Marine Life & Conservation
2013 Wildlife wonders spotted from the Cornwall to Isles of Scilly Passenger Ferry Scillonian III
Photo by Paul Semmens
A fantastic season of wildlife watching from the Scillonian III has just finished for another year. The waters between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly were abundant with a variety of marine life throughout the summer, from a leatherback turtle to a minke whale.
Wildlife expert Paul Semmens, who has worked for Cornwall Wildlife Trust and the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust for over twenty years, carried out regular wildlife monitoring trips and helped passengers to see harbour porpoises, common dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, basking sharks and ocean sunfish.
He also spotted a wide variety of birds, including puffins, razorbills, Balearic, sooty and Manx shearwaters, and observed the highwaymen of the sea – great, pomarine and Arctic skuas, which rob other birds of their hard-earned fish.
Paul Semmens commented: “After a slow start it has been another record season for sightings from the ship. It was great that for the second year running we spotted the gigantic leatherback turtle, here to feed on jellyfish. Also attracted by the jellyfish were higher than normal numbers of ocean sunfish that occurred from mid summer onwards. My personal highlight was on one October crossing when we saw around 400 common dolphins, with group after group leaping towards the ship for over an hour!”
Sharon Sandercock of Isles of Scilly Travel, who supported Paul’s monitoring trips, said: “We were delighted to support Cornwall Wildlife Trust to monitor and increase awareness of the amazing wildlife that can be seen on this crossing. We are proud that the Scillonian III plays such an important part in looking after local wildlife as well as providing a year-round connection between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”
If you see any marine life whilst out and about, please send in your records to Cornwall Wildlife Trust via http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/livingseas/send_us_your_marine_sighting.
The Shark Trust is excited to announce that, for two more days only, all donations, large or small, will be doubled in the Big Give Green Match Fund!
Donate to Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants
The Shark Trust is hoping to raise £10k which will be doubled to £20k. This will go towards Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants. And they need YOUR help to reach they’re goal.
The Shark Trust’s citizen science project is to monitor and assess basking sharks through sightings; encouraging data collection, community engagement, and promoting nature accessibility. This initiative aims to enhance health and wellbeing by fostering a deeper connection with British Sharks.
Campaign Aims
- Increase citizen science reporting of Basking Sharks and other shark sightings to help inform shark and ray conservation.
- Provide educational talks about the diverse range of sharks and rays in British waters and accessible identification guides!
- Create engaging and fun information panels on how to ID the amazing sharks and rays we have on our doorstep! These can be used on coastal paths around the Southwest. With activities and information on how you can make a difference for sharks and rays!
- Promote mental wellbeing through increasing time in nature and discovering the wonders beneath the waves!
Donate, and double your impact. Click Here
Marine Life & Conservation
Leading UK-based shark conservation charity, the Shark Trust, is delighted to announce tour operator Diverse Travel as a Corporate Patron
Corporate Patrons provide a valuable boost to the work of The Shark Trust. The Trust team works globally to safeguard the future of sharks, and their close cousins, the skates and rays, engaging with a global network of scientists, policymakers, conservation professionals, businesses and supporters to further shark conservation.
Specialist tour operator Diverse Travel has operated since 2014 and is committed to offering its guests high quality, sustainable scuba diving holidays worldwide. Working together with the Shark Trust will enable both organisations to widen engagement and encourage divers and snorkellers to actively get involved in shark conservation.
“Sharks are truly at the heart of every diver and at Diverse Travel, we absolutely share that passion. There is nothing like seeing a shark in the wild – it’s a moment that stays with you forever!” says Holly Bredin, Sales & Marketing Manager, Diverse Travel.
“We’re delighted to celebrate our 10th year of business by becoming a Corporate Patron of the Shark Trust. This is an exciting partnership for Diverse and our guests. We will be donating on behalf of every person who books a holiday with us to contribute towards their vital shark conservation initiatives around the world. We will also be working together with the Trust to inspire divers, snorkellers and other travellers to take an active role – at home and abroad – in citizen science projects and other activities.”
Paul Cox, CEO of The Shark Trust, said:
“It’s an exciting partnership and we’re thrilled to be working with Diverse Travel to enable more divers and travellers to get involved with sharks and shark conservation. Sharks face considerable conservation challenges but, through collaboration and collective action, we can secure a brighter future for sharks and their ocean home. This new partnership takes us one more valuable step towards that goal.”
For more information about the Shark Trust visit their website here.
For more about Diverse Travel click here.
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