Tiles installed at harbours to boost marine life

The hexagonal tiles are being installed in different areas

Hundreds of tiles are being installed at harbours across Cornwall and Devon to create habitats for marine life.

More than 150 tiles have been placed in Falmouth, Plymouth and Mevagissey, with plans for them to be introduced at Newquay, Padstow and Port Isaac.

Cornish environmental charity, Our Only World, is behind the project.

Vicki Spooner, Falmouth harbour's environment manager, said she expected the "seawall to go from a fairly barren expanse to a complex area hosting a greater variety of species".

'Nooks and crannies'

Tina Robinson, the founder of the charity, said she was inspired by a concept in Australia called Living Seawalls.

“These tiles, with all their little nooks and crannies, indentations and increased surface area, create a rocky pool environment.

"The idea is to kickstart the bottom of the food chain, from seaweeds, sea snails, cushion stars, anemones, sea squirts, periwinkles and limpets."

Ms Spooner added: “This gives us a great opportunity to work with local schools, colleges and universities to monitor the colonisation of these structures and develop survey skills."