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State of Nature
On the 14th September, the State of Nature report was released, detailing the state of British wildlife.
This extensive report brings together data and expertise from over 50 organisations, including MARINElife, and outlines the rise, or decline, of our species, from plant life to vertebrates.
The report makes for concerning reading, with 56% of the species studied having declined over recent decades, and over 10% of all the species assessed being under threat of disappearing from our shores altogether.
Despite the doom and gloom, there are success stories. Targeted conservation works, and the report highlights several such cases, proving that with sufficient determination, resources, and public support, the fortunes of our wildlife around can be turned around.
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Cetacean Protection
There has been some good news for cetaceans these last couple of weeks.
A new Special Area of Conservation (SAC) has been set up to help protect harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the waters off western Scotland. The SAC has been created in the Inner Hebrides and Minches, and is the largest conservation area for the marine mammal in Europe. However, the UK is lagging behind in its protection of these tiny marine mammals, and is feeling the repercussions.
The great whales also had a reason to give a sigh of relief. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) upheld a key decision that currently prevents the trade (except in exceptional circumstances) of Appendix I whales, at this year’s meeting in Johannesburg.
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Dolphin Distribution
Along with the State of Nature report, two other reports, which MARINElife had a hand in producing, were published in September.
The reports present analysis of photo identification work undertaken by MARINElife, in partnership with Natural England, for Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and White-Beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris), in English waters.
The full reports can be read by clicking the links above, but as a summary, the bottlenose dolphin report notes three likely sub-populations of the dolphins in the western English Channel, whereas the white beaked dolphin report highlights coastal ranges, as well as the discrete nature of the Lyme Bay population.
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Condor Press Release
This summer has provided our ferry-based researchers with plentiful marine animal sightings. Such was the case with Condor Ferries’ Portsmouth to Guernsey trip, motivating them to release a press statement of the fact.
Condor Ferries passengers can also get involved with select MARINElife day trips, which sail from Poole to Guernsey on Condor's fast ferry service. Our onboard Wildlife Officer will guide you in spotting and identify marine species.
There’s currently two trips left this year (October 12th and 21st) so if you fancy seeing what’s out there, you’ll need to book soon.
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Look, but Don’t Touch
It’s seal pup season! These doe-eyed, white fluff-balls are starting to appear along our shoreline, and some people find it quite tempting to get close to them for the obligatory selfie, or worry that a lonely pup needs rescuing.
First up, despite their cute and amiable appearance, these are wild animals, and will defend themselves. A bite from a seal comes with a large dose of bacteria, which could lead to a condition known as ‘seal finger’. No selfie is worth the possibility of loosing a finger!
Secondly, a lone seal pup isn’t always an abandoned pup. It’s mother will quiet likely be in the sea, watching from a safe distance, and any disturbance to a pup could cause it to become properly abandoned.
If you see a seal pup on the beach, keep your distance, keep any dogs on a leash, and if you’re concerned for its welfare, call the appropriate authorities, who can then assess the situation, and intervene if necessary.
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Training Weekends and Courses
We have just one 1-day course left this year, but never fear, 2017 brings with it more opportunities to learn how to watch for, and identify, marine life. Presently we have three courses lined up for the beginning of next year, with more on the way.
● Saturday 12th November 2016 with Living Coasts, Beacon Quay, Torquay ● Saturday 28th January 2017 with Gwent Wildlife Trust at Derek Upton Centre, Whitewall Road, Magor ● Saturday 1st April 2017 with Somerset Wildlife Trust at Callow Rock Offices, Shipham Road, Near Cheddar ● Saturday 6th May 2017 with Suffolk Wildlife Trust at Carlton Marshes, Carlton Colville, Lowerstoft
See our website for more information and booking details.
Also, we’re finalising details for our 5-day Lundy 2017 experience. There’ll only be 12 places available, so email soon to register your interest.
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In Other News
"Atlantic cod" by Peter Edin is licensed under CC BY 2.0
When you think of the dawn chorus, you probably think of the cacophony of bird song that wakes you up at the crack of dawn on a summer’s morn. But did you know the same thing happens under the waves? Recent recordings from Australia show just that. Soloist fish lead the way, repeating the same calls over and over, but other fish lend their voice, overlapping their calls, and creating their very own dawn and dusk choruses.
But Australia's fish aren’t alone in ‘singing’, British fish do too, leading some scientists to worry about the possible effects of climate change and ocean noise on our cod and haddock. Because just as birds call to entice a partner and maintain a territory, so do fish. Unsurprisingly, with increasing ship traffic comes the increased likelihood of fish song being drowned out. But climate change could bring a different problem, you see, our fish may have regional accents, just like we and some cetaceans do. As populations from further south move into our waters, because of shifting sea temperature, there’s a possibility that these new-comers won’t recognise our fish’s call of love, hampering future breeding.
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