The
Spirit of Volunteering:
Whale Coast Oman
 By Ziana Qaiser
Did you know that 21 different species of
whales and dolphins have been identified along the coast of Oman? The research and
conservation of Oman's rich and diverse marine life, particularly whales and dolphins, is
the focus of a group of dedicated volunteers organised under the Oman Whale and Dolphin
Research Group, or Whale Coast Oman, as the group is also known.
Humpback whale tail splash
Whale Coast Oman is an informal group of trained environmental consultants and biologists
living in Oman, who volunteer their time, skills and knowledge towards conservation
efforts and spreading awareness of whale and dolphin research around the community.
The core team of Whale Coast Oman consists of Robert Baldwin, Tim Collins, Gianna Minton
and Dr. Fergus Kennedy. The group carries out a number of activities that contribute to
the conservation of whales and dolphins.
They are active in providing emergency rescue services for whales and dolphins that are
stranded on beaches, or entangled in fish nets. Whale Coast Oman also maintains a database
of cetacean sighting and strandings, which includes over 1600 reports of sightings and
strandings dating back to the 1970s. Local marine scientists can use this database to look
for patterns and generate maps and charts of sightings according to species and different
times of the year.
The group also collects cetacean bones, skulls and tissue samples, which are sometimes the
only proof of the local presence of rare or elusive species that are rarely seen in the
sea. Whale Coast Oman also cooperates with local tour operators to promote responsible
whale and dolphin watching activities, and wherever possible, a combination of research
and eco-tourism. Members of Whale Coast Oman also carry out work in the Muscat area,
including beach surveys and boat-based observations.
 Another
aspect of their volunteer work is to spread awareness around the local and international
community, of their work and Oman's rich whale and dolphin population.
Robert Baldwin and MRME staff member with a
dead bottlenose dolphin
They are consistent in writing and publishing their news and discoveries in the media, and
whenever possible, the group visits local schools to give talks and presentations. They
have also attended and presented information at several local and international
gatherings.
Being a volunteer-based group, finances are limited and so the group raises funds by
selling T-shirts and other merchandise with the 'Whale Coast Oman' logo, which can be
purchased at the Oman Dive Center in Bandar Jissah or at Scuba Tech, at the Al Wadi
Commercial Center in Qurum. An informative website, www.whalecoastoman.com, has also been
set up with the help of Russell Elliot, a dedicated volunteer, that provides information
about the group's activities and is regularly updated with photos and news.
Members of the group talk extensively with local fishermen and community members in areas
where they work. One of the aims of the group is to get more Omanis involved in the work,
so that the conservation efforts can continue beyond their stay in Oman. Recently, the
group has been able to involve a couple of students from Sultan Qaboos University, as well
as an employee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Whale Coast Oman plans to
continue with this cooperation and to intensify efforts to involve more local participants
and trainees in its work in the next field season.
Today, with the support of a number of individuals and businesses, and official approval
from the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Environment, Whale Coast Oman is growing
and is making a prominent contribution to the Sultanate for the betterment of Oman's
environment. The support of sponsors such as PDO, Shell Oman, Ford, the Peter Scott Trust,
DHL, Mark, AS Atkins, KPMG, Tawoos Group, OHI, Salalah Port Services Co, Oman LNG, Muscat
Pharmacy, Tarmac Alawi, Oman Air, Elcome International, Camerone, Veritas Geophysical,
Kenya Airways, KLM and Emirates, has enabled the group to enlist the help of
internationally renowned whale and dolphin experts on a number of surveys over the last
couple of years.
The dedicated members of Whale Coast Oman are optimistic about the growing support for
their work and are keen to engage more members of the community in their efforts. Whale
Coast Oman encourages members of the public to become involved in cetacean research by
reporting their sightings of live, entangled or stranded sea animals. More information can
be obtained by logging on to their website at www.whalecoastoman.com and discovering the
work of these dedicated volunteers towards protecting and promoting Oman's whales and
dolphins.
|