SCIENTISTS at the Sea Watch Foundation are looking for marine mammal enthusiasts in Dorset and Hampshire who want to help collect records of whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Every year for nine days in late July, the foundation searches for wildlife enthusiasts around the UK to support National Whale and Dolphin Watch, a citizen science project which is now in its eighteenth year.

Volunteers scan the seas around the British Isles hoping to catch a glimpse of marine mammals.

Numerous dolphin sightings take place throughout the year off Dorset and Hampshire's coast.

Sea Watch Foundation sightings officer Dr Chiara Giulia Bertulli, who is the lead organiser for this year's event, said: "National Whale and Dolphin Watch is about involving people and allowing them to experience something they never thought they could be part of, it is about collecting vital data for the protection and conservation of local cetacean species, and it is about sharing this magical event with people from all other the country and have fun all together."

Last year 8,000 individual animals of thirteen species were reported during the watch.

Cetacean sightings stood at 1,626, which was the highest ever recorded.

A Sea Watch Foundation explained: "These numbers recorded were possibly due to the good stable weather recorded last summer.

"High temperatures brought in warmer water species like striped dolphins and created the conditions for plankton to develop, attracting shoals of fish and, in turn, whales and dolphins.

"The most memorable sightings recorded during the 2018 include humpback whales in Yorkshire and Aberdeenshire, striped dolphins live stranding in South Wales, Sowerby’s beaked whale in East Lothian, fin whales in Northeast Scotland and Outer Hebrides, and large pods of short-beaked common dolphins off Puffin Island and Menai Bridge in North Wales."

No previous experience of National Whale and Dolphin Watch is required in order to take part in the initiative.

Sea Watch Foundation staff suggests volunteers conduct their land watches for a minimum of one hour and work in groups to take turns in data collection.

The spokesman said: "If you are an experienced watcher you can easily identify species and fill in our website forms.

"If it is the first time for you, there are manned sites around the country where experienced watchers will be available to assist first-timers."

This year's watch takes place from Saturday, July 27, until Sunday, August 4.

Visit seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdw