About this event
On October 23rd at 19.30, the Sussex Dolphin Project team will host an ‘Evening with the Dolphins of Sussex’. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about the cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises, and whales) found in the Sussex stretch of the eastern English Channel, the project’s work to research these amazing marine mammals and a look at what the future holds.
Sussex Dolphin Project was launched in 2018 to study dolphins and fill the research gap on cetaceans in Sussex waters. It has evolved to become a community-based organisation, working with the people of Sussex in a variety of ways, including collaborating with ocean lovers, those who work on the water and other Sussex residents to create a sightings network. This citizen science approach allows members of the public to submit both opportunistic and effort-based sighting information. The team provides affordable training both on land and at sea to increase opportunities for residents to get involved with marine conservation. When combined with the team's own on-effort research, this forms a unique data set on dolphin activity.
The research objective is to identify individual dolphins/pods in order to better understand their behaviour, movement, prey species, and breeding sites. This data can then be used to protect our marine environment and ultimately safeguard cetaceans in Sussex. The project's research has already contributed to establishing Sussex as part of the Western English Channel Important Marine Mammal Area, and there is more to come. The presence of iconic predators reflects a functioning marine food web, and the project's community work is designed to underline the importance of a balanced marine ecosystem.
However, the project's mission isn't just about researching cetaceans; it's also about helping the community rediscover its connection with the ocean and contribute to its protection.
Perhaps best known locally for sharing magnificent footage of dolphins sighted off the coast, boat trips that enable people to re-discover their love of our blue planet, and the terrestrial conservation project; Conservation Corridor at Shoreham Port, this evening is an opportunity to step inside the world of Sussex cetaceans and learn all about the vision for dolphin conservation along our coastline.
