A first-of-its-kind interactive wildlife map has been created to help ferry passengers spot birds and marine life while on deck when travelling in British and European waters. The map has been built by Discover Ferries using data from marine conservation charity ORCA.
The easy-to-use, free-to-access map shows the wildlife that can be seen in the waters around the UK and helps travellers plan trips as well as identify sightings on the go, so ferry passengers can enjoy additional onboard entertainment for free. ORCA surveyors are stationed on several UK ferry routes to survey the number of cetaceans – dolphins, whales and porpoises.
This year, between March and October, the surveyors sighted 7,398 marine mammals from ships operated by Brittany Ferries, Caledonian MacBrayne, DFDS and Isles of Scilly Travel. The findings inform government conservation policy and the protection of marine habitats. As well as monitoring the numbers and species visible from deck, the Conservationists run guided deck watches and give talks on marine ecosystems to educate and enrich passenger journeys.
