Author: Sarah Perry

Cardigan Bay News, Jobs, Living Seas, Living Seas, Marine

Livings Seas Engagement Officer

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Join our Living Seas team!

We’re recruiting a Living Seas Engagement Officer

Salary: Full-time contract until end of September 2020 (5 days per week) £18,500 per annum, occasional antisocial hours, evening and weekend work expected

 In 2018 The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales (WTSWW) and North Wales Wildlife Trust (NWWT) received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver a 3 year (2018-2020) project to inspire action for marine heritage in Wales. The Living Seas Wales project is a celebration of the natural history and the communities of the Welsh coast. The aim is to use pioneering experiences to build connections and provide participants with the opportunity to learn about, enjoy and contribute to the conservation of the marine environment. The project includes year-round outreach events and activities as well as volunteering opportunities and training as well as documenting and disseminating historical records and sharing anecdotal stories about marine wildlife and heritage.

 We are currently seeking to recruit a Living Seas Engagement Officer for the remainder of the delivery aspect of the project (until end September 2020). The succesful candidate will lead on the delivery of the outreach elements of the Living Seas Wales Project, with particular focus given to the co-ordination and delivery of the final year of the ‘Living Seas Live’ Roadshow, other outreach events and activities and the collation and dissemination of historical records of marine wildlife and heritage. You will establish links with local communities, businesses, groups, education facilities and organisations to document historical stories and to deliver events and activities that will inspire people about Wales’ marine natural heritage and the importance of its conservation.

This post will require anti-social hours, occasional long days, weekend and evening working and potentially long travel times.

Please note that, as these posts are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, a satisfactory enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure check will be required for the successful candidates.

To apply for the role…

Download a full job description and WTSWW application Form

Email your completed application form along with a cover letter to sarah.perry@welshwildlife.org with “Living Seas Engagement Officer application” in the subject line.

We do not accept CV’s as applications.

Closing date: Midday 5th November 2019

Interviews to be held: 20th or 21st November 2019 (date to be confirmed) at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, New Quay, Ceredigion, SA45 9PS

Research Projects

The behaviour of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in relation to boat traffic in New Quay, Cardigan Bay, by Megan Rush (2016)

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The behaviour of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in relation to boat traffic in New Quay, Cardigan Bay by Megan Rush, Plymouth University (2016).
Effort data was collected from the harbour wall located in New Quay on a daily basis from 9am to 5pm between 2012-15. This data was observed in regular intervals of fifteen minutes over a two-hour period. Within these intervals, environmental conditions were recorded alongside sighting of marine mammal activity. This included the presence of boats within a 300-metre radius of bottlenose dolphins and their displayed behaviours, which is the focus of this study. In this study, there was only one significant behavioural response towards the presence of boats. The behaviour displayed was observed as being travelling in conjunction with long dives and surfacing irregularly. There has been a longstanding debate on whether boat activity is causing an impact on the semi-resident dolphins in New Quay. According to the results found here, there does not appear to be a high significant impact on the dolphins in the bay, but the impact of boats over a longer period could alter behaviour if traffic levels rise. The longer-term effects of boat activity would also require further investigation.

Full dissertation can be downloaded here – Megan Rush 2016

Cardigan Bay News, Press Releases

Cardigan Bay Marine Team Makes A Splash At Local Hero Awards!

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales’ Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre marine team are delighted to have won Radio Ceredigion’s Local Hero ‘Green’ Award!

The heart moving award ceremony was held at The Pier, Aberystwyth last week. These awards are the first of its kind in Ceredigion and were launched to recognise and reward local hero’s who go that ‘extra mile’ for their community.

The Wildlife Trust Living Seas Science Officer Sarah Perry said,

“We are so proud to be the winners of the Radio Ceredigion, Local Hero’s ‘Green’ Award. This means a great deal to the Wildlife Trust team at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre. It’s inspiring that listeners of Radio Ceredigion recognise and value the hard work and efforts of our important marine conservation work and research in and around Cardigan Bay”.

Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre is located in the heart of New Quay, overlooking the beautiful beach and harbour. Here visitors can learn about local marine wildlife, join a Dolphin Boat Survey Trip, find out about our vital research, or have a go at our new virtual reality underwater ‘Sea Quest’ experience.
Steve Hartley, owner of Dolphin Survey Boat Trips founded the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre originally in 1996 says

“I am privileged to have been involved with the Centre from its humble beginnings; it makes me very proud to see the progress the Centre has made over the years raising awareness of the wonderful wildlife we have in Cardigan Bay through research and education. I am also proud of the many opportunities the centre has be able to give to students and young people over the years in helping them gain valuable experience for their futures”.

Sarah continued to say,

“The Wildlife Trust would like to say a huge thank you to all the wonderful people that have supported our Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre over the years. As a Trust we wouldn’t be able to achieve our aims in helping to conserve our local marine environment without the assistance of our amazing volunteers who dedicate thousands of hours of their time. We look forward to the future and to continuing our work throughout Cardigan Bay and beyond”!

The Radio Ceredigion Local Hero ‘Green Award’ was sponsored by Celtic Sustainables, Cardigan, their founder and Director Glyn Hyett said

“We are delighted that the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre won, they do such great work! Dolphins and other marine wildlife are key indicators for the health of our seas; we are so pleased that Steve, Sarah and their team of wonderful volunteers are keeping a close eye on it and providing a fun way for people to get involved in the research through their survey boat trips.”

 

Research Projects

Preliminary study into estimating Bottlenose dolphin population size in Cardigan Bay 2001

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Preliminary study estimating Bottlenose dolphin population size in Cardigan Bay, west Wales 2001 by PR Gregory & SWH Hartley

A preliminary study was undertaken during mid-May to August 2001 to identify the bottlenose dolphin population size and highlight dolphin’s habitat use or “home range” within the boundaries of the Cardigan Bay cSAC. The population size was estimated by applying mark-recapture analysis to photo-identification data.

Full report can be downloaded here