By Isle of Wight Observer
Experts from the sea charity, ORCA, went on board Wightlink’s hybrid energy flagship, Victoria of Wight, to scan the Solent for signs of cetaceans – whales, dolphins and porpoises.
It was the fifth year the ferry company welcomed volunteers from the whale and dolphin charity on its Portsmouth to Fishbourne route.
Wightlink Operations Director, Daryl Palmer, said: “We always enjoy taking part in ORCA’s surveys and value their work collecting data to help us understand more about whales and dolphins and their way of life.
“In recent years, our colleagues have seen dolphins several times in the Solent, especially off the West Wight. We often spotted one swimming alongside our ferries sailing from Yarmouth to Lymington.”
ORCA’s Head of Education, Anna Bunney, said: “Wightlink has been supporting ORCA OceanWatch since the beginning, and the crews crossing the Solent are enthusiastic and passionate about supporting our conservation work. We can’t wait to find out what new insights we can glean from ORCA OceanWatch 2019.”
