Almost the longest day, newly fledged birds flitting around the garden, spring has sprung and we are into the summer. The temperature on my garden thermometer was a balmy 21C. Yesterday on the Stena Europe, Captain Dai Williams rang up the engineer to find out the sea water temperature, 10C just off the Tusker Rock. Not too summery there then! I think it was a cold current we had run into as we had recorded 13 degrees off the Smalls a couple of weeks earlier. Non the less the difference in average sea temperatures in the southern Irish Sea is probably not much more than eight to ten degrees summer to winter.

Incidentally we recorded a “Super-pod “ of up to 1,000 common Dolphins on that trip!

Common Dolphin

Global warming appears to be  having a disastrous effect on the North Sea.  As yet we have little idea as to how it may be affecting us in the southern Irish Sea. On our last Cartlett Lady Survey committee member Powell Strong carried out some plankton trawling and other experiments including water temperature measurement. I think it is a worthwhile addition to our surveys, adding value. The next few years may be critical for our sea-life, large and small. Dave Evans (new committee member) has acquired a microscope that can copy images of the plankton to our laptop. Its early days yet and may take some refining but we should start to get an idea of what is happening at both ends of the marine food chain.

Our volunteers are our most important resource and without their contribution Sea Trust could not function. Powell and I began discussing as to how we might get some qualification for our volunteers in recognition of the skills they are acquiring. Along with Pembrokeshire College, Head of CZMS, Dr Steve Morris, we have put together the first of a rather startlingly named W.O.W. course. W.O.W stands for Wildlife Observer Wales and is of the same level as Access to HE courses. Several of them can be put together as credit towards entry on a degree course. A pilot will be run in early July and we hope to  make them available to volunteers and the public in 2006.  We will update and give more information ASAP after the July Pilot!

After a rather frustrating few months we have managed to put together an exhibition of our work and the sea creatures found around our coast here in Pembrokeshire. It is being hosted by Pembrokeshire County Council in the smaller display area of the Ocean Lab (Fishguard Harbour, Goodwick)

Iolo with young visitor at Ocean Lab

Despite a pretty small budget, I think we have managed to convey the incredible wealth of marine life we see around our coasts. The exhibition consists mainly of photographs taken by Janet Baxter and a short film by Dee Doody. With funding from Environment Wales (A Welsh Assembly Government initiative) we will be producing a longer film that will be used in several places including the Ocean Lab and the “Stena Europe” Dave Edwards is also looking at a community music project which we hope will result in an original soundtrack. Many thanks to “Mac” of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group for donating a Fin Whale vertebrae to the exhibit.

Sea Trust has been continuing our porpoise watches  at Strumble Head, where we invite the public to come along and see and learn about cetaceans and other marine issues. The latest was held at Strumble Head Lighthouse in conjunction with The Shalom House Trust

An estimated 500 people attended and £2,000 was raised for this local charity that is set up to provide respite care in the community.

Sarah Earl, Lyndon Lomax, Janet Baxter and myself have also been working hard on our second report which will be added to the website in the next few weeks. It is almost finished and I think Sarah the main contributor and editor should be heartily congratulated. I think it is bigger and better than her first report which received widespread approval and is the basis for the main contribution to our Local Biodiversity Action Plan for cetaceans in Pembrokeshire.

As I write Sea  Trust Secretary,  Sarah Earl is preparing to lead another Dolphin Watch at Strumble with committee members Gayle Wootton and  LBAP officer Bethan Cox. I am about to head off to Milford Haven to join the SS Waverly. Along with CE of the Wildlife Trust South and West Wales, Madeleine Havard, and a couple more volunteers, I will be providing commentary on an afternoon cruise so can’t be at Strumble.

For information on any of our activities please ring 01348 875639 between 10 am and 5pm weekdays allthingsgood,cliff

                                      (Cliff Benson Chair, Sea Trust S&W Wales)