South East England Biodiversity Forum

Large fish, mammales and reptiles

Harbour porpoise, Small dolphins, Basking sharks, Baleen whales, Toothed whales, Turtles

 

Actions required

 Action Lead Partner 

Reduce coastal pollution through better sewage treatment and industrial discharges (which bioaccumulate in higher vertebrates).

 
Reduce littering at sea and on beaches with further promotion of Adopt-a-Beach volunteer scheme (run by MCS), and increase litter disposal facilities at ports, marinas and jetties. (www.adoptabeach.org.uk). Also promote regional litter projects by KIMO. www.kimointernational.org  
Facilitate the monitoring and environmentally sensitive management of set net fi sheries where large migratory species are known to occur. Liaise with SFCs to reduce bycatch.    
Encourage use of relevant Codes of Conduct e.g. for approaching marine megafauna. www.sharktrust.org   

Implement Codes of Conduct to reduce noise impact from coastal and marine developments - refer to WDCS report ‘Oceans of Noise' for acceptable guidelines. www.wdcs.org.uk

 

Promote eff ort-based surveys of marine megafauna using the Seawatch Foundation methodology. www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk

 

Promote Seawatch and Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) printed materials to engage public interest in cetacean species.  

 

Promote Marine Conservation Society Basking Shark/Turtle Watch for recording distributions. www.mcsuk.org

 
Report live strandings to British Divers Marine Life Rescue. www.bdmlr.org.uk  
 

Report dead strandings to the Institute of Zoology. www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/ioz/people/jepson.htm