Whale and dolphin watchers wanted

The marine research charity Sea Watch is seeking nature lovers and local yachtsmen and women who will be willing to spend time watching out from the coast of south west Scotland and in coastal waters during this summer’s National Whale and Dolphin Watch (NWDW).
Common dolphins and harbour porpoise are regularly seen around the area and fin whales and bottlenose dolphins are also seen occasionally.
But last year, a northern bottlenose whale was spotted around Portpatrick in June and another around Wigtown Sands in August.
Observers can carry out watches from land or, if they have access to a boat, from sea and no experience is necessary. Key watch locations include Corsewall Point, Black Head, Ardwell Point, Mull of Galloway, Burrow Head and Southerness Point.
All volunteers will be sent information about what to look for and how to record their sightings. If enough people apply there may be opportunities to ‘buddy up’ with other local enthusiasts.
National Whale and Dolphin Watch is being held from August 7 - 15. Information gathered creates a snapshot of the distribution of dolphins, whales and porpoises – cetaceans - around the coast, feeding into scientific discussions on abundance and distribution. Thirteen different species are known to live in or regularly visit UK waters.
Sea Watch Sightings Officer Gemma Veneruso said: “We are hoping to recruit people who are willing to commit to spend some time during the watch looking out at locations near where they live. Any time that they can spare would be appreciated. We have some observers who do watches all day every day and others who do one two-hour watch and it is all beneficial.
“They will need binoculars. A compass is useful, but not essential, as is a camera. I will be sending out detailed information to all volunteers about the species they can expect to see locally, how to identify them and the sort of information we need recording.
“Volunteers’ sightings will be in addition to public watches which will be held at various points along the coast and will supplement our existing observers and co-ordinators. We are hoping to build as comprehensive picture as possible of what species are around our coast during that period.
“We would also like to ask any local environmental organisations/centres or commercial boat operators to be involved in the event by doing their own watches.”
Sea Watch collects sightings data all year round which helps to feed into discussions to help shape marine conservation policies aimed at protecting the whales, dolphins and porpoises around our coast.
To become an observer, or for more information on Sea Watch’s sightings network and other research projects, see www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk.
Anyone interested should contact Gemma at Sea Watch on 01545 561227 or email her at HYPERLINK "mailto:sightings@seawatchfoundation.org.uk" sightings@seawatchfoundation.org.uk
If you wish to support the work of Sea Watch but unable to commit to time during National Whale and Dolphin Watch you can support their research through HYPERLINK "http://www.adoptadolphin.org.uk"www.adoptadolphin.org.uk . All monies raised through the campaign help fund Sea Watch’s research.