Reporting sightings

Reporting the marine wildlife that you see can make a big contribution to managing the marine environment. Pembrokeshire Marine SAC covers a large area and, as with the marine environment in general, there are still many things we do not know about the marine life that lives here. If you are out and about on the coast, on the sea or under the sea, you can help improve our understanding of marine species and their management needs by reporting your discovery.

You can report your Pembrokeshire wildlife sightings directly to the West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre. But please do also feel free to contact us with any unusual sightings or if you cannot identify what you have found – we’d love to hear from you.

Other projects and initiatives which you can get involved with are:

Otters

Otter spotters in Pembrokeshire are encouraged to report sightings directly to the West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre. Include information about whether it is a live sighting, tracks or spraint, or roadkill. But please do contact us too especially if you have been lucky enough to photograph an otter – we’d love to hear from you.

Cetaceans (dolphins, whales and porpoise)

Report your sighting of a dolphin, whale or porpoise to help monitor and better understand the numbers and locations: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/sightingsform/.

Injured marine life

To report injured marine wildlife in Pembrokeshire immediately contact:

• Wales Marine Life Rescue 07970 285086 or 01646 692943,
• RSPCA hotline 0300 1234 999 or
• British Divers Marine Life Rescue hotline 01825 765546 (office hrs); 07787 433412 (out of hrs).

You will be given advice about what to do.

UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP)

If you come across a dead marine dolphin, whale, porpoise, seal, basking shark or turtle along the coast, get in contact with CSIP at http://www.strandings.com/ to report it. If the animal is still alive report immediately as for injured marine life.

When reporting a dead stranding please give a clear description of location, species if known, overall length and condition of the animal (such as fresh or very decomposed). Depending on the location and condition the team may also retrieve the animal for investigation at post-mortem to allow the cause of death to be established.

You can also report a stranding by phone 0800 652 0333 or Facebook.

Any pictures of Welsh strandings can also be sent to info@strandings.com.

Turtles

Of the world’s seven marine turtle species, six have been recorded in UK waters. They are the leatherback, loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, olive ridley, green and hawksbill turtles.

The leatherback, the largest marine turtle, is the species most frequently recorded in UK waters. Each summer, leatherbacks migrate to UK waters where they feed on jellyfish. The Marine Conservation Society are keen to record sightings of marine turtles from across the UK. They also record sightings of jellyfish. Wildlife sightings  Marine Conservation Society (mcsuk.org).

Project Seagrass

Help Project Seagrass better understand seagrass distribution and health by sharing your seagrass sightings to the Seagrass Spotter map: www.seagrassspotter.org/map. Find out more about Project Seagrass at www.projectseagrass.org.

The Great Eggcase Hunt

Many elasmobranch (shark, skates & rays) species lay eggcases known as mermaid’s purses. When empty, they often wash up on the shore, especially along the strandline. By identifying and reporting these eggcases you can help the Shark Trust to better understand shark diversity and distribution. Eggcases underwater observed by snorkelers and divers can also be recorded. Record your sightings at www.sharktrust.org/great-eggcase-hunt.

Angel Shark Project: Wales

This project aims to better understand and safeguard the Critically Endangered Angelshark (Squatina squatina) through fisher engagement, heritage and citizen science. Find out more about the project and how you can get involved at www.angelsharknetwork.com/wales/.

Invasive non-native species (INNS)

INNS are animals or plants which have been introduced from parts of the world where they are naturally not found. They have the ability to damage the environment, economy, health and the way we live. To help understand and reduce the impact of INNS species, you can report sightings to the GB Non-native species secretariat www.nonnativespecies.org. The spread of INNS can be reduced by following biosecurity campaigns such as check clean dry (www.nonnativespecies.org/checkcleandry/).

Concerns about wildlife crime

To report reckless disturbance of marine wildlife or other suspected wildlife crimes, phone 101 (Police non-emergency number).

Pollution or activity concerns

If you suspect pollution, or have any concerns about damage to wildlife species or habitats contact Natural Resources Wales through their incident hotline on 0300 065 3000 or email icc@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk