CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST MARINE STRANDINGS NETWORK
Cornwall Marine Strandings Network factfile
- The Marine Strandings Network of volunteers has been recording stranded marine animals for over 15 years.
- They run a 24 hour, 7 day a week Hotline – 0845 201 2626 for the public to report stranded marine animals.
- They have a website at www.cwtstrandings.org where the general public can learn about marine wildlife in Cornwall.
- A team of over 100 active volunteers is on call to identify, measure and photograph stranded marine species while the general public, including students, schoolchildren, fishermen and other organisations (such as the Coast Guard, National Trust, etc.) participate by reporting strandings to the group via their Hotline.
- Volunteers are trained in recording methods, in accordance with guidelines of the Natural History Museum, and in health and safety matters.
- The scheme brings together volunteers from all walks of life, age groups and abilities, who share a passion for marine wildlife. It enables participants to contribute directly to the protection of their marine heritage through scientific research, yet doesn’t assume prior knowledge or experience – most of their reports are from members of the public simply enjoying a walk on the beach.
- They maintain and develop a records database (now containing 3750 records) which contributes to the UK Cetacean Strandings Project, run by the Natural History Museum and Institute of Zoology. Their information is shared with the public, students, researchers and other local, national and international organisations.
- Among their active volunteers, young and unemployed people learn new skills and gain experience in teamwork, communication and social skills and learn about marine biology and the environment. This experience enhances their further education opportunities and helps them find employment and contribute to their communities.
- Older and retired people play a vital role as volunteers and they all benefit from their experience. The scheme enables us each to make a direct contribution to conserving
- Cornwall’s wildlife and contribute to global knowledge.
- They communicate regularly with other strandings networks in Devon, Wales and other parts of the UK, as well as colleagues in Europe.
- The MSN holds an annual Forum for its volunteers with presentations from marine biologists on cetaceans, seals, sharks, turtles and basking sharks.
The CWT Marine Strandings Network is the official recorder of stranded marine animals in Cornwall. Records have been collected in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for many years, the earliest record being logged in 1308. To date, a substantial database of over 3750 records has been collected, comprising information on stranded cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), seals, turtles, sharks, birds and many other marine species. The Marine Strandings Network consists of a team of over 100 volunteers throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly which inspects and records all reported strandings of animals from over 360 miles of coastline. Detailed reports and photographs are obtained and are distributed to a number of other partner organisations. These include the Natural History Museum – which has collated records of all stranded cetaceans in the UK since 1913 – and the Institute of Zoology, which researches the mortality, biology and ecology of cetacean populations around the British Isles.
The Cornish Network is the only one of its kind in the UK and the Institute of Zoology has upheld it as a role model for other organisations. It offers many people the chance to contribute to major scientific research. Cornwall has the highest number of stranded cetaceans each year of any county in the UK and the Marine Strandings Network therefore makes a major contribution to international research, not only through the submission of data, but also through the retrieval by the volunteers of carcasses for post-mortem examination by veterinary pathologists.
This method of investigation is usually able to determine cause of death and provide insights into the health, pollution load and breeding status of cetaceans.
Reports available
The Network has published a number of reports on cetaceans in Cornwall. These are available to download from their website at www.cwtstrandings.org/reports or are available in hard copy from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
