This summer, Miss Cullen spent two weeks in the far North East of Scotland investigating the bottlenose dolphins, Minke whales, harbour porpoise found in the Moray Firth.

At the end of the summer term 2007, several year 7 groups spent their geography lessons investigating the species and the issues surrounding the wildlife in the Moray Firth. Pupils used their time in class researching the animals and creating some very informative species profiles. All this work was in aid of raising awareness of the species that live in the Moray Firth and the work of the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit (CRRU).

During the two weeks with the CRRU team, we went out onto the water to locate, count, photograph and identify the dolphins and calves. It can take many hours to find the dolphins in a huge survey area of 800sq miles! But it is definitely worth it when you find the dolphins and see them jump out of the sea and swim alongside the boat. The hard work continues back in the office where all the data must be logged onto computers and the photographs matched to a very large catalogue of known dolphins, so that the researchers can keep an eye on the population in the area. This meticulous and tiring work enables the team to monitor the population and the behaviour of the dolphins in the area.

 The Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU), conduct other vitally important work in rescuing stranded whales, dolphins, and porpoise. At the beginning of August the team were involved in the successful rescue of a Minke Whale that had swum into Fraserburgh harbour and appeared to have become trapped. After spending time monitoring the whale to check that it wasn’t stressed or injured, they helped to coordinate people and boats into encouraging the whale back out into the open sea. This was an excellent example where the team could use their expertise on whales and advise the various groups involved on how best to resolve the problem.

 The CRRU is a small, non-profit research organisation based in NE Scotland. The goals of the charity are to raise awareness of the species present in the Moray Firth and to ensure their continued presence in these waters by protecting them from human activities. You can visit them at http://www.crru.org.uk/.

This is just one example of a group of people helping our environment. Now we need to think what can we do as members of Felpham Community College.

  1. Make sure that we never leave litter on the beach-litter is a huge threat to marine life
  2. Try and use environmentally friendly products wherever possible.
  3. Become a friend of an environmental group such as CRRU
  4. Behave in an environmentally friendly way- remember it is your planet, you have to live here!!
Miss Cullen
   

  Heathrow Terminal 5

  Natural History Museum

  Spectrum Centre Visit

  Buxton Vocational Trip

  Winter Health

  FCC Ski Teams

  Y11 Hotel Visit

  Whales and Dolphins

  Y7 Welcome Booklet




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FCC College News 2008