Dr Helen Scales
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helenscales.bsky.social
Dr Helen Scales
@helenscales.bsky.social
Aptly named marine biologist, writer, broadcaster.
Latest book: What the Wild Sea Can Be, shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction and Wainwright Prize for Conservation Writing
UK + France
she/her
www.helenscales.com
Pinned
I am stunned to be 1 of 6
Thank you to the @womensprize.bsky.social and the judges for making this a dream come true that I never really dared to dream. It's a joy and an honour to be short listed with these 5 incredible women and their books
#womensprize
womensprize.com/prizes/women...
Reposted by Dr Helen Scales
Russia and China threaten the Antarctic marine environment and jail a Ukrainian scientist for high treason because he studies endangered Krill. 👁️ #ocean #habitat #whales #law
Krill fishing has just got even more political and horrifying

Ukrainian scientist, Leonid Pshenichnov, has been arrested by Russia for his work in Antarctica towards protecting krill from overexploitation

He faces life in prison for "high treason"

🦑🌊🧪
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Russia arrests Ukrainian biologist for backing curbs on Antarctic krill fishing
‘Trumped-up’ charges spark diplomatic row as scientists express fears for health of 70-year-old Leonid Pshenichnov
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Krill fishing has just got even more political and horrifying

Ukrainian scientist, Leonid Pshenichnov, has been arrested by Russia for his work in Antarctica towards protecting krill from overexploitation

He faces life in prison for "high treason"

🦑🌊🧪
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Russia arrests Ukrainian biologist for backing curbs on Antarctic krill fishing
‘Trumped-up’ charges spark diplomatic row as scientists express fears for health of 70-year-old Leonid Pshenichnov
www.theguardian.com
October 27, 2025 at 12:14 PM
New book out today!!

My latest collaboration with the amazing art duo Good Wives and Warriors

Join us on a journey around the ocean, from icy poles, to kelp forests, coral reefs and the mysterious deep, meeting all sorts of amazing animals along the way
🌊🐠🦭🦑🐋🦀🦈
www.laurenceking.com/products/oce...
October 23, 2025 at 8:45 PM
So proud to stand alongside my amazing sister @krhendry.bsky.social at the Week Junior book awards

Our book Scientists in the Wild, Antarctica, illustrated by fabulous Rômolo D’Hipólito, was shortlisted for STEM book of the year

Huge thanks to @flyingeyebooks.bsky.social for cheering us on!
🐟🐧🦈🦭🐋
October 3, 2025 at 6:52 PM
The North Cornwall Coast has frankly been showing off this week. I’ve been visiting favourite spots, surfing, hiking and star gazing.

Tomorrow (Saturday 27th) I’ll be at North Cornwall Book Festival talking about the ocean and my book What the Wild Sea Can Be
🌊
endelienta.org.uk/whats-on/ncb...
September 26, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Reposted by Dr Helen Scales
New Books & Arts 👇

Marine muses: Rene Martin @lampichthys.bsky.social reviews "Ocean Art: From the Shore to the Deep" by @helenscales.bsky.social

"This book is a must-read for art enthusiasts and ocean lovers"

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Free to read: rdcu.be/eGpor
September 15, 2025 at 10:54 AM
It was a joy to be on stage last night with the other shortlisters for the @wainwrightprize.bsky.social for Conservation Writing and have a chance to bring the sea all the way to the Cotswolds
🌊
Congrats to @guyshrubsole.bsky.social for winning again!

@atlanticbooks.bsky.social #whatthewildseacanbe
September 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
@bengoldfarb.bsky.social When I first heard about sea otter bones turning purple from eating sea urchins I though maybe they might be a hint of lilac but noooope - they can be REALLY purple!
Is that really a purple #seaotter skull 🦦💀?! Why, yes it is.

This phenomenon is known as echinochrome staining. It occurs when sea otters consume copious amounts of echinochrome-containing prey items like #seaurchins.

📸: Peter Monteforte & Morro Bay State Parks #funfact #seaotters #ocean
August 29, 2025 at 8:59 AM
I've launched a new science writing course at Cambridge University exploring creative ways to generate ideas for short form writing +podcasts +videos
📚🧪🎤📹
Spaces available for next class:
Online
6 weeks
Starts 8 Sept
For writers of all levels anywhere in the world
www.pace.cam.ac.uk/courses/crea...
August 27, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Today was an octopus day in Brittany. Not 1 but 2 in a secret spot nearby (as featured in What the Wild Sea Can Be), including a female carefully guarding her eggs, tucked deep under a rock.
It’s heartbreaking knowing she doesn’t have long to live, but joyous knowing this is an octopus nursery
🐙 🐙
August 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
“It has a presence about it. My heart carries this heart with it. It is important to protect it and be kind to the mangroves inside.”

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
The heart-shaped mangrove formation fading due to rising seas
The Heart of Voh is a symbol of New Caledonia’s pristine environment but its outline is changing due to the climate crisis
www.theguardian.com
August 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
🌊Good ocean news🌊
A federal court has rejected the US administration's rollback of fishing protections in the culturally rich and biologically vital waters of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument

Fishing there is illegal and must now be blocked
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Court overrides Trump officials’ rollback and blocks fishing in Pacific Islands monument
Judge in Hawaii rules that commercial fishing is illegal in federally protected area in the central Pacific Ocean
www.theguardian.com
August 11, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Happy National Marine Week!
🌊🦑🐬🐙🦭🦈🦀🐟🐋
To celebrate, I've written a blog for @reaktionbooks.bsky.social about my new book Ocean Art, about my love of the sea and how artists have long been helping people to care about this hidden realm

reaktionbooks.co.uk/the-hidden-r...
The Hidden Realm of the Sea | Reaktion Books
To celebrate National Marine Week, marine biologist and author of Ocean Art, Helen Scales, explores her love of sea life and how artists have long been helping people to care about this hidden realm. ...
reaktionbooks.co.uk
August 7, 2025 at 10:18 AM
I’m over the moon that What the Wild Sea Can Be has been shortlisted for @wainwrightprize.bsky.social It’s a thrill and an honour to see my book alongside these 6 amazing titles and their fabulous authors
🌊💙
We’re thrilled to announce the 2025 #WainwrightPrize for Conservation Writing Shortlist! 🌍

Urgent, unflinching and globally minded. These books confront the environmental crises shaping our world and the paths to change.

#StoriesThatConnect
August 5, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Reposted by Dr Helen Scales
There's something of Totoro/Studio Ghibli in this lobster from the new book by @helenscales.bsky.social
August 1, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I'm thrilled to feature an image from @legolostatsea.bsky.social
in by new book Ocean Art, in a chapter about art of the coastlines, and how our view of the sea has changed over the years
🌊🦑🎨
Many congratulations to our friend Dr Helen Scales on the publication of her beautiful new book Ocean Art: From the Shore to the Deep. Very chuffed that one of our images of beachcombed plastic has been included.
August 1, 2025 at 1:41 PM
In Sept my paperback tour for What the Wild Sea Can Be continues and I’m coming to Cornwall and Devon

Appledore Book Festival 16 Sept
Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival 17 Sept
North Cornwall Book Festival 27 Sept

🌊🦑🦈🦈🐙
Hope to see lots of you there

More details: helenscales.com/portfolio/au...
July 30, 2025 at 9:35 AM
🌊Good ocean news! 🌊
Seahorses are returning to UK waters
Years ago I was spotted a seahorse in Studland Bay - seeing just one was a big deal. Now, thanks to eco-friendly boat moorings the seagrass meadow is recovering and seahorse sightings are increasing
🌊🦑
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘It’s spectacular’: volunteer Dorset divers see summer of surging seahorses
After efforts to make conditions better for the elusive creatures in Studland Bay, sightings are greatly increasing
www.theguardian.com
July 29, 2025 at 1:21 PM
It's thrilling to see an angelshark swim past a camera in Cardigan Bay, Wales. First sighting in years!

As I wrote in What the Wild Sea Can Be, angelsharks are critically endangered but they are certainly not gone. There's so much to fight for in our ocean 💙🌊🦑🦈
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Critically endangered angel shark filmed off Welsh coast
First sighting in Cardigan Bay since 2021 of the species, which is under threat from human activities
www.theguardian.com
July 29, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Introducing Ocean Art, my new illustrated book. Out in August.
Featuring some of the most striking and meaningful images of sea creatures from ancient times to modern and from the coasts to the deepest abyss, I reflect on how art shapes our view of marine life
🦑🐟🐙🦈
reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/ocean-art
July 29, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Pre-orders make a huge difference for new books, boosting the first week’s sales which can help a book take flight
@waterstones.bsky.social has an amazing pre-order summer sale on, including 2 of mine.
So if you love books and want to support authors pre-order!📚
www.waterstones.com/campaign/jul...
July 28, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by Dr Helen Scales
5pm today: Free event at #BantryLibrary with author & marine biologist @helenscales.bsky.social. She'll be in conversation with Siobhan Cronin about her @wainwrightprize.bsky.social nominated book What The Wild Sea Can Be: The Future of the World's Ocean 🌊🐠🪼🪸
www.westcorkmusic.ie/events/2025/...
July 16, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Here are some of my favourites of the official photos of @womensprize.bsky.social in June. It has been the most uplifting, joyful experience every single step of the way. To stand alongside these amazing women and celebrate together were incredibly special and important moments that I will treasure
July 4, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I’m over the moon to get my first longlisting for the @wainwrightprize.bsky.social and honoured to be among these amazing authors and their brilliant books about our beautiful, troubled planet.

Thank you everyone who has bought, borrowed and read What the Wild Sea Can Be
💙🌊🌅
#savethesea
We’re thrilled to announce the 2025 #WainwrightPrize for Conservation Writing longlist! 🌍

12 remarkable books exploring land, sea, wildlife & our connection to nature. Urgent, hopeful, and challenging us to act before it’s too late.

#StoriesThatConnect wainwrightprize.com
July 4, 2025 at 9:03 PM