Every year, scientists at the Sea Watch Foundation lead a campaign to get members of the general public contributing to science to protect whales and dolphins and they’re calling on you to get involved with the National Whale and Dolphin Watch between today and August 6.

For over 40 years, Sea Watch Foundation scientists as well as volunteer observers all around the coast have been reporting on whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans) to inform Sea Watch’s huge database of records.

The scheme is one of the oldest and longest running citizen science schemes in the world.

’It’s all about reporting your whale, dolphin and porpoise sightings as well as getting out there to look for them,’ said Kathy James, sightings officer for the research charity.

Cetaceans can be found all around the coast of the UK and recently around the English coast there have been many species spotted, including Risso’s dolphins off the coast of Cornwall. Minke whales are currently being recorded off the north-east of England and Cornwall.

During the nine-day 2016 event, eleven different whales and dolphins were recorded in UK waters as well as the tiny harbour porpoise which measures just a metre and a half when fully grown.

Find out more about the event:   www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdw