New marine eco-courses to boost number of UK-based citizen scientists

Two leading environmental charities have teamed up to boost the number of UK-based citizen scientists which can take action to protect the UK’s whale and dolphin populations. 

Experts from outdoor education charity, The Field Studies Council, and marine conservation charity ORCA are aiming to increase the number of people who have an interest in understanding the marine mammals living in British waters to help safeguard species against decline.  

Together, the organisations, whose patrons include royalty and leading wildlife experts, have designed a series of courses which will educate people on the importance of marine mammals, the threats they face and strategies for conserving populations.  

The courses also show participants how everyone can play their part in marine conservation and actively help to protect marine life around the UK. 

Clare Rooney, the FSC’s Eco-Skills Training and Engagement Manager, said the partnership was hugely exciting and would enable the two organisations to increase awareness nationally and collect additional data relating to the movement and size of whale and dolphin populations to support conservation initiatives. 

She said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who has an interest in wanting to understand more about Britain’s fascinating marine life to develop the necessary skills needed to take action and make important contributions nationally to conservation efforts. 

“We are running two unique online courses through the FSC’s newly launched Eco-Skills programme. The first is called Discovering Marine Mammals and the second, Conservation of Marine Mammals. Both have been written and developed by the education team at ORCA who are highly trained specialists in marine mammals. 

“The courses provide a distinct pathway for learning from beginner through to more advanced levels with an opportunity then for learners to become citizen scientists through ORCA’s own OceanWatchers course, which the FSC will also be hosting. 

“This will give learners access to a newly developed ORCA OceanWatchers app enabling them to record important scientific data about whale and dolphin species so that we can better understand population levels of these mammals and develop a clearer picture of their habitats.” 

The coastal waters around the UK and Europe are home to a third of the world’s whale, dolphin and porpoise species, according to ORCA, which was founded for the sole purpose of studying and protecting such marine mammals. 

Its work involves identifying and protecting critical whale and dolphin habitats and its new ORCA OceanWatchers programme allows even more people to help in their mission to protect whales and dolphins. 

Steve Jones, ORCA’s Head of Partnerships, says the new courses developed with the FSC will give ordinary people the opportunity to take an active role in marine science and conservation as a part of this brand-new initiative. 

“These marine mammals are truly remarkable and these courses will not only give people an insight into their incredible lives, but they will also give them the tools they need to become citizen scientists and actively help to protect the ocean,” he explained. 

“The courses we’ve developed in partnership with FSC are unique and will support the growing interest and curiosity in our natural marine heritage. More people than ever are celebrating nature and this offers people from all backgrounds the chance to reconnect with the sea.” 

The courses come as interest grows among conservationists for the development of marine national parks around the UK and as whale and dolphin tour operators report a significant rise in bookings due to increasing interest in marine life. 

For further details on the marine eco-courses visit https://www.field-studies-council.org/courses-and-experiences/natural-history-courses/?fwp_natural_history_courses=marine-and-coastal 

To keep up to date with the FSC, its news and newly launched courses follow @FieldStudiesC on Facebook, @FieldStudiesC on Twitter and @field_studies_council on Instagram. 

For more information on this press release, please contact Amy Waugh or Lorna McCann at Be Bold Media on 01952 898121 or by emailing amy@beboldpr.com or lorna@beboldpr.com. 

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Editors notes

About FSC 

FSC is a trusted and established organisation famous for offering educational trips to schools and universities across the nation. 

It was first formed to encourage health, wellbeing and the enjoyment of nature and the great outdoors in the latter years of the Second World War. 

This spring and summer, so long as government guidance allows, FSC will be providing a range of on-line Eco-Skills courses, as well as a variety of place-based learning courses at its FSC properties, which are located in some of the most beautiful locations in the UK. 

Its locations are easy to get to and ready to welcome visitors in a simple, no frills, safe and friendly environment. 

About ORCA 

ORCA is one of the UK’s leading whale and dolphin charities and uses the power of citizen science to protect whales, dolphins and porpoises around the UK and beyond. Their mission is to give everyone who cares about whales and dolphins an active role in safeguarding their future, and their citizen science network monitors important habitats around the UK and Europe. 

ORCA OceanWatchers launched in 2021 and teaches members of the public to collect important scientific data about marine life any time that they can see the sea. People from all walks of life can monitor whales and dolphins from locations such as cliff tops, passenger ships, leisure vessels or offshore platforms.  

The data they collect will be added to ORCA’s 20+ years of scientific data, which is used to inform marine conservation policy, helping to create safe spaces for whales and dolphins to thrive. 

To find out more visit www.orcaweb.org.uk.