Different marine life in island waters due to heat

The sea temperature changes means different species can be spotted from pools like La Vallette

Different species of marine life have been spotted in Guernsey's waters due to rises in sea temperatures, a marine expert has said.

Nicky Harris from the Marine Biology section of La Societe Guernesiaise said higher temperatures of up to 19C (66.2F) mean species more common to Mediterranean waters have been seen off the island's coast.

It comes as the UK's seas have had their warmest start to the year since records began.

Ms Harris said although some species are "able to cope with a range of temperatures" others prefer colder waters.

She said basking sharks, which used to be seen commonly in the waters around the islands, were less in numbers as they prefer colder temperatures.

"We really don't see them anymore and they are heading up Ireland's coast instead," she said.

"Instead we are seeing things that are Mediterranean-focused, things like gilt-head bream, we didn't used to see and now they're becoming a bit more common in our waters."

"We really need to be conscious of and adapt to climate change and warming waters in the Channel Islands," Ms Harris said.

"Warmer air temperatures is going to have impacts on our weather patterns, we already do see increase in storm intensity and storm frequency, that's going to be something that we continue to see."