This is one of the tiny bits of coral found on Coral Beach near Plockton in Scotland.  Originally it was pink but over the years has become bleached.  It is actually a unique small hard seaweed called maerl that deposits calcium in its cell walls as it grows, creating a hard skeleton, often looking like tiny twigs.  Vast numbers form “maerl beds” on the sea bed enabling protection and habitats for all sorts of marine plants and animals including very young fish such as cod, pollack and scallops.  It is found in only a few areas in Britain and mainly in western Scotland.   Link
Thanks to Incredibish for today’s “Rough” challenge.