26/07/2004
Public urged to take part in Thames marine survey
The Zoological School of London (ZSL) is appealing for volunteers to join the search for dolphins, porpoises and seals in the Thames Estuary as part of the Thames Marine Mammal Sightings Survey.
The ZSL said that while it was known that marine mammals use the Thames, there was a "big gap" in knowledge about the population levels and usage patterns in the area. The survey is designed to help make "valuable contributions" to protecting species in the UK's native waters.
Recent sightings in the River Thames and the Thames Estuary have included bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, common seals and grey seals. Grey seals are among the rarest in the world, the UK population of approximately 124,000 represents about 40% of the world's population. It is estimated that there are just 300 bottlenose dolphins in UK waters and 350,000 harbour porpoises.
The main threats to marine mammals in the UK are thought to be ecosystem change, fisheries by-catch, chemical contamination and boat traffic.
All species of marine mammal are protected from killing, capture and deliberate disturbance in UK waters but without data showing which areas are valuable to these animals it is difficult to enforce these directives, the school said.
Alison Shaw, ZSL Marine & Freshwater Conservation Programme Manager, said: "Assessing the consequences of development activities requires long term monitoring of these animals. To be useful this must be in place before new activities develop. The data ZSL collects on marine mammal movements may prove invaluable in assessing the impact of new operations in the Thames Estuary."
The data also will help address conservation issues by identifying important habitats, exploring why they are important and improve our ability to predict marine mammal distributions at sea, year round.
To take part in the survey volunteers are asked to complete a short questionnaire about their sighting.
(gmcg)
The ZSL said that while it was known that marine mammals use the Thames, there was a "big gap" in knowledge about the population levels and usage patterns in the area. The survey is designed to help make "valuable contributions" to protecting species in the UK's native waters.
Recent sightings in the River Thames and the Thames Estuary have included bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, common seals and grey seals. Grey seals are among the rarest in the world, the UK population of approximately 124,000 represents about 40% of the world's population. It is estimated that there are just 300 bottlenose dolphins in UK waters and 350,000 harbour porpoises.
The main threats to marine mammals in the UK are thought to be ecosystem change, fisheries by-catch, chemical contamination and boat traffic.
All species of marine mammal are protected from killing, capture and deliberate disturbance in UK waters but without data showing which areas are valuable to these animals it is difficult to enforce these directives, the school said.
Alison Shaw, ZSL Marine & Freshwater Conservation Programme Manager, said: "Assessing the consequences of development activities requires long term monitoring of these animals. To be useful this must be in place before new activities develop. The data ZSL collects on marine mammal movements may prove invaluable in assessing the impact of new operations in the Thames Estuary."
The data also will help address conservation issues by identifying important habitats, exploring why they are important and improve our ability to predict marine mammal distributions at sea, year round.
To take part in the survey volunteers are asked to complete a short questionnaire about their sighting.
(gmcg)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
13 December 2006
MoD names Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan
The Ministry of Defence has named the Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday as 23-year-old Richard Watson. Marine Watson, of 42 Commando Royal Marines, was part of a patrol in the north of Now Zad in the north of the Helmand province that came under attack from Taliban forces.
MoD names Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan
The Ministry of Defence has named the Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday as 23-year-old Richard Watson. Marine Watson, of 42 Commando Royal Marines, was part of a patrol in the north of Now Zad in the north of the Helmand province that came under attack from Taliban forces.
07 February 2012
Great Expectations Of The MPU
Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of renowned English novelist Charles Dickens (7 February 1812 - 9 June 1870), widely considered the greatest of the Victorian period. London as Dickens knew it, reached his pages, not from his imagination, but from his observations.
Great Expectations Of The MPU
Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of renowned English novelist Charles Dickens (7 February 1812 - 9 June 1870), widely considered the greatest of the Victorian period. London as Dickens knew it, reached his pages, not from his imagination, but from his observations.
01 June 2015
Royal Marine Trainee Dies During 30-Mile March
A Royal Marine trainee has died following an exercise in Dartmoor. The man, who has not been named, collapsed during a 30-mile march at the weekend. He is understood to have been based at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon. The cause of his death is unknown.
Royal Marine Trainee Dies During 30-Mile March
A Royal Marine trainee has died following an exercise in Dartmoor. The man, who has not been named, collapsed during a 30-mile march at the weekend. He is understood to have been based at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, Devon. The cause of his death is unknown.
31 July 2007
Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan named
The Ministry of Defence has named the Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Sunday as Lance Corporal Michael Jones. LCpl Jones was killed in a gun battle with Taliban insurgents in the Nimruz province in the southwest of the country.
Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan named
The Ministry of Defence has named the Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Sunday as Lance Corporal Michael Jones. LCpl Jones was killed in a gun battle with Taliban insurgents in the Nimruz province in the southwest of the country.
07 March 2007
Marine killed in Afghanistan named
The Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday has been named as Benjamin Reddy. Marine Reddy, 22, from K Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, was killed when his unit came under fire during a deliberate clearance operation in the Kajaki area of Helmand Province.
Marine killed in Afghanistan named
The Royal Marine killed in Afghanistan on Tuesday has been named as Benjamin Reddy. Marine Reddy, 22, from K Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, was killed when his unit came under fire during a deliberate clearance operation in the Kajaki area of Helmand Province.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.