Beachcombing

15/10/2021

Over lockdown Ceridwen Fraser, an associate professor in the marine science department at the University of Otago, wrote a book about beachcombing and the things one might come across whilst beachcombing in the southern hemisphere. Her book is accompanied by a teaching resource so that it can be used as a resource in the classroom.

Beachcombing is an activity in which one searches the beach for finds such as shells, sea glass or even seaweeds which could be collected. Many people beachcomb without even knowing they did so. I myself, Teresa an educator at the NZMSC, have beachcombed for as long as I can remember without this activity having a true name. See below for

a photo of my favourite find, a cuttlebone of a cuttlefish, relative of squid and octopus, I found whilst on Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

New Zealand shores are full of interesting creatures who as they grow or die leave traces of their life behind. Such as the shells of snails or moults of crabs or the bodies of marine birds and mammals.

This book is available for purchase from the University of Otago and other online bookstores.

https://www.otago.ac.nz/press/books/otago824383.html

The teaching resource can be found at the link below:

https://www.otago.ac.nz/press/otago825310.pdf