DOLPHIN Watch Live will give people the opportunity to watch dolphins off the Ceredigion coast from the comfort of their own homes.

As part of the Living Seas Wales project The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales’ Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre (CBMWC) has installed a webcam to help researchers monitor the bottlenose dolphin activity in New Quay bay.

The global pandemic has affected countless people and organisations in many different ways, not just financially but it has also prevented conservation organisations like The Wildlife Trust from being able to carry out their usual marine research and conservation activity.

Dr Sarah Perry, Living Seas Manager for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, said: “2020 is the first year in almost 25 years that we have not been able to collect vital conservation information through our marine monitoring surveys.

“In a typical year myself and our intrepid team of Living Seas volunteers would ordinarily have been fortunate enough to spend time on the water monitoring the Cardigan Bay Bottlenose dolphins and other marine wildlife that we find in Welsh waters.

“This year we have not been able to conduct any boat survey activity and have only been able to carry out a minimal number of shore-based surveys to collect data that contributes to the monitoring of the internationally important population of bottlenose dolphins that we have here in Cardigan Bay.

“In addition we realised that many people will not have had the opportunity to visit New Quay or other towns and villages along the Welsh coast as they would have liked to this year.

“As part of our Living Seas Wales we wanted to find a way to share the amazing views we have from our sea front visitor centre with everyone. We decided to set up a webcam to bring the views of the sea, the dolphins and other sea life to everyone’s homes as well as to find a way that people can help us to monitor the wildlife in the area.”

Gina Gavigan, marketing and development manager for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, added: “For many people having the opportunity to watch the waves lapping on our shores with a chance of spotting some dolphins would provide some much needed distraction.

“The camera means that our Living Seas team at the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre are able to continue to keep a watch out for dolphins and other wildlife even when surveys cannot take place.

“We are hugely grateful to the funders of the Living Seas Wales project, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.”

Tune into the CBMWC YouTube channel or watch via www.welshwildlife.org or www.livingseas.wales