Sea Watch Foundation

Getting to know the dolphins

Sea Watch Foundation’s Cardigan Bay Monitoring Project follows bottlenose dolphins from its base in New Quay. Research there stretches back to the 1990s, bringing continuity to the study of animals that use these Welsh waters. S004

Photographs of distinctive marks on dorsal fins allow the team to recognise individual dolphins. Matching those images over time helps trace movements, relationships and life histories, adding detail that a sighting count alone cannot provide. S004

From the pier to the open bay

Shore watches from New Quay pier complement boat surveys following set routes across Cardigan Bay. Observers record sightings, conditions and interactions with boats, building evidence about how dolphins use their habitat. S004

More eyes on the water

A wider UK sightings network gives members of the public a role in recording whales, dolphins and porpoises. National Whale and Dolphin Watch brings that participation together through organised observation. S003, S006

Around Anglesey and Caernarfon Bay, its field programme combines marine mammal and seabird surveys with community engagement. Research internships include opportunities to develop public activities and work with schools and local groups. S005

A longer view of life at sea

Conservation benefits from a longer view of life at sea. Repeated observations help reveal where dolphins spend time and how their populations change. Sea Watch’s combination of sustained fieldwork and public involvement makes that longer view possible. S004, S006

Its Cardigan Bay research has examined habitat use, population trends and the effects of boat traffic. Connecting those questions to animals followed over time gives marine conservation a more informed starting point. S004

The detail behind the work

The annual figures give a sense of the organisation’s scale. They cover the whole charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The spending breakdown follows its filed accounts for that year, checked on 13 October 2026. These are historical figures, not current balances or a project budget. S001, S020