British Divers Marine Life Rescue

Tue, Jul 9th 2019 at 6:30 pm -

Guest speaker will be James McKenzie

The guest speaker was James McKenzie from British Divers Marine Life Rescue. He is a marine mammal medic, his talk was fascinating and he revealed how to calm stress in whales by talking to them!

UK based international marine mammal rescue organisation.

45 units around Britain. Global lead authority on marine mammal rescue. The Fife unit is busiest in Britain, only Cornwall is busier.

Rescue the following:-

Harbour Porpoise timid animal up to 2 metres on length.

Common Dolphins up to 2.5 metres 200kg.

Atlantic White Sided Dolphin up to 2.7 metres, 200kg.

White Beaked Dolphin up to 3.1 metres, 350Kg

Bottlenose Dolphin up to 4 metres, 500Kg

Long Finned Pilot Whale up to 6 metres, 3.5 tons (most commonly stranded species).

Orca / Killer Whale up to 9.8 metres, 9 tons

Sperm Whale up to 20.5 metres, 67 tons (one 44 foot long stranded and died in Tay.)

Minke Whale up to 8.5metres, 8 tons

Humpbacked Whale up to 16 metres, 37 tons

Sel Whale up to 19.5 metres, 28 tons

Fin Whale up to 27.3 metres, 74 tons

Causes of standings

Diseases

Injuries

Malnutrition

Separated newborns

Navigational errors

Social reasons - mass strandings

The main thing rescued are seals.

Teeth like dogs and easy to get bitten. Can cause serious infections.

Entanglement

Caught up in fishing gear

Creel pots (up to 20 at a time)

Train on Loch Ness including Nantucket Sleigh ride rescue.

Threats to marine animals

People

Litter and plastics

Balloons

Captivity

Plastic bags look like jelly fish to seals.

Equipment used

Rescue Boats - Scottish one based in Dundee

Whale Pontoons

Ambulances

Rescue trailers

Disentangement Kit

British Divers established in 1988 when really ill seals were identified. Group of divers in England offered to help and do organisation started.

“Some people save stamps or coins, James saves whales.”

'What We Do' Main Pages:

Duty Rota

Members allocated for reception and vote of thanks duties

Information and application form. Scroll down to see who has benefited from our grants programme.

Fundraising

Oiling the West Fife Club's Rotary wheel

Rotary in our Community

International Service Projects

Primary Schools linked to Rotary Club of West Fife:- Blairhall, Cairneyhill, Carnock, Crossford, Camdean, Culross, Inzievar, Holy Name, Limekilns, Milesmark, St Serfs, Saline, Torryburn, Tulliallan. Secondary Schools:- Queen Anne and Woodmill