Marine conservation charity Sea Trust Wales has launched its first online crowdfunding appeal, in the hope of continuing its successful porpoise photo-ID project.

The Trust is turning to the public, to get behind them and support the project by donating to its Local Giving appeal page: https://localgiving.org/porpoiseappeal. The appeal, which runs until June 30, 2021, aims to raise £3,000 to keep the project going throughout the summer.

The porpoise photo-ID project became the first of its kind in the UK, when it dedicated an entire project to the photo-identification of harbour porpoises. The project identifies and monitors individual porpoises, getting a close-up, in-depth look into their lives.

Project officer Holly Dunn commented: “Harbour porpoises face so many threats and their current protection is minimal and inadequate. This lack of protection is a direct result of lack of knowledge. By using photo-ID, we can essentially track individual porpoises and over time answer so many questions, such as population numbers, residency patterns, distribution and so much more. With this information we can make better, more informed decisions on how to protect them.”

As a citizen science project, Sea Trust trains volunteers, who head out to several sites around the North Pembrokeshire coast collecting data and photographing porpoises. The project has attracted over 60 volunteers since its launch in 2017. The volunteers contribute to an important conservation project and receive a lot of mental health and well-being benefits in the process.

Unfortunately, long-term projects like this one, need funding, and current funding is coming to an end this summer. As well as this, Sea Trust has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The project has lost a big chunk of its funding with the closure of the trust’s aquarium due to restrictions. Funds from this appeal will go directly towards surveys, volunteer recruitment and training, organisation of public events and sharing of results.

Holly added: “The project has been so successful so far, we have learnt a great deal about the porpoises in the area and brought joy to so many people, it would be such a shame for it all to stop now. Funds raised from this appeal will allow surveys and the need for volunteers to continue throughout the summer and give us the time and support we need to secure more permanent funding.”

For more information on this appeal and how to donate, visit https://localgiving.org/porpoiseappeal.