Subphylum Urochordata: Tunicates

Subphylum Euchordata (vertebrata) : Pisces

Sea squirts are collected from the intertidal and sublittoral for human consumption and for bait in some parts of the world, including the Mediterranean and east Asia, but not in the UK. The introduced ascidian Styela clava, common in the sublittoral of some south coast harbours, is an important edible species in Korea and other parts of its natural range.

Only a small number of fishes occur in the intertidal, and very few of these are collected to any extent. The exceptions include some small fishes regularly found hiding under rocks or in rock pools, which may be taken for aquaria or possibly for bait. Examples of these are the rocklings, blennies, butterfish, and cling fish. Such collection may have significant nature conservation implications in the case of rarities, e.g. the giant goby, Gobius cobitis Palas, which occurs in high level tide pools in Cornwall. Additionally, sand eels (lesser sand eel Ammodytes tobianus Linnaeus, and greater sand eel Hyperoplus lanceolatus (Lesauvage)) occur buried in sandy beaches below the mid tide level and are common on all UK coasts. These important bait species are more likely to be taken with seine nets in shallow water than dug on the shore.

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