Every year, scientists at the Sea Watch Foundation lead a campaign to get members of the general public contributing to science to protect whales & dolphins and they’re calling on you to get involved!

Short-beaked common dolphins alongside a tourist boat during the 2016 National Whale and Dolphin Watch
(Photo: Newquay Sea Safaris & Fishing/ Sea Watch Foundation)

For over forty years, Sea Watch Foundation scientists as well as volunteer observers all around the coast have been reporting on whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans) to inform Sea Watch’s huge database of records. In fact, the scheme is one of the oldest and longest running citizen science schemes in the worlds. Now it’s your turn to take part in their flagship summer event, the ‘National Whale & Dolphin Watch’ which is now in its 16th year. National Whale and Dolphin Watch 2017 takes place 29 July – 6 August and, with your help, could be the most successful ever!

“Many people don’t realise the wealth of whales and dolphins we have around our coasts. You don’t need to go abroad to go whale watching or to have a dolphin experience. In recent years we’ve seen an unusually high number of humpback whale sightings around the UK, for example, and we have some amazingly reliable dolphin-spotting locations” says Kathy James, Sightings Officer for Sea Watch Foundation. “And you’d be surprised at what you see even in places that aren’t designated hotspots; it’s all about getting out there to spot the animals using your patch and reporting what you see. Ultimately, even if you don’t see any cetaceans during a watch, that information is just as valuable to us as it helps us to build a picture all around the UK.”

Sea Watch volunteer Hannah, taking part in her first National Whale and Dolphin Watch last year.
She’s taking part again this year of course, she’s hooked!
(Photo: Sea Watch Foundation)

“All that people need to do to take part is to report their whale and dolphin sightings to us and to either participate in the advertised organised watches or to arrange their own. No experience is necessary!” adds Kathy.

Among the incredible species to be seen around our shores are the enigmatic killer whale!
These were photographed from the shore at Wick just a number of weeks ago.
(Photo: Colin Bird/ Sea Watch Foundation)

During the nine-day 2016 event, eleven different whales and dolphins were recorded in UK waters as well as the tiny harbour porpoise which measures just a metre and a half when fully grown. Some 1424 sightings were logged and 7622 individual animals included! For more facts and figures from last years’ event, please see the 2016 National Whale and Dolphin Watch report.

As the smallest of the UK’s cetaceans, harbour porpoise are often over-looked despite being the most widespread to be spotted.
(Photo: Mick Baines/ Sea Watch Foundation).

It’s often only the small length of back and the broad-based triangular dorsal fin of the harbour porpoise that is seen, but breaches and bow-riding have both been witnessed too!
(Photo: M Reichelt/ Sea Watch Foundation)

The National Whale and Dolphin Watch 2017 is just days away and the research charity behind the event are urging people to register now to run watches of their own to contribute valuable data for the protection of these magnificent species! Please get in touch to find out more and to take part.

How to Take Part

• Find out more about the event: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdw
• Join a registered event: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdw-2017-watch-list (please note that new events are being added all the time so keep looking!)
• Register your own watch: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdw-2017