The National Whale and Dolphin Watch is an opportunity for everyone to help improve knowledge about the whales, dolphins and porpoises that live off, and visit, the UK coast this summer. This year's watch will take place between 18 to 26 July.
Many people in the UK do not realise just how many species of marine mammals live off and regularly visit the UK coast. In total 28 different species have been recorded in the UK and Irish waters waters and we hope that during the watch period we will be able to record many of the 13 species that occur regularly in our seas, and perhaps some of the visiting species as well.
We see a number of different dolphin species around the entire coast of the UK as well as harbour porpoises, together with sightings of whales, particularly off the Scottish coast. The more we can understand their behaviours, the more we can help ensure that the best measures are put in place to protect our marine mammals, and data from the watch feeds into those scientific discussions.
My main role will be to improve public education by working with others throughout the UK to report sightings and other environmental information that is available to everyone. We are hoping that more people than ever before will join us on the watch.
Organised by the marine research charity, the Sea Watch Foundation, and sponsored by BG Group, The National Whale and Dolphin Watch is in its eighth year.
During the Watch, trained coordinators will be holding watches at locations around the coasts of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. Anyone can join the coordinators to help record sightings - it's free. Alternatively individuals can send in records of any sightings they make independently during the Watch period.
Mid Wales
New Quay Pier
18-26 July 7am-9pm
Mwnt Hill
18 July 9am-4pm
22 July 9am-4pm
Aberporth Headland
25 July 9am-4pm
Aberystwyth (jetty next to RNLI station off New Promenade)
18 July 7am-3pm
19 July 7am-3pm
25 July 7am-3pm
26 July 7am-3pm
Full details of the watches can be found on the 'where to watch' pages at the Sea Watch Foundation website which has a link to it on the right hand side of this page. There are watches planned in North, West and South Wales. Details are listed on the attached document.
Article by Gemma Veneruso
your comments
Eaton
New Quay, Wales... spent a lot of money to see three sea gulls. The Triplets picked the venue for our hols due to what i read on net, very disappointed. This was three years ago and they still bend my ear.
Sun Oct 4 19:23:59 2009
Dawn Smith North Norfolk
We visited New Quay at the end of july 09 and had terrible weather but this was made better with lots of sightings of dolphins in the harbour and further along the coast at Mwnt, well worth a visit.
Mon Sep 14 07:09:59 2009
Louise Jones from Kegworth
We have just returned from a week in New Quay Wales. We saw several dolphins around the hrbour area on Monday 20th evening, Tues 21st 7am and evening and Weds 22nd 7.30am. It was beautiful to see these magnificant creatures swimming free. The children really enjoyed it too.
Sun Jul 26 08:59:17 2009
Emily T Griffiths, Menai Bridge
Swimming with the dolphins is not practiced in the UK. The animals are much larger and more aggresive. Actively getting in the water with any marine mammal is viewed as harrassment.In short, you can't.
Fri Jul 17 09:34:11 2009
michael johnson, cowes isle of wight
would love to know where you can swim with dolphins. any information would be apprieciated
Tue May 19 10:34:50 2009
Have you taken part in a National Whale and Dolphin Watch? What were your experiences? Add your comments here:
