Raitt's Sand Eel, Ammodytes marinus
The Lesser Sandeel (Ammodytes tobianus) – also known as Raitt’s Sand Eel (Ammodytes marinus in some classifications) – is a small, slender, shoaling fish of critical ecological importance in the North Sea. Burrowing into sandy seabeds by day, sandeels form a vital link in the food chain, supporting vast numbers of seabirds, marine mammals, and larger fish. Sandy inshore waters along the Suffolk coast provide habitat for this species. Fluctuations in sandeel abundance – driven by sea temperature changes and industrial fishing pressure – have had profound knock-on effects on seabird breeding success, making this inconspicuous fish one of the most ecologically significant in the North Sea. Image: © Teddydolstra, iNaturalist.
Find out more: Suffolk Wildlife Trust, iNaturalist, Marine Life Information Centre
Suffolk’s Priority Marine Life Species
Key
Listed as a conservation priority in Suffolk’s Biodiversity Action Plan.
Closely associated with Suffolk’s landscape and natural identity.
Identified as a key priority for recovery under Suffolk’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
Has a Species of the Month article attached.
