People around Yorkshire coast invited to compete in nationwide rock pooling challenge - with prizes up for grabs
Communities across the Yorkshire coast are being invited to join in with a nationwide rock pooling competition this spring, with the Big Rock Pool Challenge National BioBlitz 2026.
Combining marine species discovery with competitive wildlife recording, the event brings people of all ages and backgrounds together with the common aim of exploring and recording the incredible biodiversity of our coastal shores.
Taking place from May 23 to 31 and led by The Rock Pool Project and the Marine Biological Association, the event challenges people to head to their local coastline to uncover the fascinating life hidden in rock pools.
You will receive a score for every species they find and compete to record the most exciting species, with unique regional and national prizes up for grabs.
A rock pooling challenge open to all
Open to individuals, families, schools, and community groups, the BioBlitz turns coastal exploration into a friendly, fun and competitive day out.
Earn points for each species you record with the easy-to-use iNaturalist app, with rarer or harder-to-identify species, such as non-native discoveries, scoring higher.
Why these discoveries matter
Behind the competition lies a powerful purpose – helping marine scientists to build a clearer picture of UK marine biodiversity and track the spread of invasive non-native species.
By encouraging thousands of people to record what they find hidden in their local rock pools, the National BioBlitz harnesses the enthusiasm and passion of these ‘citizen scientists’ across the country to drive marine research forward.
Dr Ben Holt, CEO of The Rock Pool Project, said: “This is about turning curiosity into action with a healthy bit of competition along the way!
"Whether you’re competing with your friends, exploring with your family, or just seeing what you can find, every record you upload helps build a national picture of life on our shores.
"There are some great prizes up for grabs, but the real reward is discovering the variety of amazing wildlife on your local coast.”
How it works
Participants can track their progress on live leaderboards on the Rock Pool Project website, competing locally and nationally throughout the week.
Prizes will be awarded for top performers, as well as for standout discoveries and contributions.
What to do:
♦ visit a rocky shore anywhere in the UK
♦ explore and photograph marine life in rock pools
♦ upload their observations using the free iNaturalist app
♦ watch their scores climb on the live leaderboard.
Visit https://www.therockpoolproject.co.uk/national-bioblitz for more.