seawatch foundation - our conservation partner
Our relationship with the Sea Watch Foundation (SWF) goes all the way back to the 1990s when we were chosen by the charity to be the original New Quay boat operator to monitor dolphins in Cardigan Bay. This is something we are immensely proud of and are still their Recommended Boat Operator today. The collaboration between us and SWF has been a harmonious and productive one for more than 30 years.
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These days our boats provide SWF volunteers with unlimited access to Cardigan Bay. This means that volunteers can come aboard daily to record dolphin encounters and take photos of the fins to update and expand their photo ID catalogue and database.
Our boats offer a platform for SWF interns to learn their skills – how to collect data for photo ID and utilise the line transect method of estimating the population of dolphins. Many of our wildlife guides have been trained by SWF and their knowledge is unrivalled. Our staff also use the Sea Watcher app to log sightings.
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In addition to volunteers joining us on our scheduled trips, SWF also charters our vessels to undertake line transect surveys. Here our boat follows predetermined lines that criss-cross the whole of Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation to produce constant data on the number of dolphins. These surveys produce some spectacular sightings, but it isn’t all plain sailing. Setting out to sea on cold icy mornings is not for everyone, especially when you can be there for hours staring through binoculars in search of those mercurial dolphins and returning to shore without spotting one.
Dedication and perseverance to the cause, however, does deliver results most of the time. Along with regular sightings of large pods of Common dolphins, there are Risso dolphins in the bay and breathtaking displays of Bottlenose dolphins. In 2024 the team had an unforgettable encounter with a Minke whale which circled the boat, as if to see what was going on, before heading further out to sea - there is a video available of this encounter. More recently a pod of over forty bottlenose dolphins was encountered in Cardigan Bay.
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The survey has spotted an increase in the number of Tuna in the waters, and although this fish is not a primary species for the survey it is still an interesting finding. If there was greater funding for this worthwhile charity then there would be more dedicated survey hours undertaken, which would surely reveal other exciting discoveries.
We have been working in collaboration with the Sea Watch Foundation for more than 30 years. SWF is a marine environmental charity that was established to improve the conservation of whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans) in British and Irish waters. The charity was founded by Dr Peter Evans and Paul Vodden in 1991. Dr Evans set up the charity after establishing the Mammal Society’s Cetacean Group in 1973, which was pioneering at the time because it launched the first programme in the UK that involved the public in scientific monitoring of living marine mammals. Prior to this, scientific knowledge about cetaceans was restricted to research and examination of dead mammals that had been killed by whaling activities or stranded ashore.
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SWF developed a more professional framework that aligned with the charity’s principles, values and goals regarding the study, research and conservation of whales, dolphins and porpoises.
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The aims of the charity include the following: To monitor the numbers and locations of cetaceans to gain knowledge on the health of the marine environment and an insight into the threats they face; Involve the public in scientific monitoring; Raise awareness and understanding of marine mammals and the threats they face; Educate, inform and advise on improving environmental protection.
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There are three SWF offices in the UK, with New Quay being home to their Cardigan Bay Bottlenose dolphin monitoring project and the base from which they launched a national conservation education programme.
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The charity received an international award from the United Nations Environment Programme for its education and outreach achievements. Founder and now Professor Peter Evans is the director of the charity, and he has also been recognised for his work in this important field. The European Cetacean Society gave Prof. Evans a conservation award, while the BBC Wildlife Magazine recognising him as one of top 50 most important contributors to conservation during the last half century.
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SWF advises the UK Government, international organisations including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), regarding marine environmental issues. The charity has a UK network of approximately 3,000 observers who watch, study and record cetaceans. SWF also carries out monitoring and research projects for Natural Resources Wales, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Scottish Natural Heritage and Natural England.
cardigan bay - marine code of conduct
We follow the Ceredigion Marine Code of Conduct to minimise disturbance around marine and coastal wildlife within the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This means our skippers have gained the necessary skills and knowledge to operate appropriately and responsibly in and around the marine and coastal wildlife environment. In line with governments’ Marine Wildlife Codes, Sea Watch Foundation and the local authority have developed Codes of Conduct to promote safe and sustainable activity that we abide by.
Recommended Boat Operator
As a Recommended Boat Operator (RBO) for the Sea Watch Foundation we are committed to sustainability whilst also providing reassurance to our customers that when they book with us they can marvel at the wonders of Cardigan Bay safe in the knowledge that they won’t be disturbing or harming the marine wildlife or their environment. As we are on the water all day every day, we also provide regular sightings data to support the monitoring work of the charity.
Operators that fail to apply these principles and don’t abide by the Codes of Conduct can cause unnecessary disturbance and harm to marine wildlife, which can negatively impact survival rates of species.
Ecotourism – what is it?
There are numerous definitions for ecotourism but one of the first definitions was by The International Ecotourism Society, who stated "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."
Since then, definitions have elaborated on that early, simplistic version to incorporate other elements including education, inclusivity, sustainability and conservation, to name just a few. Tourists need to be aware of their effects on the local environment and businesses that participate in ecotourism activities should adopt core principles that include the following:
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Promote and implement environmental best practice
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Monitor and minimise operational environmental impacts
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Promote responsible operator and visitor behaviour
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Have a low impact upon a protected area’s natural resources
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Respect local cultures and traditions
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Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
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Minimise physical, social and behavioural impacts
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Delivering memorable, interpretative experiences to visitors while raising awareness
The importance of ecotourism cannot be overstated and is an integral part of all that we do at New Quay Boat Trips.
