It’s a pastime that’s enjoyed by children and adults alike, but have you ever wondered what’s happening below the surface when you’re crabbing on Bangor Pier? Bangor University student Rowan Howe attached a ‘GoPro’ camera to his crab line to find out.
Rowan, a Zoology Student, said: “I attached a Gopro to a crabbing net and dropped it into the Menai Strait. It only takes a few seconds for the first crab to come running, and only a few minutes for the bait to be swarming. I captured footage of a plaice swimming by on several occasions.
“It was probably the last time crabbing before I leave Bangor University, but I’ve never got bored of it in my time here.”
And Rowan’s top tip for successful crabbing ….. Use sardines as bait! he added: “It’s the first time I’ve used them and I’ve never caught as many as that before.”
The Menai Strait
Because of the unusual tidal conditions in the Menai Strait, coupled with very low wave heights and its sheltered position, presents a unique and diverse ecology.
The depth of the channel reaches 15 metres (49 ft) in places, and the current can exceed 7 knots (13 km/h). The existence of this unique ecology was a major factor in the establishment of Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences at Menai Bridge, as well as its status as a special area of conservation with marine components. The waters are also a proposed Marine Nature Reserve.
The Menai Strait has a wide variety of habitat types and is home to over 1,400 recorded species of plants and animals and is very rich in sponges. Numerous types of fish and shellfish. Lobsters, once common, are now both smaller and harder to find. Mussels are grown commercially and cockles are found in considerable number.
