WiSe (WIldlife
SafE)
is a Training and Accreditation scheme aimed at operators
of passenger pleasure craft, wildlife cruise operators, dive
boats and charter yachts who may come into contact with “mega”marine
wildlife such as whales, dolphins,
basking sharks or seals.
The training of operators consists
of instruction in to how to best view these creatures, whilst
at the same time minimising disturbance to them. All WiSe
accredited operators will have
received instruction into how to handle their craft whilst
in contact with any of these animals and how to leave room
for the animals to carry on with their lives unimpeded.
All WiSe operators will also have received
instruction in species identification, life history and behaviour of
a range of species that they might encounter, and will record their
sightings for use in basic scientific research.
All WiSe operators will have completed
a course led by marine wildlife experts before receiving Accreditation,
and have agreed to abide by the Codes of Conduct for each
of the species covered within the WiSe
scheme.
Our marine wildlife is amongst the most precious jewels in Britain’s
wild crown, and should be treated with respect. All WiSe
Accredited operators recognise this, so if you visiting the areas covered
by the scheme, and wish to view marine wildlife, choose a WiSe
operator, who will make the most of any encounter whilst respecting
the creatures we all love to see.
WiSe operators can be found in many coastal
ports around Cornwall, Devon , Dorset, South Wales, Northern Ireland,Isle of Man, Jersey and Scotland (east coast and west coast).
As WiSe expands geographically, keep an eye on our International operator page too. Some operators offer specialized wildlife watching day trips, others
coastal voyages in which you may encounter wildlife - there is a wealth
of choice from comfortable cruises to do-it-yourself kayaking.
All WiSe operators currently Accredited
are listed on this site by region, with full contact details, length
of operating season, details of voyages and potential species that may
be encountered.
All WiSe operators must hold the necessary
commercial licences and insurance to operate their vessel to meet all
current legislation.
Our WiSe film, for all who go out on the water...
With support from the Save Our Seas Foundation and WWF, the team at WiSe have put together a DVD film available below. This film presents the WiSe message to a broader audience than simply commercial boat operators i.e. it's targetted for anyone going out on the water that might encounter wildlife. It provides simple advice on typical species behaviour, safe distances and boat handling.
