YOU, YOUR CANOE AND THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Transcription

1 YOU, YOUR ANOE AND THE MARNE ENVRONMENT

2 T Y Y M E P coastline. This guide will help you to recognise and appreciate much of the marine wildlife you will encounter while out on the water. We take our responsibility to the environment seriously, and by developing partnerships with environmental RSPB ensuring we do not disturb species that permanently inhabit or seasonally visit our coastline. We would like to thank RSPB T G B W camera when you head out so you can share your experiences. Happy Paddling! P O B E T UK UK W T B B T L M RSPB E 2 3

3 NTRODUTON ARNG FOR THE ENVRONMENT Ten Principles to Remember T B S R who follow. Please also be aware when canoeing around the coasts of England and Wales that where wildlife is F B L Advisor or Regional Waterways Advisor. W 1. F N R to disturbance in areas not normally visited by people. 2. B T 3. Keep to designated paths or launching points where possible. 4. Paddle at a safe distance from wildlife, keeping noise and sudden movements to a without causing further disturbance. 5. N Y 6. L D displace wildlife. 7. D 8. F when launching or landing along natural banks/beaches. 9. T 10. B 4 5

4 BRDS T E W S D F A these birds come together to form spectacular colonies, with amazing sights, sounds and smells, as well as D A M F Oystercatcher Shag S (such as Oystercatcher & Redshank) S L T P T (several species) Great Black Backed Gull A G R P Guillemot S M B close to it. Walking over a burrow can crush the nest, or cause the adult to desert its young, so be aware of R W A A T K Great rested Grebe S A G (several species) D G (several species) R RSPB 6 7

5 SEALS Two species of seals come to our shores to breed: G L Roman nose, small spots and parrallel nostrils of the grey seal. n common seals, which are smaller than grey seal, A B smaller common seal which is more likely to be found on east coast. Whilst cumbersome on land, grey seals are T kilometres a day, can hold their breath for an hour and a MOVE AWAY SLOWLY BE AWARE OF ANY SGNS OF DSTURBANE APPROAH QUETLY AND NO LOSER THAN 100M ETHER ON LAND 100m OR SEA G S D B T A about three weeks. G B A S M will usually stay put when these boats approach. G H L H head to nose. n male exaggerated to give a R Variable grey coat is covered in thick blotches, unique to each animal. Male usually dark with lighter blotches and female light with dark blotches. Nostrils parallel to one another, not always obvious. Usually seen in rocky areas, but also in estuaries and bays. B P S M F appearance. from light grey to dark brown. N V Frequents sandbanks in estuaries but also occurs on rocky coasts. GUDANE N S disturbance can lead to pups being crushed or separated from their mothers. A sudden appearance. T L E D B 8 9

6 ETAEANS Porpoises, such as harbour porpoise, do not tend to show a lot of interest in kayaks so you will usually see D come over towards you. The best advice if you are maintain a straight course and they will follow if they are interested in you. F Balaenoptera physalus S S S A white F F More commonly seen in small groups. M Balaenoptera acuturostrata S A S S D and F B when surfacing. Usually solitary. an be confused with other baleen whales (bigger, no white You may encounter several species of whales whilst M T is obvious when they are next to you, so avoid and let them do the moving. ommon dolphin O Orcinus orca L V F D L F H U L Globicephala melas A L B L L S G O S GUDANE Harbour porpoise A A when heading straight towards them. M N out, but if they choose to swim away from you then respect their wish. A D A H Megaptera novaengliae L B L O L the UK. B T L T S P O Usually in small groups close to shore but can be seen in 10 11

7 SHARKS S Stenella coeruleoalba S L W V V S Rare visitor from southern waters. an be confused with: common dolphin. R Grampus griseus L T Rounded head, no beak. D especially the head. Older animals look almost white. S U H Phocoena phocoena S S B D Q O Most common cetacean in our inshore waters. Very shy. Only porpoise found in northern hemisphere. Not a dolphin. W Lagenorhynchus albirostris M T S O body is variable dark grey with greyish white blazes. Thick tail stock. P A U A Delphinus delphis S L V V S A A Lagenorhynchus acutus M T S B E L Thick tail stock. A dolphins. B S UK A B S P S B S B S S M S B A B etorhinus maximus S L P S O S LEAVE AFTER 15MNS MAX AND AT FRST SGN OF DSTURBANE DO NOT APPROAH HEAD ON 100m NO LOSER THAN 100M APPROAH SLOWLY FROM THE SDE GUDANE Basking shark Blue shark T S will come to you. D B A B you alongside it. Remember that for every shark visible on the surface more may be more hidden below. Never paddle your S the sharks. Kayakers should not cross the path of the shark so the sharks can maintain their course without changing Avoid sudden movements which will disturb the sharks. Never use your paddle or kayak to touch a shark. A T should not be disturbed

8 OTHER SPEES JELLYFSH O O playing. Under no circumstances should they be pursued by canoe. S V T E W T reason for exploring the coastlines. L Dermochelys coriacea L D B E M Aurelia aurita U Four rings in bell, short tentacles. M DO NOT TOUH D Rhizostoma octopus Up to 1m across S frilled arms an be white or pale pink, blue or yellow DO NOT TOUH L yanea capillata U tentacles can reach in excess B individuals usually orange or tan in colour. S DO NOT TOUH. P Physalia physalis F G tentacles S DO NOT TOUH W head visible S Mola mola M Pelagia U D glows at night S DO NOT TOUH B yanea lamarckii U B M DO NOT TOUH L L T H as it is long. R B Velella velella U U occurs in vast swarms hrysaora hysoscella U V like compass points. S DO NOT TOUH 14 15

9 OASTAL HABTATS S S D Sveral species of birds nest on shingle beaches, including terns. The utmost care should be taken not to disturb T easily trodden underfoot. heck before you embark on your trips that you avoid landing on islands used by seals T arry canoes/kayaks rather than dragging them, especially in dunes. E M U Y O N G R O S M B O A freshwater marshes and use reed beds in which to feed and as a refuge from predators. F B P L N T T T B B O O S N T To leave details of your trip with a responsible person O That permission may be required to go to a private place O N G That you may need permission at ports and estuaries from the Harbourmaster to launch from designated areas A O L S U D P entrances to buildings or farm property. M unloading. L D scavenging animals and birds. T people, leaving the coastline that bit cleaner than it was before your visit. O W F bylaws. Obtain any necessary licences and pay the appropriate harbour dues. Respect and do not obstruct other water users, being mindful that there are shipping channels and other K B Keep the numbers in your party consistent with safety, the nature of the stretch of water and the impact on your surroundings. W water, do not put yourself or fellow paddlers at risk. S to their passage. A F N K T anglers nearby

10 OTHER ONSDERATONS NON NATVE OR ALEN SPEES F A T a beach as part of their overnight camping experience. Following a few simple guidelines should ensure that you U T T separate urine and faeces and produce a dry, odourless compost. These generally require men to sit when steps: heck, lean and Dry all equipment. Fires below the high water mark are washed away by the T B B K M V turf or within sand/gravel. On grass, preserve the grass B O scoop out a small pit. Z M A minimum of trapped air and drop it into the container. N S P K Urine, whilst generally sterile, is rich in nutrients and will encourage the O directly into the river than to contaminate the bank. S F D W completely so that there is no trace visible. U in preference to paper, but where U paper that will disintegrate quickly, and, if you leave it in B NOT TO SALE N with plenty of water before you go to bed. Make sure your there is no risk of it spreading before you go to your tents O sand/gravel make sure that any burnt sand is covered. L E experience and to feel that they are the only people to ever pass that way! 18 F BDH H M A R UK T Wet paper will disintegrate; dry paper will not. Dry paper can of course be burned and some paddlers carry a small purpose. R f one member of a party comes down with a tummy upset, the chances are that the rest of the team will soon B helping to keep the rest of the team healthy. heck your boat, equipment and clothing for living organisms. lean and wash all equipment, footwear and clothes thoroughly. Y f you do come across any organisms, leave them at the water body where you found them; do not take them home and if they R and hard to inspect such as the bow and stern of your boat, under the seats and rims and behind buoyancy bags and foot rests. Y you wear under your cagoules. Use tap water to clean your boat. to do this by watering cans and buckets. Take water with you so Plan Ahead! D Dry all equipment and clothing warm sunny day, leave your boat your extra kit. your kit with towels etc. They will Y ways of reaching inside the end to do so. D 19

11 ADDTONAL NFORMATON NOTES W M A or ring oastguard on E A T EA For oastguard and other emergency services call 999. RSPA RSPB F O L N T N E N R W N G B RSPB RSPA N T M M O W T S T JON US TODAY B L Third party liability insurance Huge savings on boat insurance S Phone or visit W A P P P P Y G (simply turn on the land and D SSS O R W A S S S S SSS T M A A Powers to designate and manage marine MZ important areas. EU H W B D D E S A SA H D S P A SPA B D importance for key habitats and species. Most bird B D T T T M O T L N N S N S become established and invasive outside of their normal habitat. They can damage the environment, which in turn F refer to species outside of their natural range due A disease and block waterways. Their presence also to impact on society and the economy

12 NOTES NOTES S S G giving the date, W T n other areas, contact your local Wildlife Trust. F T Z S L ZSL T M mammal survey at: P Y S T BUT risks involved in sea kayaking and train and prepare accordingly. F B and Kayak Handbook. T RNL paddlers on the seas stay safe, which you can P P B P G A H O G M B R M S H 22 23

13 F B F RSPB P O FS R