Frequently Asked Questions

What is NWDW about?
Research has shown that there is little awareness in the UK of the tremendous diversity of whales, dolphins and porpoises to be found around our shores. The aim of this Event is to give a general 'snapshot' of what is around UK coastal waters over a short period of time. As well as gaining valuable research data, we hope this will draw attention to the conservation of our marine environment.

What species are people likely to see?
A staggering 28 species of whale and dolphin have been recorded in our waters, more than a quarter of the entire British mammal fauna. It is quite possible to see a whale in various parts of Britain and, in a number of localities, there are resident populations of a range of dolphin species. The most commonly reported species are bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and minke whale, depending on where you are in the British Isles.

How many sightings do you expect during the week?
This will depend on weather conditions and varies from year to year. In the first year of NWDW (2002) 380 sightings were received and a total of 1695 whales and dolphins were seen. Last year there were more than 500 sightings reported.

Who can help?
Anyone who wants to and who is in the UK anytime from the weekend of 12/13 August to the weekend of 19/20 August when the main event will take place. So, whether you are planning a trip to the coast, travelling on a ferry in UK waters, sailing for fun, or just near the coast - you will have the perfect opportunity to take part. Your input will help give us a "snapshot" view of the status and distribution of the many cetaceans in our coastal waters.

Why now?
Threats to whales and dolphins have never been so great, and yet for several species we lack anything but a rudimentary knowledge of their status and distribution. The more coastal species like harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphin are specially exposed to the detrimental effects of human activities, and both have undergone significant declines in past decades.

What are the main threats?

  • Fishing nets: recent independent observer programmes have shown that at least 10,000 porpoises are dying from being entangled in fishing gear, particularly bottom set gill nets. In the central and northern North Sea, this mortality (4,450 out of an estimated population of 36,000) represents over 6% of the porpoise population in that region. In July 2000 in Bristol, at the third meeting of the Parties to the International Agreement ASCOBANS, a resolution was passed concluding that an annual by-catch of 1.7% or more could cause the population to decline, was unacceptable, and therefore required immediate action. Attempts are currently under way to remedy the situation.

  • Over-fishing: over-exploitation of stocks such as sprats, sand-eels, herring, whiting, mackerel and haddock have all imposed pressure on cetaceans dependant on them for food.
  • Chemical pollution: amongst the highest levels of pollutants ever recorded in marine mammals have been found in dolphins from the UK. Levels of PCBs, DDT, cadmium and mercury are causing most concern.
  • Noise pollution: the effects of disturbance from marine traffic and seismic exploration for oil and gas have been studied elsewhere in the world and have shown significant negative responses, particularly by baleen whales. Recent offshore exploration along the edge of the continental shelf west and north of Scotland (the Atlantic Margin or Atlantic Frontier) is likely to impinge upon the lives of the blue whale, fin whale, sei whale and humpback populations living there.
  • Collisions with vessels: the growing interest in speed boats and jet skis poses a serious threat to dolphins, a significant number of which are now being found with propeller cuts. At the same time there has been a recent growth in the use of high speed ferries. Travelling at around 45 knots they have already been reported killing a number of sperm whales and pilot whales in the Straits of Gibralter and Canary Islands.
  • Hunting: the 1990s saw a resumption of hunting in the guise of scientific whaling, with Norway now having an annual take of 700-800 minke whales in waters north and east of Scotland.

How can people get involved?
People with experience of "official watches" who can quite readily identify species just need some sightings forms (downloaded from www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk) a pen, and some binocular.

“First timers" or people who need a bit of help in identifying a whale, dolphin or porpoise can also head for a manned site. Sites will be manned mainly over the final weekend of August, by experienced Sea Watch observers, but please note that sites may be manned at different times of the day so please contact the local co-ordinator first to register your interest and to find out more. A list of co-ordinators manning sites is available on Regional Groups page

How do people identify species?
There are photos on the website, co-ordinators at manned sites can also help, alternatively there are training courses prior to the event.

What about boat trips?
Wildlife Tour Operators all over the UK are taking part in the weekend. More details of the operators are available on our website. Please note that spaces on most boat trips need to be reserved first. Prices vary for these trips and you should contact the relevant Operator direct first of all. All Marine Wildlife Operators abide by a voluntary code of conduct.

Is it hard to record data?
Different sightings forms are available depending on whether or not you are a beginner and where you are watching from.

If you don’t have much experience in watching, but would like to go out during the weekend either to a headland or on a boat, the simple sightings form is the one to use.

  • If you are a more experienced observer and would like to do systematic timed watches, the following forms are available:
    • If you are watching from land, you will need the land-based effort recording form.
    • If you are watching from a boat, you will need the vessel-based effort recording form.
  • An additional form that can be used for more detailed information on each sighting is the cetacean sighting recording form.

All the above-mentioned sightings forms are available to download from our website.

What are the chances of seeing something?
Most sightings are usually made in the west, particularly in Cardigan Bay, the north of Scotland, Devon and Cornwall, also the Channel Islands. However, some species may be seen in the North Sea and off the Kent and Sussex coasts on occasions.

What is Sea Watch?
The Sea Watch Foundation is a registered charity set up by Dr Peter Evans and Paul Vodden with funding from the Department of the Environment and help from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. It was formed from the Cetacean Group of the UK Mammal Society that had been in existence since 1973. The Foundation’s aims are to improve the conservation of whales and dolphins in the seas around Britain and Ireland by involving the public in scientific monitoring of populations and the threats they face, and by the regular production of material to educate, inform and lobby for better environmental protection. Today, Sea Watch is staffed by a small team based in Oxford who work in partnership with a network of volunteers drawn from all walks of life and from all parts of the British Isles. They work together to gather information that is essential for the conservation of cetaceans, for monitoring their distribution and for noting any significant changes to their status. Last year alone, Sea Watch recorded nearly 10,000 sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises, many within sight of our shores.

The SWF has been advising government, NGOs, wildlife and environmental groups for a quarter of a century, and has played an important part in monitoring the state of Britain’s cetaceans. It has provided vital information on the status and distribution of these wonderful creatures and helped shape current legislation (the Wildlife and Countryside Act, the Countryside Rights Of Way Act, the EU Habitats and Species Directive and ASCOBANS - the international Agreement for the Conservation Of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic and North Seas).

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