Marine mammal rescue
course to be held in Eriskay

Marine mammal rescue course to be held in Eriskay

by Sandy MacDonald, BDMLR Outer Hebrides Acting Co-ordinator

Since their training in May the British Divers Marine Live Rescue (BDMLR) medics in the Uists have been kept on their toes with two Atlantic white sided dolphins in North Uist, a mass stranding of long finned pilot whales at the Kyle of Durness, a Fin whale in South Uist and several Grey seal pups in North Uist, Benbecula and Vatersay.

Sadly, because we don’t, as yet, have trained medics in Barra and Vatersay, the seal pup in Vatersay died before we were able to get someone out to lift it from the beach.

We need to train more people throughout the islands, especially in Barra and Vatersay, and a marine mammal rescue course will be held in the Eriskay community hall on Saturday 19th November and is open to everyone over the age of 16. It is not necessary to have any diving experience but a drysuit or thick wetsuit and weatherproof over clothing will be required as half of the course will be run in the water.

During the course they will learn about the biology, physiology and species identification of marine mammals and the assessment and provision of first aid when they live strand on our shores and beaches. They will learn how to safely handle and lift an injured or stranded seal pup and prepare it for transportation to a seal rehabilitation centre and also the techniques for safely handling, lifting and refloating stranded whales, dolphins and porpoises using tarpaulins and specialised inflatable pontoons. They will also receive information to help with the rescue of marine turtles and oiled birds.

A Bingo and Raffle Night has also been organised for the evening of 19th November to raise funds to buy much needed rescue equipment for the Uists and Barra. The event will be held at the Carnish Hall and starts at 7:30pm. A number of great prizes have already been donated local businesses and individuals so you could be in with a chance of winning something nice. All are welcome. It will be a great way to relax after the training course but if you feel the course isn’t for you, don’t worry, you can still come along and show your support.

For more information and booking a place on the course please visit the training section on www.bdmlr.org.uk. You can also contact the area coordinator for the Outer Hebrides, Sandy MacDonald, by phone 07902728411 or email sandy@bdmlr.org.uk if you have any questions or wish to discuss the work of BDMLR in the Outer Hebrides.

If you come across a LIVE stranded or injured marine animal please phone the BDMLR RESCUE HOTLINE: 01825 765546 (out of hours: 07787 433412) and a team will be called out to help.

For DEAD stranded marine animals – seals, cetaceans, turtles or basking sharks – please report it to the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme on 01463 243030.