The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society has been studying the cetaceans around Bardsey Island, in northern Cardigan Bay, since 1999. The aim of the project has been to collect baseline data on the cetaceans recorded there in order to evaluate the importance of the area is for each species. Risso's dolphins, bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises are regularly seen around the island and are the focus for our work.

We conduct land-based surveys from the cliff tops on Bardsey Island and
from the Lleyn Peninsula. These watches aim to systematically investigate
the abundance and distribution of porpoises around the Island in order to
establish the patterns of porpoise habitat use and highlight areas of key
importance. Porpoises use the waters around the Island to feed at
different tidal states and a relatively high proportion of young animals
have been seen over the years. Acoustic porpoise detectors (T-PODs) have
been deployed off the Island to monitor the presence of these animals at
times during which observations cannot be carried out.

Boat-based survey work is another facet of the project. We survey the
inshore waters south of the Lleyn Peninsula, towards Tremadog Bay, and the deeper waters, offshore, to the west of Bardsey Island itself. During
these voyages we have collected line-transect survey data and photographed Risso's and bottlenose dolphins. From the survey data we aim to derive an estimate for the abundance of harbour porpoises in the two areas and, by analysing the photographs, we may be able to relate individuals or groups of animals in this area to other areas. For instance, the bottlenose dolphins catalogued in these studies may also be recorded in other parts of Cardigan Bay. Similarly, the Risso’s dolphins we have photographed may frequent other areas of the West coast of the UK.

A number of different volunteers have been engaged in the project over the
years, and we have also worked with local fishermen and residents on the
Island. A key aim of the project is to make people living on the Lleyn
aware that dolphins and porpoises inhabit their waters regularly and that
the area is important for them on a local and, we believe, national scale.