It was lovely to read the posts from Steve Rosser about his time volunteering with with Sea Trust so having been asked to make my own contribution I'll do my best to introduce myself and give you a flavour of what I get out of being a volunteer. My name is Ken Barnett. I was born and raised in Goodwick north Pembrokeshire and for a good portion of my life have been involved with the sea in some way. From swimming in it, diving in it, boating on it, working on it and for the past several years watching the various mammals that live in it. The following is the story of how I became involved with Sea Trust and the enormous benefit I've derived from the experience and which I hope they have too.
One Lucky day
One aspect
of this prolonged lockdown period is the chance to reflect on the recent past
and to realise how lucky I’ve been over the past several years. Apart from all
the usual family high spots like seeing my grandsons becoming their own
characters and sharing in my daughter’s successes as her career progresses,
there’s been one stroke of luck that started a whole new chapter in my life.
One single image
Those who
know me will know of my passion for photography and my love of all things
Pembrokeshire related in that field, but after many years of landscapes and sunsets to name
but a few I was looking for a new challenge, so when a well known lens
manufacturer produced an affordable long lens I jumped at the chance so that I
could turn my attention to Pembrokeshire’s wonderful wildlife. My first
thoughts on where to try it out were Strumble Head as I knew there would be all
manner of sea birds there to challenge my skills. Indeed they did but a cursory
glance out over the sea opened my eyes to a different prey. I saw at a distance
what I took to be a large dolphin so naturally I took a shot of it. Just one as
it soon disappeared beneath the waves. When back home I processed the image and
was curious as to what it was.
A few days
later I was at Strumble again and saw a chap who I knew to be Cliff Benson from
Sea Trust but had never actually met, so with a little nervousness I approached
him and told of my encounter a few days earlier. “Bring the image in to the
Ocean Lab” he said, in his broad Yorkshire accent, which I naturally did. His
eyes opened wide on seeing it and it was clear to me he was more than a little
impressed. “That’s a Minke Whale” he exclaimed.
An interesting conversation ensued during which it became clear to me
and him that I had a skill and a passion that would benefit my and Sea Trust’s
interests. “Can you photograph Porpoises”
I was asked. I’d give it a good go I
replied, and so that one image ignited a flame within that has never dimmed and as well as a great new friendship
has given me something that has enriched my life beyond words.
In a short
period of time the images got better and it was soon realised that this opened
up a great opportunity to improve the data collection and to even set up a
catalogue of identifiable porpoises. I was becoming more familiar with the rest
of team Sea trust and was soon accepted as a regular contributor. A staff
change led to the arrival of Holly Dunn who brought a new impetus and
scientific approach to the collection of data. With our shared aims we hit it off right away and were
soon working together to better understand the porpoise, their habits, behaviours
and movements. This work continues and
with the catalogue of marked and identifiable animals now in the hundreds, and
the largest porpoise register Europe wide putting Sea Trust firmly on the scientific map I am proud to have played a major part in
it’s inception and it’s continued growth.
Expansion
Things were
going well and the Porpoise Fin Identification Project as it was now called was going
from strength to strength and with extra
funding volunteers were sought and new
camera kit purchased enabling more data to be captured and different locations
used. This brought out another of my skills as a trainer which had been acquired
during my working days at sea with BR, Sealink British Ferries and Stena Line. I
love working with people and passing on skills to them so this further enhanced
the project and opened up the field of porpoise research to so many other
people in the form of citizen science.
 |
| Volunteers doing survey work at Strumble. |
 |
| Holly with volunteers at Ramsey sound. |
Happy Days
I consider
myself very fortunate to have the time to carry out regular surveys and am always
happy when I’m out at Strumble Head or the north breakwater capturing the
spectacle of the porpoise and dolphin as they go about their daily life. At Strumble
though I’m in my element for as people from all over the world visit this
beautiful spot more often than not they are curious as to what I’m up to. From
TV celebs, the very young to the elderly from single walkers to large families and
even a Himalayan Sherpa from Nepal who guides on Everest the one thing they
have in common is their desire for a depth of information on the area they are
visiting. An enrichment if you like over and above what the brochures tell them
and an explanation of what they see in front of them. Naturally I'm always happy to oblige.
 |
| TV presenter Sean Fletcher bringing a smile to Holly's face. |
 |
| In depth explanations of porpoise life at Strumble |
 | |||||
| Describing the tidal system to a large group at one of our open porpoise watches. |
This is the
ideal opportunity for me to impart some extensive local knowledge and give them
a flavour of what wonderful things we see at Strumble and also to bring the
existence of Sea Trust and it’s work to a much wider audience. Indeed many
leave Strumble and head for the Ocean Lab to continue the experience. It is of
course a two way street and I gain much from these encounters and feel on a
high returning home most days.
Days Afloat
For my own
personal satisfaction and the activity that tests my photo skills the most it has
to be our trips afloat on the Cartlet Lady. With salt in my blood the chance of
a trip is never turned down. To be out in the deeps with hundreds and sometimes
thousands of dolphins plus Porpoise, turtles, sharks, tuna, various sea birds
and always the chance of Minke & Fin Whales I never tire of it. It’s from
these trips that often some of my best images are taken and last year led to
the production of my first Pembrokeshire Marine Wildlife calendar. The complete
production run sold out with all proceeds going to Sea Trust with copies going
as far afield as Canada and Australia.
 |
| Myself (centre) with a group of interns and Cliff on our way out of the haven |
 |
| On the flying bridge of the Cartlet Lady with Skipper Andy and our interns. |
 |
| Paying guests without who's support the surveys would not be possible |
 |
| One of the many superb oportunities these wonderful dolphins present. |
 |
| Calendar cover of a stunning Rissos Dolphin standing 12ft proud of the water. |
To Sum It All Up
The SeaTrust
team are very special to me and I have made what I know will be life long
friendships through my work volunteering with them. From pushing a paintbrush and helping
with maintenance in the Ocean Lab to conducting surveys out on the coast I am
proud to wear the T- shirt and call myself a Sea Trust volunteer.