Storms can prove 'devastating' for some marine species

Guernsey's rocky coast could have helped some marine life by providing holes to hide out the worst of Storm Austen, where gusts reached 76mph (122km/h), a marine scientist has said.

Oceanongrapher Liz Sweet told BBC Guernsey the conditions "can be dangerous, particularly with the big storms" and said species such as crabs would have found the mixing up of the sea and sediment challenging.

Octopuses may have fared better seeking shelter in holes and Sweet, who is also known as the Guernsey Scientist, explained that sharks and dolphins would have swum out to calmer water.

She added storms could be "really devastating" for seal pups.

Sweet added: "Sea birds seem to love storms.

"Depending on the storm, they often fly towards it and often eat much better."

She said the fishing in the days following a storm was "generally much better".

It comes as the British Divers Marine Life Rescue charity in the Channel Islands appealed to islanders to keep an eye out for seal pups which may have got buffeted by the weather and become separated from their mothers.

A pup died on Jersey before it could be sent to Guernsey's GSPCA to be cared for there.

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