City woman heads up national watch of whales and dolphins

Published on Wednesday 15 July 2009 10:09

A FORMER Edinburgh woman has been appointed to take charge of a nationwide annual whale and dolphin watch.

Gemma Veneruso's role as sightings officer with the Sea Watch Foundation will see her head up the marine research charity's week-long programme of events which starts on Saturday.

The nearest event to Edinburgh is at St Abb's Lighthouse, St Abb's Head national nature reserve, on Saturday, from 11am-4pm.

Ms Veneruso, who went to Mary Erskine School before studying at Belfast and Plymouth universities, worked as a volunteer with the foundation two years ago. She said: "Many people in the UK do not realise just how many species of marine mammals live off and regularly visit the UK coast, and the Scottish coast in particular."

"In total, 28 different species have been recorded in the UK and Irish waters and we hope that during the watch period we will be able to record many of the 13 species that occur regularly in our seas and perhaps some of the visiting species as well."

"My main role is to improve public education. We are hoping that more people than ever before will join us on the watch."