'Whales in Wales' pools expertise

Bottlenose dolphins have conservationists puzzled

Marine wildlife watchers in Wales are joining forces to give better protection to sea creatures.

Whales in Wales has been formed to co-ordinate conservation efforts.

The charity Sea Trust - which recorded the phenomenon of 2,000 dolphins off Pembrokeshire - is behind the idea.

Chairman Cliff Benson said: "We knew there were lots of organisations doing the same kind of good work, but mostly in isolation. It makes sense to join together."

Others involved are Marine Awareness North Wales, Friends of Cardigan Bay, Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Group, Gower Marine Mammal Group, and the Welsh Marine Stranding Network.

"We have set up Whales in Wales to form a partnership of local groups that can cover the whole of the Welsh coast as a joined-up entity for research monitoring and recording," said Cliff Benson, chairman of Sea Trust - the marine branch of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

One of the first tasks the group has set itself is to find out what happens to bottlenose dolphins in the winter.

Cliff Benson wants closer cooperation between marine conservation groups

"Bottlenose dolphins are commonly seen from Fishguard to Anglesey during the summer months, but we don't know much about where they go or what they do when the winter comes," said Mr Benson.

"We will monitor, film, and photograph bottlenose dolphins outside the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and see if they match up with those recorded locally."

All the marine organisations rely on volunteer help to carry out their work as efficiently as possible, and new helpers are always needed.

Volunteers, however, need to be trained in accurate identification skills. This year, working in partnership with Pembrokeshire College, Sea Trust has devised the first accredited Wildlife Observer Wales (WOW) course.

Qualifications

"Our volunteers are our most important resource and without their contribution Sea Trust could not function," said Mr Benson.

"We began discussing as to how we might get some qualification for our volunteers in recognition of the skills they were acquiring.

"Along with Pembrokeshire College and Dr Steve Morris, we have put together the first WOW course, which is of the same level as access to higher education courses.

"Several of them can be put together as credit towards entry on a degree course."

Trial sessions were held during the summer and the course has now been registered by Dr Morris. The trust hopes to offer courses starting in May 2006.