Grant to new Dolphin Watch Association
Councillor Lynn Burns, Chair of the Town Council Grants Committee met up with Dr Ivor Clark of the Newbiggin by the Sea Dolphin Watch Association to present a community grant for the amount of £300.
The Grants Committee unanimously agreed to support the new association with infrastructure and development costs of their planned projects.
Dr Clark explained ‘some of the benefits of the Association are already being realised. For example investigating the recent Porpoise Strandings incidents, managing the sighting of the disabled dolphin (that we subsequently have adopted as a Mascot named “Hope”) the recovery of the damaged waverider buoy after storm Deidre thanks to dolphincam imaging, and the general public interest that is being shown in our observations and watches at Church Point, Beach Terrace and Spital Point’.
The Association have already started an education and roadshow programme which has included scouts and the golden age forum and of course they have their information centre at Newbiggin Maritime Centre and a new soon to be published booklet on “Dolphin Spotting at Newbiggin Bay”.
The Association aims to protect dolphins and their habitat, and other marine mammals, whilst enhancing the ability to observe them and record them.
