Information for Schools
What is Sea Watch?
Sea Watch is a national charity working to conserve and protect whales, dolphins and porpoises around the UK
What do we do?
Sea Watch carry out surveys around the UK to monitor whales and dolphins. We also ask members of the public to carry out surveys and send their results to us.
With this information we can map numbers of whales and dolphins, using this data we write scientific papers, talk to the media and government to make sure they always know about these animals.
Teachers working with pupils in Key stages 1 and 2 can now use an education pack designed specifically for primary school children
Primary School teacher, and specialist science co-ordinator, Sarah Langford has worked in partnership with Sea Watch Foundation to produce the educational resources that are curriculum linked which will encourage children to develop their skills and understanding across the curriculum. More activities to come soon!
Activity 1: Mapping cetaceans in the UK
Teacher's notes. UK map outline. Mini photos. Photo cards 1. Photo cards 2. Photo cards 1. UK A3 map outline
Activity 2: Marine Migrations
Teacher's notes. Map of Americas. Marine traveller passport. Sightings notes for children
Activity 3: Investigating adaptation of cetaceans and understanding water resistance (suitable for KS2)
QCA link Science Unit 4C Friction
Includes extra activities -
Teacher's notes. Dolphin anatomy worksheet. Dynamic dolphin worksheet. ID sheet 1. ID sheet 2. ID sheet 3. ID sheet 4. Whale & dolphin obervation activity
Activity 4: Measuring sizes of cetaceans (suitable for KS1 AND 2)
Includes extra activities - (suitable for KS2)
Teacher's notes. Information for How big am I? activity. How big am I? activity sheet. Name & size cards. Scale drawing activity. Whale & dolphin breath chart.
Continue to learn about the UK dolphins. Adopt a dolphin for £42 a year and your school will be sent a monthly newsletter which will keep teachers and pupils up to date with the issues and challenges faced by our marine mammals. Monies raised goes directly into funding our research. For further information click here.
What dangers do whales and dolphins face off the UK coast?
Fishing nets
Dolphins, whales and porpoises can get entangled in fishing nets, over 10,000 porpoises die a year this way.
Pollution in the sea
Oil, waste and sewage are dumped into our seas.
Loss of food
Fishermen are catching huge numbers of fish, making the competition for food enormous.
Noise
Whales and dolphins use sonar (echoes) to navigate around the sea. Unfortunately many human activities (drilling for oil, military boats) produce these noises and this confuses the animals.
Hunting
Even though there is a world-wide ban on hunting whales, countries can still legally kill a number of whales. Hundreds of minke whales are killed a year.
What have Sea Watch achieved?
- Helped to make the harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphin a protected species in the UK.
- Produced a distribution atlas (map) showing whale, porpoise and dolphin populations across North West Europe.
- Research studies helped to make two areas in Cardigan Bay, Wales a special area of conservation for bottlenose dolphins.
- Produced reports for the European Commission, UK government and many other organisations.
How can you help?
- Become a Sea Watch supporter
You can become a member of Sea Watch, receive a regular newsletter and get information on whales and dolphins. - Go on a watch with an adult
If you are on holiday by the sea or you are lucky enough to live by the coast, you can carry out surveys. We have a network of local people who can tell you good spots for whale and dolphin spotting. You can send us your results and we can use this for our research. - Raise money for our work
We are always grateful for support for our work. We need funds to charter boats, carry out research and pay for essential staff.