The Sea Watch Foundation is looking for volunteers to help record sightings of marine creatures in Cumbria.

As part of their research and monitoring programme, the foundation has launched a new Facebook group called Cumbria Whale and Dolphin Watch for people to report their sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises around the Cumbria coastline.

Sarah Neill, from the group said: "We also welcome regular observers to carry out systematic sea watches and submit their effort forms, and whilst we do appreciate records of sea watching and cetacean sightings during these difficult times please keep safe and observe Government Covid 19 lockdown restrictions."

The Sea Watch Foundation is a national marine environmental charity working to improve the conservation of whales, dolphins and porpoises in the seas around Britain and Ireland.

Cetaceans are at risk of decreasing population sizes and even local extinction due to continuous threats to them and their habitats. These threats include capture and drowning in fishing gear, sound disturbance, marine pollution and over-fishing.

Through its continuous programme of research and monitoring, the foundation provides invaluable information on changes to the status and distribution of cetacean populations and the condition of their habitats. This is used to raise awareness of any issues and prompt environmental change to help conserve and protect these animals.

Sarah added: "The conservation of any wild animal is largely dependent upon continuous monitoring. Without such data it is impossible to assess and amend status on a regular basis. Monitoring populations also enables the identification of general distribution patterns, important areas for different species, behavioural responses to human activities and effects on reproduction. "

Sarah added: "31 species have been recorded this century in British or Irish territorial waters. Common dolphin, striped dolphin and minke whale are among those species where numbers sighted have increased since 1980. Harbour porpoises, on the other hand, showed widespread decline in the 1970s to 1980s; and northern bottlenose whales have remained uncommon since the 1960s. Without the monitoring and survey work undertaken by Sea Watch, this information would not be available."

Sea Watch’s work could not be completed without the help of numerous hard-working volunteers. There is a network of regional coordinators, recommended boat operators and volunteer observers all around the UK coastline who are dedicated to providing data and support to Sea Watch through recording and reporting all sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Get involved at the Cumbria Whale and Dolphin Watch page.