Marine Life & Conservation
My Summer as National Whale and Dolphin Watch Assistant for Sea Watch Foundation
Last summer I was lucky enough to spend my time studying dolphins and helping to organise a UK wide event surveying dolphins. Within this fantastic role as National Whale and Dolphin Watch (NWDW) Assistant, I got to talk to hundreds of different people from around the country and all different walks of life, as well as spending my days watching dolphins from my office window!
I applied to volunteer with the Sea Watch Foundation during the end of 2016, desperate to use my passion for cetaceans (dolphins, whales, and porpoises) in the UK. New Quay was perfect, a lovely view of dolphins in their natural habitat from my desk and hardly a minutes’ walk to the pier where dolphins could be seen nearly daily. Sea Watch’s Sightings Officer took a huge chance on me, as the youngest person all season, and one of the only undergraduates, I’m glad I didn’t disappoint! Having the chance to work with different people from all walks of life was amazing! I was surrounded by talking cheat codes on how to thrive in marine conservation.
My summer with Sea Watch allowed me learn so many new skills and get some great experience in event management and being organised! As well as getting to spend countless hours assisting with vital research on one of only two resident pods of Bottlenose Dolphins in the UK.
I made contacts all around the country and learn such amazing things, from the first minke sighting of the season in Yorkshire, to how often pods of 50+ bottlenose dolphins are spotted in the Channel Islands. I gained such an appreciation for the vast variety and abundance of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) around the UK, helped from the wonderful regional coordinators that Sea Watch have, as well as the different students and interns that join the team in New Quay each summer.
The first half of my time with Sea Watch was a lot of admin, currently I have sent over 3000 emails in the six months I’ve been here, posted over 200 watch packs, and publicised countless events. It’s not all emails and paperwork though! I got to channel my artistic side with posters and leaflets, even helping decorate statues for our local events!
Apart from my NWDW jobs, I also got to take part in training courses, surveys, and public engagement! It’s lucky I love talking, though I’m sure people wish I talked less about dolphins. Now that our season in New Quay is over, I’m sure the locals definitely appreciate me not walking into their stores with a different event to advertise every couple of weeks!
National Whale and Dolphin Watch is an enormous time for Sea Watch, it’s an extra push during the summer to involve and educate more people. With events taking place all around the country, and fun games and activities every day in New Quay, it’s the most tiring and fun week I’ve ever have! Even if it rains most days like it did this year!
After NWDW finishes, you’ll be chasing people for their effort forms, apologising for the typical British weather, and beginning the almost endless job of data entry. Data entry might sound dull, but it’s fantastic, you get to learn what everyone saw, as well as the odd amusing comments, like a daring jellyfish rescue! Plus if you’re like me, you’ll love seeing how many hours were completed compared to others, as well as watching your species count go up and up…
After NWDW, I spent a lot of my time completing data entry, getting exciting as our species count went up and up, finishing with 11 different species during our 2017 NWDW. To find out more about last years’ results the report is here.
Working with the Sea Watch Foundation gave me a new found appreciation for the importance of education and awareness, especially within the UK, as people seem blinded to the fact we do get lots of different cetacean species! My summer in New Quay was, exhausting, rewarding, inspiring and utterly unforgettable! But don’t just take my word for it, why not apply and see for yourself..!
For more information about the Sea Watch Foundation please visit their website by clicking here.
Photo credits: Sea Watch Foundation
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
-
- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
-
- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
-
- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
-
- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
-
- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.
Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.
On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.
Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.
Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.
Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”
The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.
To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.
-
News1 month agoIconic SS United States to become the World’s Largest Artificial Reef
-
Blogs3 months agoNovoScuba’s Game-Changing Approach for Dive Store Owners: WE PAY YOU!
-
News2 months agoBook Review – 52 Assignments: Underwater Photography
-
Gear News2 months agoDYNAMICNORD – New German diving brand enters the British market
-
News2 months agoExploring Cenote El Pit: A Diver’s Dream
-
Gear News2 months agoTry BARE drysuits (and maybe even win one!) this Friday with Sea & Sea at North West Dive Fest
-
News3 months agoComing Soon – 52 Assignments
-
News3 months agoSave £200 per person per week at Pole Pole Lodge with Dive Worldwide