE WORM(Symsagittifera roscoffensis); 1.5 cmThis unusual flatworm is unique to theChannel Islands and adjacentFrench coast. Its body contains sym-biotic algae and so the worm willspread out on sandy beaches tocatch the sunlight. The bright greencolour gives the mint sauce worm itscommon name.

COMMON OCTOPUS(Octopus vulgaris); 3 mJersey represents the northern mostbreeding point for the common octopus.In the late nineteenth and early twentiethcenturies octopus numbers reachedplague proportions, causing serious dam-age to the local fishing industry. (The octo-pus would raid crab pots.) Since the coldwinter of 1962 they have been much rar-er but there are still regular reports madeby divers and fishermen. In recent yearsthere have been reports of another spe-cies in local waters, Eledone cirrhosa.FIVE SHILLING SHELL

(Mactra glauca); 10 cmAlso restricted to the Channel Islands, the five shilling shelltakes its name from the price Victorian dealers would payfor a specimen. The live animal buries in the sand on thelower shore and is tricky to find but empty shells may bewashed up, especially along the east coast.