Melissa Hobson
Marine science, conservation and sustainability writer
Melissa Hobson, doing business as The Ocean Writer Ltd., is a marine science and conservation writer based in Hastings. She has written about the ocean for outlets including BBC Wildlife, BBC Countryfile, National Geographic, New Scientist and the Guardian. Visit Melissa’s website at melissahobson.co.uk or follow her on LinkedIn.
Recent articles by Melissa Hobson
“Unbelievable”: huge animal longer than bus seen leaping from Irish waters
No one knows exactly why these enormous sea creatures breach.
Second largest animal on Earth washes up on Welsh beach. Here’s what happens now
The gigantic animal – roughly the size of a bus – is just the fifth fin whale stranding in Wales in over 30 years.
Scuba diver spots bizarre and beautiful sea creatures off Sussex coast
The waters are thriving with an array of marine animals thanks to improved protections, says a researcher who spent hours underwater.
“Rare and breathtaking”: bright blue sharks stun snorkellers in Pembrokeshire
During summer, you can see these spectacular blue sharks swimming calmly through UK waters.
Ocean giants: 10 of the UK’s most colossal sea creatures
Think large ocean animals only live in foreign waters? Think again! You can see huge sharks, whales and turtles right here on our coastlines, says Melissa Hobson.
Who is Reggie the dolphin and how should people behave around him?
Conservation experts recommend that people join a responsible whale or dolphin watching trip rather than trying to swim with Reggie – a bottlenose dolphin that has become a regular visitor to waters around Lyme Regis in Dorset this summer.
"At first we weren’t certain”: when rangers heard a baby crying on a Cornish river, they were amazed to find out what it really was
Beaver kits have been spotted by camera traps at Helman Tor, giving conservationists hope for the future of this rewilding site.
"Fierce fight": diver films dramatic animal battle in Falmouth waters
Tompot blennies are usually doting dads during breeding season, but a marine biologist spotted fierce fisticuffs between two males off the coast of Cornwall.
"It was amazing": diver films mesmerising wildlife encounter in underwater meadow
Wildlife filmmaker Adam Radage says the experience was "like a dream straight out of a Studio Ghibli”
"So unbelievable”: ancient sea creature filmed off Devon coast
Leatherback turtles have the longest migration of any reptile and are known to swim in UK seas.
Rare ocean giant as big as a king-size bed spotted in Orkney
Flapper skates can grow over 2.5 metres long and weigh as much as 100kg.
“For the first time ever”: see magical moment home-grown shark is released into the wild in Sussex
A diver has released a baby shark back into the waters off Brighton after rescuing it as an embryo
"I don't think I've seen an individual quite as big as this one”: freediver films colossal sea creature off Cornish coast
A freediver in Cornwall saw six octopuses in one dive – and one of the animals was bigger than he has ever seen
Venomous fish are lurking in the sand on British beaches. Here’s what to do if you get stung
Many UK beachgoers will accidentally be stung by venomous weever fish this
summer. Here’s what to do if that happens
What would the extended bottom-trawling ban mean for UK wildlife and fishers?
The proposed ban, which aims to protect important marine life, has been welcomed by environmentalists, but some fishers are concerned.
Shark DNA found in Welsh waters suggests rare species is hiding in plain sight
Fishers in Wales have been seeing fewer critically endangered angelsharks in Wales – but that doesn't mean they're not there, according to a new study.
"Look at the size of that one – wow, it's huge!" Boater films stunning wildlife spectacle off Sussex coast
Skipper Kurt Lander was cruising through the English Channel when the "magical" moment happened.
Is it normal to see a seal on the beach? Yes – but here are the warning signs to look out for
Seals come onto land to rest as part of their natural behaviour – here’s what to look for to know if they’re in trouble, and how to help
How to help a beached whale or dolphin – you could help save its life while waiting for medics to arrive
When a whale, dolphin or porpoise finds itself on land, something is wrong. Here’s what to do – and not to do – to help these beached animals.
'Sea parrot' cam: heartwarming livestream offers intimate glimpse inside puffin colony on remote Farne Islands
In celebration of caring for the Farne Islands for 100 years, the National Trust has shared a puffin livestream so people can watch the sweet birds from home.
“As I got closer, I saw its tail": astonished gardener finds large animal in pond
Kerry Irwin-Hall had snuck out at dawn in the hope of seeing ducks nesting, but what she spotted was even more amazing.
"Unbelievable": rare killer whale encounter stuns wildlife watchers in Northumberland
The orcas swam alongside the wildlife watching boat near the Farne Islands off the north-east coast of England.
Are there any killer whales in UK waters?
Did you know there are just two individuals remaining in the UK’s resident orca population, which will soon go extinct?
Beaver fart caught on night cam in Cornwall
Beavers mark their territory using a scent gland near their tail, so this individual may have had a good reason to let one rip.
