February 2000
A new research centre to be launched this year has mapped out an exploratory program which will put the West country in the forefront of tackling climate change. C-CLIF which stands for Centre for Climate Impact Forecasting will be formed by a consortium of at least 50 scientists from the universities of Plymouth and Exeter, the Camborne School of Mines and the Plymouth Marine Laboratory. They will aim to map out new opportunities and threats that will arise from climate change in the region, where the natural environment is crucial to the economy. One project, for instance, will examine the possible effects on agriculture in the region, as changing temperature and rainfall make a range of new farming activities possible - and perhaps rule out some of the more traditional practices; and if we are to import new species we have to be aware of the possible impact they would have on our native ecosystem. The Fin Whales seen on December 19th 1999 off Carn Gloose, seem to be still in the West Cornwall area for 2 were seen off Carne Gloose on 9th of January and were spouting from 11am to 4pm. They were seen again on the 13th January, this time from Gwennap Head at noon. Last month a lad of 11 found a Mermaids Purse on the strandline at Porthcothan Bay, complete with a live baby Thornback Ray inside. Apparently Thornbacks expel their eggs from March to as late as August, and with a gestation period of 4 to 5 months it is not unusual for them to be found still in the leathery purse in January. The pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins in which Benty spends much of his time has risen from 5 to nine. They were seen in Plymouth Sound on 21st January where they were following a small surveying boat on repeated North and South Tracks. They were all very active with much jumping about. On 5th January a Common Dolphin came close inshore at Porthallow Beach, it was making noises and seemed to be in distress with a bloody nose. The R.S.P.C.A and Marine Life Rescue Team was informed but when they went out to it the dolphin moved into deeper water and they were unable to help it. Very large pods of Common Dolphins have been seen well out off the Eddystone Light, on the 26th January a pod estimated at over 1000 was seen 15 miles out, and on the 27th another pod of between 200 and 500 was seen 8 to 10 miles out. Pods of Risso's Dolphins have been seen in January, at least six were widely spread out along the tide race off Carn Gloose on the 20th, they were probably feeding although there was some jumping and splashing about, there was one juvenile and one had white about the head, the others were grey or darker. On the 25th at least four were seen, including a mother and baby, off The Minack Theatre, again there was one with white about the head. Work will be started this week on the new building at Padstow which will hold the hatchery for baby lobsters. It is expected to be completed by June this year. It will be run by a non-profit making company and the majority of the running cost will be covered by income from a new visitor centre on the site.
Conservation Officer: Raymond Dennis