"The Sea Watch Foundation is a national marine environmental charity set up to monitor cetacean populations in British and Irish waters. Our mission is to achieve better conservation of whales and dolphins in the seas around Britain and Ireland, by involving the public in scientific monitoring of populations and the threats they face, and by the regular production of material to educate, inform, and lobby for better environmental protection.

The Foundation has a small dedicated staff based in Oxford and New Quay (West Wales) who work in unique partnership with a network of around two thousand volunteers drawn from all walks of life and from all parts of the British Isles. Together, they gather new information essential for the conservation of these marine mammals, monitoring their distribution and status changes.

Although regular surveys are needed throughout all sea areas of the British Isles, some regions require special attention either because they have particularly diverse marine mammal faunas or because they hold important populations of certain species. The Shetland Isles, Hebrides, and waters west of Wales are identified as areas requiring special attention through dedicated surveys; whilst particular species that would benefit from conservation biology projects include: bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, and harbour porpoises in the Irish Sea and Channel; and minke whales and white-beaked dolphins in Scotland.

At the Sea Watch Foundation's Welsh office we are dedicated to raising awareness, knowledge and conservation of the marine wildlife of West Wales through research and education.

We are studying the bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and Atlantic grey seal populations found within Cardigan Bay, in particular within the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Pen Llyn A'r Sarnau SAC. We are also conducting research into common dolphins off the coast of south-west Wales.

The purpose of our research is to monitor these populations by determining abundance, distribution and habitat use, to gain information to aid the conservation of these animals and the wider marine environment of Cardigan Bay. We further study the populations in more detail looking at social structure, long term site fidelity, habitat preference, movements, life histories, and acoustic behaviour.

It is also important to look into indicators of the condition of the bottlenose dolphins and ascertain factors that may affect the populations such as the condition of the supporting habitat and any anthropogenic activities within the sites.

To conduct our research we use non-invasive research methods such as photo-identification, acoustic studies using hydrophones and click detectors (T-PODS), line-transect surveys and land-based surveys.

The Sea Watch Foundation aims to encourage a wider understanding of the importance and diversity of life found within the marine and coastal environments of the British Isles, with particular emphasis on the cetaceans inhabiting these waters.

Within Wales, we are working to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of the local marine wildlife, the habitats supporting them, and conservation issues affecting them, to encourage respect and conservation of the area and its wildlife for future generations.

We are doing this by running training courses, producing interpretational materials, developing and disseminating public awareness information, conducting outreach awareness raising initiatives, and providing education programmes for local schools linked directly to the Welsh National Curriculum."

Written by Helen Bates from the Sea Watch Foundation.

Sea Watch Foundation Photos...

---

The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre also monitors the local dolphin population...

---