PICTURES: Dummy whales and dolphins used to help buoy falling British Divers Marine Life Rescue numbers at Ullapool training day made possible by North Highland Initiative grant

A group of marine medics received specialist training in Ullapool that aims to protect and rescue whales, dolphins and seals around the Highlands.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) hosted a training day that teaches volunteers how to rescue stranded and injured seals, dolphins and whales, using techniques and equipment ranging from towels and tarpaulins to specialised rescue pontoons that can assist return whales to the sea.

A local team based in Ullapool had been trying to arrange a training session as they had lost a lot of members who moved and retired. But Covid had limited opportunities to train new members and they were at one point down to five active members covering the coast from Gairloch in Wester Ross up to Kinlochbervie in Sutherland.

Thanks to a grant from the North Highland Initiative, 20 places were made available at a subsidised rate to encourage people in the region to join the team.

“We have struggled in the past as a lot of people are too busy in the summer to attend a course but in the winter might be on a reduced income so find the fees too much,” said BDMLR medic Noel Hawkins, who is based in Ullapool.

“The number of available medics had fallen off during Covid and a call-out to what we thought might be a mass stranding on Skye earlier this year highlighted that we would struggle to deal with a major incident in the region. Thanks to the grant from NHI we now have 28 new medics and two refresher members back, covering the north west and also east coast.

"Our marine life is quite unique in Scotland and also a major tourist attraction, so it’s good to be able to try ensuring we are capable of rescuing any animals if they get in trouble here.”

The training took place at Ullapool Jetty using actual rescue pontoons that are used in real rescues but with life sized dummy dolphin and whales that weigh as much as the real life animals to demonstrate the issues faced in actual call outs.

BDMLR have a number of teams throughout the UK and specialist kit spread along the coast with volunteers attending strandings and call outs when marine life gets in trouble. For further details on the charity and how to get trained and become a marine mammal medic, visit https://bdmlr.org.uk/

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