Common dolphin and calf, Image by Adrian Langdon
Seaquest Southwest
Seaquest Southwest is a citizen science marine recording project run by Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas Team. It is one of Cornwall Wildlife Trust's fantastic marine projects aimed at better understanding, conserving and protecting marine wildlife and wild places for future generations.
Seaquest Southwest uses public events, surveys and activities to engage with volunteers and members of the public to achieve its three main aims: to engage people with the marine environment; to collect data on marine wildlife, and to better understand and conserve marine wildlife. Seaquest has been running now for 10 years and collects sightings data on the abundance and distribution of marine megafauna around the Cornish coast. As a result, there has been a steady stream of data over the years which have given us a fantastic insight into our Cornish cetacean population.
Seaquest Southwest Aims
- To engage people with the marine environment
- To collect data on marine wildlife
- To better understand and conserve marine wildlife
Seaquest Southwest organises an exciting programme of events, from public seawatches, Seaquest Sunday surveys, and an annual recorders conference. To find out more please see our seasonal timetable of events at the bottom of this page.
Recent sightings
To find out what marine wildlife has been seen recently go to the Online Recorder Kernow and Scilly (ORKS) website to explore recent wildlife sightings in the county. You'll need to create a free ORKS account to access this information.
You can also read our Seaquest Annual Reports which is packed full of sightings and updates from the project, available to download at the bottom of this page.
Bottlenose dolphin, mother and calf. Image Simon Ingram
Send us your sightings of marine wildlife in Cornwall
When you're out and about, keep a lookout for marine wildlife, then send us your sightings, and you can help protect these beautiful creatures. Send your ad hoc sightings to Online Wildlife Recording Kernow and Scilly (ORKS).
Join us on a Seaquest Dolphin Watch!
The third Sunday of each month we run a public friendly sea watch at different key headlands all around the county. Join wildlife experts and enthusiasts and see what wonderful marine megafauna can be spotted from our coast, meet some fantastic like-minded people and find out more about the project.
These events are published on the CWT events lists, on the Seaquest Southwest Facebook page and on our Seaquest newsletters (subscribe here)
Become a volunteer and get involved!
We run a number of training events and opportunities throughout the year for new Seaquest volunteers. To get involved or to just find out more, please email seaquest@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk and subscribe to our Seaquest newsletter to keep up to date with news, upcoming events and training.
2024 Programme of events
Picnic with a Porpoise
Public Seaquest Watches
Join the Seaquesters at different cliff-top locations around the Cornish coast to look for some amazing marine wildlife, learn about the animals we share our coast with and about Seaquest and meet other like-minded people while enjoying a cliff-top tea and cake.
Please note – some sea watches are located close to an NCI station, and all will be clearly marked with flag or logo-ed volunteers. Please bring appropriate clothing, drinks and some snacks, and be prepared to be socially distant from others there potentially.
To find out more about our events this year... download the 2024 Seaquest Events Programme.
MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ANY CANCELLATIONS
Seaquest Sundays
Seaquest Trained Volunteer Watches
Effort-based survey day (the first Sunday of every month) for our trained volunteers to record our marine wildlife from their favourite sea-watching point.
You must be a trained volunteer to conduct these surveys
Trained Local Marine Groups support these events and hold surveys that all can attend and join in with - please look below in the 'Associated Local Marine Groups' section.
From 11.00 am to 1.00 pm
Sunday 7th January
Sunday 4th February
Sunday 3rd March
Sunday 7th April
Sunday 5th May
Sunday 2nd June
Sunday 7th July
Sunday 4th August
Sunday 1st September
Sunday 6th October
Sunday 3rd November
Sunday 1st December
Seaquest Survey Training
Day-long course on how to conduct effort-based surveys and to improve marine wildlife ID skills. Places are restricted per course and booking is essential via Eventbrite. No experience is necessary, all are welcome!
Date: Saturday 23rd March 2024
Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Both online (AM) and in person on the cliffs at St Agnes Head or Pendennis Point, Falmouth (PM).
Cost: £20
The morning session will include online talks about the project, marine mammal identification and survey technique via a Zoom webinar followed by a practical session in the afternoon of sea watching to practice your new skills at two locations - either St Agnes Head or Pendennis Point, Falmouth.
You must attend both sessions to complete the course.
The cost is £20 per person and FREE for volunteers living in the following postcodes: PL23 / PL24 / PL25 / PL26 and PL30 (south of the A30 only)...
as well as marine group members from Friends of Fowey Estuary, Friends of Par Beach and Three Bays Wildlife Group*
* We will be asking for confirmation of local group membership and address.
Marine Recorders Evening
Marine Recorders Evening – An event to gather with fellow sea watchers and other marine recorders within the Living Seas Projects in Cornwall, for an evening of inspiring talks to summarise the year’s wildlife sightings.
Thursday 21st November 2024
Venue TBC
6:00pm – 9:30pm
Doors open at 5:30pm
National Whale and Dolphin Watch 2023
Seaquest Southwest will be taking part in the Sea Watch Foundation’s NWDW by putting on public watches, these will be running at the normal time of 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Locations:
Sat 27th July - Polruan NCI
Mon 29th July - Dodman Point, St Austell
Wed 31st July - Pentire Point nr. Polzeath
Sat 3rd August - Mirose Well, North Cliffs
Seaquest Southwest Volunteer Coordinator
An exciting new placement opportunity has arisen within Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Marine team to assist with the Seaquest Marine Sightings Project. This volunteer role will assist the Marine Apprentice and Marine Conservation Officer with managing the media and newsletters for Seaquest, delivering public-friendly events, supporting Seaquest volunteers to carry our Seaquest surveys, managing data and creating the project outputs.
This is a volunteer (unpaid) post, part-time (1- 3 days a week) with flexible hours, for a minimum of 6 months. The volunteer can work both at our HQ near Truro and from home. The role includes some evening and weekend work. A job share will be considered.
Experience in working with people and managing data is required, with strong communication skills and confident public-speaking skills essential.
Application Deadline: Sunday 25th February 2024
Date for initial chat: Week of 4th March 2024
Period: Spring / Summer 2024
Job description/person specification and application form available on request at Seaquest@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk
Associated Local Marine Groups
Seaquest Southwest collaborates with our marine and coastal wildlife groups around the county to set up local sea watching sites supported by the local community. This enables us to gather more information about the marine wildlife that resides around Cornwall. These groups are part of the Your Shore Network and they run surveys at their local sites during Seaquest Sundays when volunteers are available and the conditions are suitable. Why not join them on the cliffs for a more social sea watch!
PLEASE NOTE:
- These groups are run by volunteers who might not be available during the Seaquest Sunday dates or might run additional events. Please use the contact information below to check with the group for details and updates.
- These local surveys may be cancelled in rain, fog, mist or any winds above force 4. Check the weather and local group Facebook pages before you leave the house.
Mounts Bay Marine Group
The waters around Mounts Bay are home to an amazing spread of life. It is such a special environment that Mounts Bay was designated a Marine Conservation Zone in January 2016. The Mounts Bay Marine Group aims to protect and conserve our marine environment and to promote the fantastic marine wildlife found here.
If you would like to get more involved with any of our projects or would like to find out more about joining our meetings then please contact mountsbaymarine@gmail.com
Newquay Marine Group
Newquay Marine Group are a group of local residents working together to create a marine community for the town and surrounding areas - from Crantock to Watergate Bay. The Group will be supporting Seaquest Sundays by running sea watches from Towan Headland throughout the year and would be delighted to welcome people to join local volunteers to survey marine wildlife from this fantastic look out point.
For more information contact newquaymarinegroup@gmail.com
St Agnes Marine Conservation Group
The St Agnes Marine Conservation Group is entirely run by volunteers to promote the St Agnes Voluntary Marine Conservation Area (VMCA) and help everyone to enjoy and appreciate the fantastic wildlife and wild places St Agnes has to offer. The Group will be supporting Seaquest Sundays and running a sea watch and survey from the coast path below the St Agnes Head NCI station.
For more information contact contact@st-agnesvmca.org.uk
Falmouth Marine Conservation Group
A collaboration between the local and student community in Falmouth dedicated to protecting our marine environment will be hosting public sea watches on Seaquest Sundays at the beautiful Pendennis Point. Support this new group by joining locals at this brilliant location looking over the harbour to spot wildlife.
For more information, visit www.falmouthmarineconservation.org.uk or their Facebook page.
Three Bays Wildlife Group
The Three Bays Wildlife Group is a voluntary community lead local wildlife group constituted since April 2018 and are affiliated to CWT. The group has been running Seaquest Surveys for several years from Dodman Point, near St Austell, and are aiming to venture to other beautiful headlands of the Roseland to spot wonderful marine megafauna.
For more information, visit Three Bays Wildlife Group Facebook Page.
National Trust watch points
Mayon Cliff Lookout
With views from Cape Cornwall to Land’s End, this viewpoint is ideal for wildlife watching. During the summer there are National Trust Rangers at the lookout to give information on wildlife in the area.
Lizard Wildlife Watch Point
At Britain’s Most Southerly Point, the National Trust’s Wildlife Watchpoint is a fantastic place to get closer to nature. Volunteers are on hand every day, between April and September, to point out and share more about marine wildlife.
For more information contact lizardandpenrose@nationaltrust.org.uk or call 01326 222170.
Accessible Sea Watching
Accessible Sea Watching
If rambling down coastal paths and trekking to rocky outcrops isn't quite your style, then our accessible sea-watching locations are great places to go! We want to ensure our cliff-top surveys are accessible to as many people as possible, so we encourage anyone with limited mobility, health conditions, or impairments to grab some binos and head to the coast!
Accessible Watch Locations
- Pendennis Point
- St Agnes NCI
- Pendower Beach Car Park
- Rinsey Head
- Mevagissey breakwater
- Glebe Cliff
- St Ives Island
- Pentire Head