Falmouth Harbour staff take training to help protect marine wildlife

By Max Goodman

4th Jul 2023 | Local News

A friendly wave from a seal on Falmouth Harbour’s Black Rock. (Image: Falmouth Harbour)
A friendly wave from a seal on Falmouth Harbour’s Black Rock. (Image: Falmouth Harbour)

Falmouth is the first harbour authority in the country to complete specific awareness training for the interaction with marine animals.

The well-being of marine animals in their interactions with people in the water is the focus of the government department DEFRA's first Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code.

With the increase in recreational activities in coastal waters from yachts, powerboats, paddle-boarders, kayakers, and swimmers. The harbour felt the time was right for staff not only to be fully aware of best practices themselves but be able to impart that advice to others.

The Falmouth Harbour team has been trained by veteran marine environmental campaigner Colin Speedie through his Wildlife Safety (WiSe) scheme, with key messages including maintaining a 100m distance from any marine animals and being slow and quiet around wildlife.

When discussing the training, Colin said: "Seeing wild animals in their natural habitat is an amazing experience but getting too close to marine life can and really does make them panic."

"Our WiSe scheme is aimed at anyone who spends time on the coast and sea for work or leisure and it's all about how to interact with marine wildlife in a safe and sustainable way – so we are really pleased and proud to be part of this development with Falmouth Harbour."