With wave heights currently rising above 15 feet  on the approaches to Milford Haven it would appear the danger to the boat crews of the round britain boat race should bring the race organisers to their senses.

It would appear that one boat struck “an underwater obstruction” on leaving the needles at the begining of the race. The last time we approached the Needles in the Cartlett Lady (April 2007) we were greeted by a single Bottlenose Dolphin I hope he was elswhere. I do not think the race organisers wish to get anything killed  but a boat hitting something in the opening minutes of the race seems to make my point pretty clearly.  Sea Trusts View has also been supported by the Welsh Assembly Government ;

“It’s disappointing that the potential to disturb marine wildlife was not considered as an integral part of the planning and management of this event,” said the spokesperson. “In Wales we have important and protected populations of seals, cetaceans and seabirds.” The assembly government said it was the race organisers’ responsibility if there was any damage to wildlife.

How do they know? Because Sea Trust is on the Welsh Assembly Governments,  Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group, and we pass on our reports to them through our Local Records Centres! -”Local People keeping an eye on and taking responsibility for the protection of our marine wildlife.”

I really do hope nothing gets hurt or injured due to this  pointless race. If they do it will clearly be the responsibility of the race organisers, allthingsgood, cliff

A Minke Whale  with very young calf was photographed on Saturday between Skomer and Grassholm, smack bang in the route the 2008 Round Britain Powerboat Race will be taking as it begins the third leg of the race starting from Milford Haven to Bangor N. Ireland. The Common Dolphins 50+ were just west of the Smalls, the route you would have to take if you were to avoid the Minke’s.  On Sunday we surveyed the area that the powerboats will use to approach Milford Haven as they complete the Plymouth to Milford Leg. Just outside the Haven, Harbour Porpoise were popping up all over the place and a pod of around 25 Common Dolphins feeding  in the proximity of Turbot Bank, all within two and a half miles off The Heads of the Haven.  Another pod of 150+ Commons were located twenty miles out south, bang on the approach course from Lands End. These animals many with calves and juveniles were  in quite a choppy sea difficult to spot at more than 200 metres. Powerboats will be travelling at speeds up to and over 80 miles per hour.

(the race leader averaged almost 70mph on the first leg.) Even if they saw the dolphins it might be impossible to take effective evasive action with no more than a couple of seconds to react.

The animals were well spread so if they could swerve to miss one lot they would pile into another. As dolphins are small smooth and soft I doubt they would even feel an impact in the boat. These boats tend to travel in a series of leaps and any animal within twenty feet would probably be concussed and drown.  A series of boats at intervals spread over a couple of miles would increase the chance of impact as well as causing mayhem amongst the pod splitting them and probably causing mothers and calves to separate.

The question we need to ask of the race organisers is ;

what are they hoping to achieve? What message does this send out to millions of school kids who are worried about climate change? “every little helps”…?  Who pays for this eco-madness?

allthingsgood,cliff

The following was passed on to me by Tom Luddington of The Pembrokeshire Coastal Forums Marine Code Group with regards to the Round Britain Powerboat Race which will send up to Fifty boats at speeds of up to 100mph through our dolphin rich pembrokeshire waters in late june (23rd)  

Tom I am the designated Safety Officer for this race. Mike has forwarded your information on to me for comment etc. I have had a good look at the information that you sent through and would make the following comments. We are aware of the sensitivity of the many sites all round this country that need special care and attention.

“I expect that the course line most boats will take will be past Skokholm Island on their Starboard and midway between Skomer Island and Grassholm Islands, thence to The Bishops and Clerks leaving them all to their Starboard. I expect them to be at least a mile off South Bishop and then continue on a course of due North up the Irish Sea. This may depend on the weather that day and if it is SW I expect that many will move across towards the West and some shelter from Ireland. If it is a nice day then the course will be right up the middle and not approach the Pembrokeshire coastline again.I feel that this course will give due protection to your sensitive areas of the South Pembrokeshire coastline.”

He must be kidding? the following is my response ;Hello Tom and Richard,                                                I think in 1984 I would have been excited at the prospect of this race, now I am dismayed.  It is a slap in the face to all the people who are trying to reduce their carbon footprint in the hope that Jeremy Clarkson’s children develop some respect for the environment, because its them and our children that will pay the price for this kind of environmental hooliganism. The area around the Pembrokeshire Islands is a Marine Special Area of Conservation. The whole area is famous for its marine wildlife.  Richard,  I do not think you have any Idea what potential  this event has to kill and maim dolphins and other marine wildlife.  Nesting seabirds are the least at risk.  As for being off the plane once you enter the Haven, from our point of view it’s about the only place you are unlikely to significantly  disturb wildlife. I suppose at least with F1  Cars there are millions of fans getting some kind of enjoyment out of it and I suppose there are more road kills on the M25 than Silverstone. There is an increasing public unease with this kind of event but The Round Britain Powerboat Race cannot even pretend it is a spectator sport. I am not sure what sponsors such as Tesco expect to get out of it and I will be writing to them,  asking that question. Do they really want to be seen as aiding and abetting the reckless disturbance and likely killing of Dolphins?   Firstly the thought of the pointless waste of fuel (5% bio-ethanol hardly makes it green) and whilst most of us are working out how to cut our energy usage, these thirsty powerboats (The biggest must be getting through upwards of 100 gallons per hour?) will be crashing through our cetacean rich sea’s at speeds that will make collisions with them unavoidable if they are in their path. I have consulted with experienced  local seafarers who  agree with this assessment. At this time of the year  the area between Grassholm and Skomer and also around the Smalls, can have huge rafts of tens of thousands of  off duty Shearwaters, Auks and other seabirds resting up between nest duty. Sea trust has encountered pods of hundreds of Common Dolphins in this area at this time of the year.  They can and do occur anywhere on either side of the St Georges Channel . Last week off the ferry we recorded Harbour Porpoise Common Dolphin  and Minke Whale.  On a passage aboard the Cartlett Lady from Neyland to Lymington via Plymouth we encountered a pod of over 100 Bottlenose Dolphins 20 miles north of Lands End.  On the return journey there were pods of Common Dolphins all the way from Lands End to  Turbot Bank. For fifty boats to be travelling through this area at speeds up to 70 knots it will be a miracle if no dolphins are killed or maimed.  I have spent many hundreds of hours watching our marine wildlife  at sea and from the land in these waters. Sea trust has published two reports on the cetaceans in Pembrokeshire Waters and are in the process of publishing a third.  Any activity that could pose a risk to protected wildlife should have had an environmental risk assessment. Had you done so you would have been aware of the issues.  As Tom has only just become aware of this event and I through Tom. It seems that such issues had not even occurred to you. Having given you this information which I will also do in writing there can be no excuse of ignorance. I will also be expressing my concerns to our colleagues in the Irish Whale and Dolphin group.   I will have to see what we can do in the short time available to us to try and negate this risk to our marine  wildlife and give you fair warning of my intention to do so.Yours sincerely Cliff Benson, Director, Sea Trust.

Looks like we have another battle on our hands….

 Just recieved this from Tom who won the excellent  hamper donated by The Whole-Food Shop, Newport…

Hello!

I’m so very sorry to have taken so long in getting back to you.  It’s been a week since we said we would!

Myself (Tom Bassett) and my wife Bryony Coupe were the ones who were very surprised and most grateful to receive the hamper at the last sponsored walk and porpoise watch at Strumble Head.  We’ve shown everyone (virtually!) the funky Seamanship Pocketbook, supped the Pinot Grigio at sunset, munched down a few too many chocolate bars, and have our morning tea out of the delightful mugs!  We still have a bounty left over - it’s truly a gift that keeps on giving!  Looking forward to the jam and preserves…

As I may have mentioned, Bryony’s doing her second degree here in Swansea, and I’m an architect-in-training, with a particular focus on sustainable building (a topic which, whilst hot, is only really paid lip service to by more than many…)  I heard about the walk through some of the activities I try to highlight in the office, and we really fancied it!  We had an amazing time, and it’s a part of Wales we’ll certainly return to (and bring others!)  We spent a wee bit of time after the walk bumbling about Strumble Head, then whistled over to Dinas Head (if I can call it that?) Went for a walk around there, tried to find the sunken Moby Dick (to no avail) and had an obligatory drink by the car park.  We then camped for the evening in Trefin before waking up and getting lost on the (fog-bound) coastal path on the way into St. David’s.  Eventually found our car again much later, and slowly coasted back to Swansea again.

Fabulous weekend, great walk and introduction to Strumble Head and its environs, great porpoise watching!, and a wonderful surprise to have been the recipients of such gracious a gift.  Thank you again - don’t be surprised to see us again on another SeaTrust event!  I’m now looking forward to introducing my nephew (from the States) to Scurvy Weed…

All the best,

Tom

 Despite a wet staert to the day over 60 people turned up as well as seals and porpoises. The wild flowers and streams of swallows arriving gave it a real spring feel as the sun began to shine and we delivered another great event!

allthingsgood,cliff

Hi Cliff

Just to let you know that when I got home last night Charlotte said she thought she had seen some activity off the fort. (Fishguard Harbour) She wasn’t sure what or how many exactly but thought it was a couple of dolphins.

I know Charlotte to be reliable but as the sighting was relatively vague, did not take it as positive proof.

At about five thirty pm Thursday, I had a call from Don Jackson, another Sea Trust volunteer that has a view of the harbour. He and his wife Ann, had also witnessed two Dolphins meeting up in the outer reaches of the harbour, one large one small before making their way out to sea.

I contacted Charlotte soon after and both reports tallied. Better still it coincided with the time we last sighted the  young dolphin  yesterday evening between 8- 8.30.

Basically it seems mumsy or someone came to rescue the youngster from the harbour! Disney couldn’t have done it better let’s hope this is a happy ending!  allthingsgood,cliff

Allthingsgood, cliff

Update midday Sunday 22nd April; Still no stranding reported, seems it is a happy ending!

Just to say Lorna and Ian Hipkins of the wholefood shop in Newport Pembrokeshire donated a hamper to our Easter event which was cancelled due to bad weather. We will award  the hamper to the winner of a competetion we will announce on Radio Pembrokeshire! many thanks to Lorna and Ian. and their staff for their great support! 

Having visited Strumble yesterday, it became obvious the winds gusting up to 50 mph and icy from the north were not going to be any good for a pleasant family day out! The forcast for today, Easter Sunday was marginally worse so I sadly made the decision to call our event at Strumble off. We will try again when its a bit more like spring. I have tried to let everyone know and will go to Strumble to make sure people are not hanging about in the cold, allthingsgood,cliff

 Hi all …a really nice feature scroll down to third story; “Conserving the Wildlife Treasures of ther Pembrokeshire Coast”

It started with an early start with Freddie driving Matthew Davies and myself to Neyland to meet up with Mark and Alun (skipper and engineer) of the Environment agencies survey boat  “Vigilance” The “Vigilance” was being sent up to Aberystwyth to do some work in Cardigan bay giving us a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of a calm winter spell. A little wind over tide made the passage from Neyland to Strumble a bit choppy. None the less we got great views of the Bishops and Clerks , islands outlying Ramsay,  waiting like sharks teeth for victims during the days of sail.

Apart from odd seals,  we saw no sign of our normally ubiquitous porpoises but they are easy to miss in choppy seas from a low platform. The sea settled as the tide changed and breeze dropped and it was just off Mwnt we saw our first Bottlenose. Extremely shy it showed briefly only a couple of times  as we passed by. Another off Tresaith, equally undemonstrative, both would have been easy to miss but I was reassured we were on our toes despite the previous lack of sightings. As night began to close in on the short crisp February day,  Mathew spotted fins out to seaward and for a few minutes a pod of half a dozen or so Bottles could be seen foraging off our port beam dissapearing into the setting sun.

We entered Aberystwyth Harbour in darkness and took  leave of Mark and Alun until the next time! Freddie having driven up the coast to meet us.  A spot of dinner and then a 60 odd mile drive home I was tired but happy, a great team performance.  Star;t 07.00 - Finish 20.00

Tuesday was spent catching up with admin etc, before another long day on Wednesday taking part in a Welsh Biodiversity Partnership Steering Group meeting at Broneiron House, near Newtown Powys. It s along way over the wintery Cambrian Mountains,  Red  Kites hanging in the chill abov,  ice fringed rivers below. I had blagged a lift with Aethne Cook of CCW,  Blaise Bullimore of The Camarthen Bay SAC  and Jennifer Dack of the Environment Agency. Their company made the trip seem less than the two and a half hours it took to get  into the frost filigreed  interior of Powys. The WBP is a great way to get our views aired and made known to the Welsh Assembly Government and though I hate meetings this one is well organised,  short on male cow manure, and well worth the effort of a 220 mile round trip. Almost without exception you feel the group is made up of people who want to make a difference.                               Start; 0700- Finish  1900

 Thursday was more admin but with another late finish due to a speaking engagement. Doug Harvey had arranged for us to speak to a combined gathering of local Probus Groups. Probus is  aclub for those who have retired from their proffesional lives but gather to use their skills for the good of the community. I first met Doug as a student of one of our Wildlife Observer Wales  (WOW) courses and he has continued contributing to the Sea Trust effort. Matthew came along with me to the meeting which was held at the Haverford West Cricket Club, to “drive” the laptop and projector. It was his first time, as “Cool Dave” couldn’t make it. We played to a large appreciative audience of 60 + great fun! Better still Doug had arranged some fund raising and raised over £100 for us,  looks like a small profit after the weeks expenditure, nice one Doug!  

Friday was with Matthew again attending a Wales Spatial Planning Meeting  with WAG Minister Andrew Davies and a few score of Pembrokeshires movers and shakers.  Another meeting which felt worthwhile …hmm

Saturday today catching up on emails  a break to watch Wales thrash poor old italy and as I finish this its getting dark . Oh well they do say variety is the spice of life, I might do something different tommorow!

allthingsgood,cliff 

Sadly the pilot whale re-stranded further down the coast , this time dead. Unfortunately they seldom seem to survive , an adult common Dolphin was also stranded dead. Three in a week is unusual although the strong winds and big tides may have been partly the cause.

Good news is we will have two new European Voluntry service volunteers with uis here in the spring:

Laura Travers from Ireland and Catarina from Portugal . Catarina says she follows our blog so I thought I would put her on it!

Dear Cliff,

I’m also looking forward to meet you and all the working team of Sea Trust. I’m following your news at your website and blog but I will be very pleased to have some contact with some of you before my arrival there. May seems a little bit far but time goes by very fast so, I will be there in no time!

Thus, I will be waiting for some more news from Catherine Davis so we can start knowing each other and some of the Goodwick, Fishguard and Sea Trust features as soon as possible!

Thank you very much for your email,

Best wishes,

Catarina Cavaleiro

We are looking forwards to meeting laura and Catrina and also somwee sunny spring sunshine! allthingsgood,cliff