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Madison Wildlife

Madison Bowden-Parry

Marine scientist, underwater photographer, filmmaker and storyteller

Kelp El Nino

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The giant sea bass 👀

What a beast! Absolutely love diving with these gentle giants.

Giant sea bass are currently listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, attributed to historic overexploitation throughout their range. It is known that GSB reached depressed levels by the 1930s in Californian waters, but has since shown signs of recovery.

This is a species that I’m always so excited to see. What an enormous and beautiful fish! 🩵

The giant sea bass 👀

What a beast! Absolutely love diving with these gentle giants.

Giant sea bass are currently listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, attributed to historic overexploitation throughout their range. It is known that GSB reached depressed levels by the 1930s in Californian waters, but has since shown signs of recovery.

This is a species that I’m always so excited to see. What an enormous and beautiful fish! 🩵

Photography and underwater film have been an enjoyable outlet for me to share stories with others, and showcase the amazing world beneath the waves for over a decade.

Now, my days are a lot more science than photography and film. But I love that I can contribute as a scientist AND a creator to drive change in (hopefully) many ways.

This particular dive was just *perfect*, as it always is. Courtship behaviours from giant sea bass, mid-change California sheepshead and huge schools of zebra perch 😍

I took the @apeksdiving #EVX200 out for a spin too. Ergonomic, comfortable and customisable - a beautiful reg!

Photography and underwater film have been an enjoyable outlet for me to share stories with others, and showcase the amazing world beneath the waves for over a decade.

Now, my days are a lot more science than photography and film. But I love that I can contribute as a scientist AND a creator to drive change in (hopefully) many ways.

This particular dive was just *perfect*, as it always is. Courtship behaviours from giant sea bass, mid-change California sheepshead and huge schools of zebra perch 😍

I took the @apeksdiving #EVX200 out for a spin too. Ergonomic, comfortable and customisable - a beautiful reg!

Happy World Ocean Day 🩵

I feel so privileged to be able film and tell stories of the ocean and its people. To document what lies beneath and relies on the ocean, whilst observing and learning along the way.

Over the years, these experiences and my research have shown me the nuances of our relationships with the ocean. Our stories of livelihood, culture, identity, history and well-being are not the same narrative, but they share same significance to us all.

Science communication and storytelling are extremely powerful, as perceptions and opinions can be integral to the support for conservation. This is why understanding the varied dependencies, roles and histories that we share in relation to the ocean is important to its sustainable management.

Two home truths for WOD.

Protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 can’t happen in the current system. Marine Protected Areas still allow heavily subsidised destructive fishing methods to be operated within them. On the flip side, small-scale fishers are left to struggle to compete with the efforts that support destructive industrial fleets offshore. It’s never fisheries vs conservation, it’s an alignment of sustainable practices in order to support thriving stocks, ecosystems and food security.

We can’t protect what we don’t know. The climate crisis and declining ocean health are not mutually exclusive. A better understanding of these interactions and dynamics over time are fundamental to forecasting and future proofing. The same goes for understanding past human-ocean interactions. This rings true for foundation species like native European oysters where historical data revealed they are universally collapsed and large losses and lack of recovery of kelp forests along the south of the UK.

Long-term data coverage is important to know whether current conservation and restoration efforts are accurate, or fall short of what’s needed for species and ecosystem recovery.

It IS possible. There is HOPE. And it’s extremely important that we keep that feeling strong. We need it to be able to take on the challenges of today and those into the future.

#worldoceanday #marine #ocean #marinephotography #marinewildlife

Happy World Ocean Day 🩵

I feel so privileged to be able film and tell stories of the ocean and its people. To document what lies beneath and relies on the ocean, whilst observing and learning along the way.

Over the years, these experiences and my research have shown me the nuances of our relationships with the ocean. Our stories of livelihood, culture, identity, history and well-being are not the same narrative, but they share same significance to us all.

Science communication and storytelling are extremely powerful, as perceptions and opinions can be integral to the support for conservation. This is why understanding the varied dependencies, roles and histories that we share in relation to the ocean is important to its sustainable management.

Two home truths for WOD.

Protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030 can’t happen in the current system. Marine Protected Areas still allow heavily subsidised destructive fishing methods to be operated within them. On the flip side, small-scale fishers are left to struggle to compete with the efforts that support destructive industrial fleets offshore. It’s never fisheries vs conservation, it’s an alignment of sustainable practices in order to support thriving stocks, ecosystems and food security.

We can’t protect what we don’t know. The climate crisis and declining ocean health are not mutually exclusive. A better understanding of these interactions and dynamics over time are fundamental to forecasting and future proofing. The same goes for understanding past human-ocean interactions. This rings true for foundation species like native European oysters where historical data revealed they are universally collapsed and large losses and lack of recovery of kelp forests along the south of the UK.

Long-term data coverage is important to know whether current conservation and restoration efforts are accurate, or fall short of what’s needed for species and ecosystem recovery.

It IS possible. There is HOPE. And it’s extremely important that we keep that feeling strong. We need it to be able to take on the challenges of today and those into the future.

#worldoceanday #marine #ocean #marinephotography #marinewildlife

It’s #WorldSeaweedDay and #WorldOceanWeek, whose theme this year is catalysing action for ocean and climate.

This week (and all weeks) I’m reflecting on a historical ocean under a changing climate, and just how much this impacts marine systems today, and how we approach current conservation and restoration.

The magnitude of change that has been documented in foundation species in contemporary history is eye opening. Many coasts are losing these precious habitat forming species due to rising sea temperatures and marine heatwaves.

If you’ve ever been snorkelling or diving in kelp habitats you’ll know just how many marine species and communities it supports. You’ll also know the socioeconomic benefits of them too. They are inextricably linked and losses will have implications for everything, and everyone.

#marinehistoricalecology #marinephotography #marine #ocean #underwaterphotography #underwaterfilm #underwater #catalina #kelp

It’s #WorldSeaweedDay and #WorldOceanWeek, whose theme this year is catalysing action for ocean and climate.

This week (and all weeks) I’m reflecting on a historical ocean under a changing climate, and just how much this impacts marine systems today, and how we approach current conservation and restoration.

The magnitude of change that has been documented in foundation species in contemporary history is eye opening. Many coasts are losing these precious habitat forming species due to rising sea temperatures and marine heatwaves.

If you’ve ever been snorkelling or diving in kelp habitats you’ll know just how many marine species and communities it supports. You’ll also know the socioeconomic benefits of them too. They are inextricably linked and losses will have implications for everything, and everyone.

#marinehistoricalecology #marinephotography #marine #ocean #underwaterphotography #underwaterfilm #underwater #catalina #kelp

On route to the kelp forest! 🤿

Casino Point MPA was established in 2012, after being city designated as an underwater park back in 1962. The giant kelp forests and giant sea bass attract divers from all over, and amongst the kelp, you’ll find a local community of researchers, citizen scientists and divers working hard to ensure this system is monitored and supported.

I’ve learnt a lot about this system since I started diving here in 2015, and I’m still learning so much every time I visit. A lot has changed for me since then, but the dedication of the community of researchers, divers and stewards of this beautiful island and its inhabitants seems to be stronger every time I visit 🩵

On route to the kelp forest! 🤿

Casino Point MPA was established in 2012, after being city designated as an underwater park back in 1962. The giant kelp forests and giant sea bass attract divers from all over, and amongst the kelp, you’ll find a local community of researchers, citizen scientists and divers working hard to ensure this system is monitored and supported.

I’ve learnt a lot about this system since I started diving here in 2015, and I’m still learning so much every time I visit. A lot has changed for me since then, but the dedication of the community of researchers, divers and stewards of this beautiful island and its inhabitants seems to be stronger every time I visit 🩵

Back with the kelp dancers!

My career in marine science and underwater photography started here over 12 years ago. I’ve been in these waters since, but this year feels different. Reconnecting with old friends, graceful greetings from the kelp dancers and a whole new perspective.

California sea lions are pupping now - with lots of social behaviours evident as they begin to mate soon after (3-4 weeks post pups). We were just snorkelling and were completely ignored, but so grateful to be in their presence; which is both beautiful and chaotic at the same time!

#kelp #kelpforest #california #californiasealion #underwaterphoto #underwatervideography #underwatervideo #ocean #explore

Back with the kelp dancers!

My career in marine science and underwater photography started here over 12 years ago. I’ve been in these waters since, but this year feels different. Reconnecting with old friends, graceful greetings from the kelp dancers and a whole new perspective.

California sea lions are pupping now - with lots of social behaviours evident as they begin to mate soon after (3-4 weeks post pups). We were just snorkelling and were completely ignored, but so grateful to be in their presence; which is both beautiful and chaotic at the same time!

#kelp #kelpforest #california #californiasealion #underwaterphoto #underwatervideography #underwatervideo #ocean #explore

Time trails through the kelp 📰

Despite a longstanding influence on society, kelp forests are not immune to a shifted perspective. Scientific records of UK kelp forests only started in the 1950s, yet there are many accounts of maritime kelp exports from the Hebrides, dating back to the 18th century! This invaluable wealth of past knowledge remains largely untapped in modern research.

This past knowledge often emerges through a diverse set of alternative sources, written testimony, nautical charts, materials, photographs, popular media, art and more. In combination with modern interdisciplinary research, these sources can detail a holistic, and often fine scale view of the many questions regarding kelp forest change.

With UK kelp forests generally lacking in historical baseline data, there is now an opportunity to better integrate, and collect complementary historical data, to assist on conservation measures for the future.

I’m swapping the Atlantic for the Pacific for the next couple weeks, it’s been a while but I’m OH so excited! 👀

Time trails through the kelp 📰

Despite a longstanding influence on society, kelp forests are not immune to a shifted perspective. Scientific records of UK kelp forests only started in the 1950s, yet there are many accounts of maritime kelp exports from the Hebrides, dating back to the 18th century! This invaluable wealth of past knowledge remains largely untapped in modern research.

This past knowledge often emerges through a diverse set of alternative sources, written testimony, nautical charts, materials, photographs, popular media, art and more. In combination with modern interdisciplinary research, these sources can detail a holistic, and often fine scale view of the many questions regarding kelp forest change.

With UK kelp forests generally lacking in historical baseline data, there is now an opportunity to better integrate, and collect complementary historical data, to assist on conservation measures for the future.

I’m swapping the Atlantic for the Pacific for the next couple weeks, it’s been a while but I’m OH so excited! 👀

Quite the surreal moment last night, attending the world premiere of OCEAN with David Attenborough. Myself and colleagues from the University of Exeter were involved in the accompanying book, and others involved in the film, a serious honour!

The film bluntly showcases our relentless impact on the ocean. It also reminds us of what has to be done to ensure a future for everything and everyone who depends on the ocean, and that there is still hope - the ocean can bounce back if we let it. Protection works.

A must watch for all!

It was a pleasure to share the evening with such talented, passionate and likeminded people, all contributing and supporting the powerful message from Sir David Attenborough - OCEAN is life!

Thanks all 🩵

#ocean #davidattenborough

Quite the surreal moment last night, attending the world premiere of OCEAN with David Attenborough. Myself and colleagues from the University of Exeter were involved in the accompanying book, and others involved in the film, a serious honour!

The film bluntly showcases our relentless impact on the ocean. It also reminds us of what has to be done to ensure a future for everything and everyone who depends on the ocean, and that there is still hope - the ocean can bounce back if we let it. Protection works.

A must watch for all!

It was a pleasure to share the evening with such talented, passionate and likeminded people, all contributing and supporting the powerful message from Sir David Attenborough - OCEAN is life!

Thanks all 🩵

#ocean #davidattenborough

I saw a quote (and beautiful artwork) on here the other day by @twillostory. It’s something we all know, but forget at times:

“You should sit in nature for 20 minutes a day.. unless you’re busy, then you should sit for an hour.”

And honestly, that’s exactly what I did. But underwater of course. Drifting with the surge, I'm constantly reminded of how breathtaking the world beneath our doorsteps waves is 🐟

📷 @madison_wildlife

#marinewildlife #cornwall #ukdiving #cornwallcoast #underwaterphotography #underwaterfilm #britishwildlife #shotonsony

I saw a quote (and beautiful artwork) on here the other day by @twillostory. It’s something we all know, but forget at times:

“You should sit in nature for 20 minutes a day.. unless you’re busy, then you should sit for an hour.”

And honestly, that’s exactly what I did. But underwater of course. Drifting with the surge, I'm constantly reminded of how breathtaking the world beneath our doorsteps waves is 🐟

📷 @madison_wildlife

#marinewildlife #cornwall #ukdiving #cornwallcoast #underwaterphotography #underwaterfilm #britishwildlife #shotonsony

The sea we see today, is not the sea we used to see 💭

I recently spoke at a national marine conference about my work as a marine historical ecologist. Afterwards in the break, there was lots interest in my work, and surprise in how much the ocean has changed and how we can study the past.

We so often forget, or haven’t experienced these things first hand (see other posts on shifting baselines syndrome), that before we started scientifically monitoring the ocean, we were exploring and exploiting it for food, materials, navigation and well-being. Across the globe, we have depended on marine and coastal ecosystems for millennia, and as our reliance on the ocean progressed, so did our impact on it.

But for so long, legacies of human-ocean interactions were disregarded and not valued in science, creating huge gaps in our knowledge of past oceans.

This gap is problematic for contemporary management and conservation, because to work towards meaningful goals, we need an understanding of long-term dynamics, responses to change and accurate measures of system health.

Read more about this and kelp systems via the link in my bio 🔗

The sea we see today, is not the sea we used to see 💭

I recently spoke at a national marine conference about my work as a marine historical ecologist. Afterwards in the break, there was lots interest in my work, and surprise in how much the ocean has changed and how we can study the past.

We so often forget, or haven’t experienced these things first hand (see other posts on shifting baselines syndrome), that before we started scientifically monitoring the ocean, we were exploring and exploiting it for food, materials, navigation and well-being. Across the globe, we have depended on marine and coastal ecosystems for millennia, and as our reliance on the ocean progressed, so did our impact on it.

But for so long, legacies of human-ocean interactions were disregarded and not valued in science, creating huge gaps in our knowledge of past oceans.

This gap is problematic for contemporary management and conservation, because to work towards meaningful goals, we need an understanding of long-term dynamics, responses to change and accurate measures of system health.

Read more about this and kelp systems via the link in my bio 🔗

Happy Friday lovelies!

This week, I’ve been on a whistle stop trip to chat all things #kelp in the UK. It was great to hear more from other labs who are doing such brilliant work. There were some fascinating talks, all of which illustrate how we are filling gaps in our knowledge of UK kelp systems that can be used to inform on their future.

There was a breadth of research on-going, from historical time series, dynamics and climate change impacts, ecotoxicology, restoration techniques and cultivation, lots of cool modelling and monitoring projects and more. Lots going on for national kelp forests and hopefully more to come!

Now it’s back to work myself 🌱

📸 @madison_wildlife I took this last Sunday, when the vis was stunning!

Happy Friday lovelies!

This week, I’ve been on a whistle stop trip to chat all things #kelp in the UK. It was great to hear more from other labs who are doing such brilliant work. There were some fascinating talks, all of which illustrate how we are filling gaps in our knowledge of UK kelp systems that can be used to inform on their future.

There was a breadth of research on-going, from historical time series, dynamics and climate change impacts, ecotoxicology, restoration techniques and cultivation, lots of cool modelling and monitoring projects and more. Lots going on for national kelp forests and hopefully more to come!

Now it’s back to work myself 🌱

📸 @madison_wildlife I took this last Sunday, when the vis was stunning!

The UK’s first national kelp conference is this week! 🌱

This Wednesday, the #KelpSummit2025 will be in full swing! This conference will bring together experts, practitioners and the community to discuss UK kelp forests and their future.

I’ll be bringing something different to the table and chatting about the importance of the past and what these data can tell us. Specifically, my talk will detail my work into uncovering the historical ecology of Sussex kelp habitats and how I went about it.

Gearing myself up (literally) this weekend, ready for a few full on days of KELP!

…although my days are always like this, but this time it’s alongside brilliant colleagues!

Wearing @apeksdiving #VX1 mask, #TherimQ drysuit, #RK3 HD fins and the #Ocea regs 🩵

The UK’s first national kelp conference is this week! 🌱

This Wednesday, the #KelpSummit2025 will be in full swing! This conference will bring together experts, practitioners and the community to discuss UK kelp forests and their future.

I’ll be bringing something different to the table and chatting about the importance of the past and what these data can tell us. Specifically, my talk will detail my work into uncovering the historical ecology of Sussex kelp habitats and how I went about it.

Gearing myself up (literally) this weekend, ready for a few full on days of KELP!

…although my days are always like this, but this time it’s alongside brilliant colleagues!

Wearing @apeksdiving #VX1 mask, #TherimQ drysuit, #RK3 HD fins and the #Ocea regs 🩵

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