Société Jersiaise - Marine Biology Review

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Marine Biology Review - Autumn 2007

The Section is indebted to the retiring chairman, Andrew Syvret, who not only revived the Section but organised and led a variety of activities and projects.

During the last six months the Section has been active working on a code of conduct for Kite-surfers most specifically in Grouville Bay, after concerns raised by Bertram Bree about the general disturbance to marine life in the area. Dialogue with the Jersey Kite-surfing Association ensued and with a great deal of co-operation from them a voluntary code of conduct was drawn up and was in place within a matter of weeks. The chairman raised concerns about the increasing pressure upon wildlife and disturbance on the remoter parts of the coast and offshore reefs and the Section is currently working with the relevant States authorities in the drawing up of codes and guidelines to offer some protection for wildlife.

The Section worked on the environmental impact of the world record firework attempt in St Aubin's Bay and the event organiser was alerted to the probable pollution and damage and he took this into consideration and abandoned the attempt.

At Easter the Section recorded and photographed a Common Seal Phoca vitulina (Linnaeus) at Les Ecréhous. This is the first known photographic evidence of a Common Seal in the Channel Islands and is presumably a stray from the small colony in the Bay of Mont St Michel.

Members are continuing their work recording marine mammals and working with neighbouring French groups GECC and Ocean-ocean who have paid the Island visits when the weather has been suitable and both have benefited from our local knowledge and have enjoyed some good sightings on their visits.

The Section meets on the first Monday of the month at 8pm in the Arthur Mourant Room.