WHAT started out as a program to teach children about marine life is now a community project collecting information about dolphins.
And that information is being used by research organisations around the world, contributing to dolphin conservation.
Dolphin Watch was started by now-retired teachers Tony and Phyll Bartram, who began collecting data about dolphins in the seas around Kangaroo Island in 2005 before expanding the project to Victor Harbor six years later.
The research begins with groups of volunteers going out on the water to photograph the dolphins.
“The dorsal fin of a dolphin is its unique identifier and so by photographing them we can identify their migratory pathways, their behaviours and if they are mingling with other populations,” Tony said.
“Once we know this we can start to put things in place to protect their habitat.”
Tony said some of the data produced has been presented at conferences and used to inform scientists globally.
“For example, in 2013 some of the data gathered by Dolphin Watch informed an understanding of the morbillivirus (a virus related to human measles) and how it spreads. This is important to the preservation and protection of dolphins around the world.
“Not all our volunteers want to go out on the water but there is also an important role to undertake in land-based monitoring, which involves gathering data from the shore.
“We also need people to assist with grant writing, advocacy and administration, and we also attend and record strandings of dolphins.”
Dolphin Watch provides benefits to the community as well as the volunteers involved. It runs with a core group of 30 volunteers on Kangaroo Island and 50 at Victor Harbor, all of whom get enormous benefit from being out in nature and on the sea.
Tony also acknowledged the contribution of eco-tourism vessels and operators Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures and Big Duck Boat Tours, Victor Harbor, who provide vessels for observation.
- Interested in volunteering? Email Tony Bartram on bartram@kin.on.net