Research
Research and conservation of Welsh waters
Working with a local charter boat company Dolphin Survey Boat Trips, our survey trips, funded by the paying public, enable us to collect data on the marine mammals and other marine wildlife that we encounter in a non-intrusive manner.
Each year we carry out boat surveys to gather important information on the local bottlenose dolphin population as well as other species encountered. The research includes taking photo-identification images of the dolphins when we encounter them and recording harbour porpoise and seals as well as unusual seabirds.
Our All Day surveys with Dolphin Survey Boat Trips offer a great opportunity to see researchers in action and enjoy some of Cardigan Bay’s fantastic sights.
We also work in conjunction with Ceredigion County Council, with CBMWC volunteers manning the New Quay harbour survey site for the council’s “Dolphin Watch” project. As well as collecting our own data we can support university students to collect data for their undergraduate and masters projects.
We are licensed by Natural Resources Wales to carry out photo-identification on the bottlenose dolphins to produce our annual bottlenose dolphin photo-identification catalogue, providing information on individual dolphins that we have photographed throughout the field season.
Over 25 years of marine research, conservation and education at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre!
Watch this video to find out more information on our research on marine mammals in the Bay and the wider marine environment, and how our work informs policy, management and protection of the area and the Irish Sea.
Supporting students
If you are an undergraduate or postgraduate student and are interested in carrying out a marine-based research project whilst volunteering at the centre, we can help support you. We can provide expertise and through our collaboration with Dolphin Survey Boat Trips we can assist with access to boat time for your specific project as well as specialist equipment and office space, allowing you the opportunity to liaise with other volunteers, staff and students at CBMWC.
As well as using boat time to study the marine megafauna, there is also scope for plankton, seabird and land-based projects. We also have a large amount of data collected in previous years which can be used in comparative studies.
Please note that we do not currently have a list of specific project ideas but if you already have a project idea in mind, please contact our Living Seas Science officer Sarah Perry on s.perry@welshwildlife.org to discuss whether your ideas are feasible. Please note that you will be expected to provide a detail project plan prior to conducting any projects and to cover any associated costs involved.