Recent News Articles

Alderney Field Meeting September 2024

Alderney Field Meeting September 2024 Ever wanted to explore the shores or dive around Alderney? Porcupine MNHS with the Alderney Wildlife Trust are proposing a unique field meeting to Alderney from 12th-19th September 2024. Alderney is a beautiful island that is remote and right at the geographical range of many species, it is an important migration stop-over for birds and has many diverse ecosystems. Niche marine habitats exist due to the increased [Read more]

Roger Bamber Grant Open for 2024

Roger Bamber Grant Open for 2024 The Porcupine Marine Natural History Society is pleased to announce an opportunity to apply for funding for small research projects. Up to £1000 is available for small standalone projects to be undertaken during the 2024 field season. Plus for 2024 an additional £500 is available for mollusca project donated by Shelagh M Smith. Applications will be considered for any small project which falls within the objectives [Read more]

Save the date! Conference 2024

Save the date! Conference 2024 The PMNHS conference will be held in Bournemouth from the 22nd-24th March 2024 with the theme of Novel & Natural Species & Habitats. Please save the date, spread the news and if you're interested in presenting or speaking at this conference please contact Roger on [Read more]

New: Essential Guide to Magelonidae Taylor & Mortimer

New: Essential Guide to Magelonidae Taylor & Mortimer A Porcupine Marine Natural History Society funded project (Roger Bamber Research Grant), aiming to produce visual identification guides of the Magelonidae for a broad range of users, has now been completed. The first of these guides entitled ‘Collecting Shovel Head Worms on the Shore’ was published in PMNHS Bulletin 18 in Autumn 2022 (Taylor & Mortimer, 2022), and supplementary guides on identification of UK and [Read more]

Autumn 2023 Field Meeting to Cornwall

Autumn 2023 Field Meeting to Cornwall  Autumn Field Trip to Cornwall 29th September - 1st October - see more information here http://pmnhs.co.uk/pmnhs-annual-field-meetings [Read more]

Porcupine Marine Natural History Society

We are an informal society interested in marine natural history and recording, particularly in the North East Atlantic region and the Mediterranean Sea. Porcupine MNHS welcomes anyone interested in marine biology and ecology.

The name “Porcupine” is taken from the naval survey vessel HMS Porcupine which was engaged on scientific expeditions in the N.E. Atlantic and Mediterranean in 1869 and 1870. She made the first ever deep ocean dredge for living creatures in 1869 resulting in the naming of the Porcupine Bank off the west coast of Ireland.

The aims of the Porcupine Marine Natural History Society are:

  • To promote a wider understanding of the biology, ecology and distribution of marine organisms.
  • To stimulate interest in marine biodiversity, especially in young people.
  • To encourage interaction and exchange of information between those with interests in different aspects of marine biology, amateur and professional alike.

Membership of our society entitles you to receive two bulletins a year and attend the annual conference and field meetings. For more details and to download a membership form visit the membership pages.

Please consider donating to our society – donations allow us to provide grants for projects relating to our aims.