The Heritage Coast: Ecology of Portland Harbour

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Ecology of Portland Harbour

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Ecology of Portland Harbour

Source: Students from Weymouth College under the guidance of Biology Lecturer Bob Ford.


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The breakwaters of Portland Harbour provide an unusual degree of protection for the stretch of coastline between Weymouth and Portland. The shore at Underbarn in the north-eastern corner of the harbour is thus spared the damaging effects of wave action, allowing a rich variety of marine life to survive. In addition, the underlying geology here provides a stable, gently sloping substrate for animals and plants to attach themselves to. The habitat is diversified even more by the presence of a number of channels running obliquely to the shore which provide deeper water for fish and other animals such as the Snakelocks Anemone which cannot survive drying out. This site describes the variety of habitats to be found as you move from the dry area of the strand line down to the richer zone around low tide and beyond.

These pages were written by students from Weymouth College under the guidance of Biology Lecturer Bob Ford. All photos are copyright Nature Portfolio Image Library but may be used freely for educational purposes.