Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre

2012 All Day Cetacean Survey Trips

CBMWC are teaming up again this year with Dolphin Survey Boat Trips and Friends of Cardigan Bay to carry out some all day cetacean surveys throughout Cardigan Bay. This is your chance to join a Dolphin Survey Boat Trip aboard MV Sulaire with scientific teams from both organisations to see some fantastic marine life and contribute to dolphin conservation in Cardigan Bay as well as the opportunity to join a team of experts!

2012 dates:
Saturday 16th June
Saturday 30th June
Monday 9th July
Saturday 28th July
Monday 6th August
Saturday 18th August
Friday 7th September
Saturday 22nd September
Monday 1st October
Saturday 20th October
Monday 29th October

Please note in addition we will also be running all day cetacean surveys at short notice to take advantage of any ideal weather conditions. If you would like to be included on a mailing list to be notified of these short notice surveys then please contact CBMWC on info@cbmwc.org with your email address. Also keep an eye on our website, Facebook page, Twitter feeds.

For more details and to book your place on one of these unique boat trips please call CBMWC on 01545 560032 between 10am and 4pm. The cost is £55 per person for the day, payable in advance. Full refunds will be given if trips are cancelled by CBMWC. Places must be booked in advance due to limited spaces. All trips will depart from New Quay harbour and will last approximately 8 hours (occasionally longer depending on survey route for the day). Trip details will be confirmed upon booking.

Vessel information
Sulaire is a 33ft modern charter vessel licensed and insured to carry 14 people. She is equipped with the latest electronic and safety equipment. There is a toilet on board and a part sheltered deck area.

Hot drinks will be provided but please bring your own food, warm clothing, binoculars, sensible shoes and don’t forget your camera!

Please remember that these are wild animals, sightings cannot be guaranteed and that you are joining a scientific survey.

Marine Conservation Zones in Welsh waters

The Welsh Government’s first consultation on proposed Marine Conservation Zones has been launched. This first consultation considers 10 potential Marine Conservation Zones, however only 3-4 sites will be designated in 2014.  The new Marine Conservation Zones will be highly protected, where no extractive or depositional activities will be permitted within their boundaries. The consultation will run for 12 weeks and will close on 31st July. To find out more and have your say, click here.

Kayak Challenge 2012

The intrepid sea kayakers started their second attempt at cicumnavigating Wales by sea kayak on 19th April. Leaving from Aberthaw and heading west, we all have our fingers crossed that the weather improves and that they can complete the full 650 miles.

Follow their progress and make a donation on our dedicated web page here

Wales Coast Path Opening

The all Wales coast path is now officially open. If you are walking the coast path, why not come in and see us? We have copies of the Wildlife Trusts guide to the Wales coast path leaflet which has all their coastal reserves marked on a map and lists the wildlife you are most likely to see there.  Or you can also download the bilingual leaflet in pdf format here. It is a large format file, so if you would like to print a copy, it may be best to only select the relevant area.

Visitor centre now open for 2012

Our first wave of seasonal volunteers are now fully trained and the visitor centre is open for business sodo come and visit us. We are open 9am to 5pm Monday-Sunday. We hope to see you soon!

Skipper/guide needed for Dolphin Survey Boat Trips

Skipper/guide for dolphin and wildlife spotting boat trips

Dolphin Survey Boat Trips, New Quay, is recruiting a skipper/guide for its dolphin and wildlife spotting boat trips. 

The skipper/guide will be required to work under their own initiative following set routes and set time table reporting back to boat owner.

Your role will be to skipper either of two vessels acting as a wildlife guide on some occasions, making sure the vessel is fuelled, clean and fully equipped for forthcoming trips. Making sure the vessels are in the appropriate mooring for current and forecast weather conditions as well as additional work as directed by the boat owner.

This role will run from April through till the end of October. Other shore work may be available in the winter months.

The ideal candidate for this role would have previous experience skippering wildlife tours with suitable marine qualifications allowing operating up to 20 miles from any safe haven, have a good knowledge of the marine environment and be comfortable communicating this knowledge to his or her passengers. Punctuality and a professional appearance are essential qualities.

Salary to be negotiated depending on experience

The post is seasonal with opportunities for winter shore side work

Interviews to be held in New Quay at the end of February

 Applications to be received by February 20^th 2012

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter detailing your experience and suitability for this post to: steve@cbmwc.org or post your application to: Steve Hartley, Cilgraig, Gilfachreda, New Quay, Ceredigion SA45 9SP

www.dolphinsurveyboattrips.co.uk

Photo-identification match!

We have a match!

Join a dolphin Survey

Common Seal

We had a most unusual visitor to New Quay today (4th January 2012) in the form of a young common seal. Common seals, also known as harbour seals, are not commonly seen around the coasts of Wales.

Britain is home to about 40% of the world populations of the grey seals and historically there have been only a few sightings of common seals along the Welsh coasts. These few sightings have mainly been along the north Wales coast around Anglesey and Bardsey Island and along the south Wales coast but the majority of common seals in the UK are found around the coasts of Scotland and along the east and south coasts of England.

You can compare the difference between an Atlantic grey seal and a common (harbour) seal in the second row of images above. The common seal (middle image) has “v” shaped nostrils and a more defined forehead whilst the grey seal (left and right images) has a much flatter forehead and its nostrils are parallel with a much wider septum between the nostrils.

Unlike their name suggests common seals are actually not so common. In the last few years scientists have seen a dramatic decline in the number of common seals in Scottish waters. There are a few theories as to why the common seals in Scotland are in decline and one of these is that they face competition for food from the more robust Atlantic grey seals. I wonder where todays visitor came from?

Keep an eye on our website, Facebook page and twitter as we’ll keep you posted on any news we receive about our little visitor.

UPDATE: Having contacted the RSPCA West Hatch Centre we have some very sad news. Unfortunately the seal had to be euthanised upon arrival as it was having breathing difficulties and had gone down hill rapidly and would not be able to  recover. Common (harbour) seals are not as hardy as Atlantic Grey seals and we have had some terrible storms in the Irish Sea over recent weeks which may have contributed to the seals weakened state.

Thanks to Dave Jarvis BDMLR and Sue Sayer from Cornwall Seal Group for confirming our thoughts as to the species identity of the seal.

Marine Mammal Medic Course, 18th March 2012

British Divers Marine Life Rescue will be running a Marine Mammal Medic training course at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC), New Quay, Wales on Sunday 18th March 2012.

Book your place now with BDMLR.

Marine Mammal Medic Course at CBMWC, Sunday 18th March 2012. Booking essential

Report marine mammal strandings

A new report released by the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) has highlighted that over the last 6 years more than 3400 marine animals came ashore on Britain’s beaches. Whales, dolphins and basking sharks were just some of the sea creatures to wash ashore between 2005 and 2010 but a number of turtles were also recorded.

The programme has just been awarded another 3 years of funding from the devolved governments and CSIP is asking for hep from the public so that the programme can continue with its investigations. A new publicity campaign will be launched, including the production of an information leaflet to encourage the public to be the eyes and ears of CSIP.

Rob Deaville, Project Manager of the CSIP says “Without the help of the UK public over the last six years, we would not have been able to investigate strandings effectively. However, some strandings are still going unreported in the UK, so we are launching a new campaign to encourage more people to report stranded animals to us, helping build on our understanding of the threats that these charismatic species may face in UK waters.”

To read the CSIP report click here

To report a live stranding in Wales, please call the RSPCA on 08705 555 999. To report a dead stranding, please contact Marine Environmental Monitoring on 01348 875 000.

Now recruiting volunteers for 2012

Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) is recruiting now for volunteer visitor centre and bottlenose dolphin research assistants for the 2012 season (March to November). Find out more and apply