Sea Watch Foundation  http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk is a scientific charity dedicated to protecting UK whales and dolphins (cetaceans) since 1993. Through its continuous programme of research and monitoring, it provides invaluable information on changes to the status and distribution of cetacean populations and any human impacts to their habitats. This data is used by the scientific community to raise awareness of any issues and prompt environmental change to help conserve and protect these mysterious creatures.

We can all play our part. :The public are invited to take part in an annual event called National Whale and Dolphin Watch 23^rd to 31^st July. This citizen science based event, run by the Sea Watch Foundation, is now in its 15th year.  http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdw

Local Sea Watch Event: The Shoreham watch will be led by Steve Savage, who has been the Sussex regional coordinator for Sea Watch since 1993, where the public can take part in the planned sea watch. Steve is also keen to share his local knowledge, during the event, about the species we see off the Sussex Coast including Shoreham. This includes the seals that are sometimes seen locally from the beach and in the Adur Estuary each year.

Where and When: The organised watch will take place on 30^th July by the Shoreham Fort between 10.00am and 1.00pm and people can come along at any time to see us. We cannot of course guarantee we will see a dolphin or seal on the day. The regional group coordinates volunteers who undertake timed watches from time to time to help build up our local knowledge and this event will be a great opportunity to find out who we are and what we do.

During the sea watch we will also record marine bird activity and any other marine life.

Weather permitting; there will also be some children’s activities at 11.00am where children can discover more about whales and dolphins, which will include measuring out the size of a blue whale.

National Whale and Dolphin Watch provides a valuable annual snapshot of sea mammal activity across the 35 UK regional groups as part of its ongoing observation programme to monitor and protect UK dolphins and whales which number 29 species. Anyone observing sea mammals in Sussex can report their sightings to Steve Savage at seawatch17@yahoo.co.uk