Humpback whale washed up on Tyninghame Beach
Recently a humpback whale was washed on Tyninghame Beach, entangling ropes still attached, already dead. Apparently it was the whale seen several weeks ago entangled in creel ropes in the Forth and seems to have drowned when it lost control of its surfacing ability.
The RNLI Inshore (ILB) floated it off the beach, the Offshore (OLB) slowly towed it to Skateraw. Two tractors pulled it above the waterline where the scientists dissected it on the beach and veterinary pathologist Dr Andrew Brownlow performed a necropsy. As a result of the entanglement, the whale lost condition and was therefore more susceptible to the effects of infection and parasitism, which debilitated it further. The lungs evidenced that it had eventually drowned, either through exhaustion, or because it became further entangled. Entanglements are a relatively rare occurrence in Scottish waters but can pose a threat to human safety also.
This humpback is estimated to be 9m long, weighing around 8 tonnes (adults range in length from 12–16 m and weigh around 25–30 tonnes).
Dunbar’s harbourmaster and the fishermen are working with the Scottish Entanglement Alliance (SEA) dedicated to promoting and protecting Scotland’s wildlife, heritage, and sustainable marine industries. SEA will work closely with the Scottish inshore fishing industry to provide an engagement programme to understand the scale and impact of marine animal entanglements in our waters, and work towards developing strategies to reduce this threat. https://www.scottishentanglement.org/
Very sad.
photos by Kenny Maule
Pirates of the East Coast
A sponsored walk from North Berwick Harbour to Dunbar Harbour.
Would you like to participate in a sponsored walk to help us raise funds for our annual Sparkling Dunbar Harbour Festival where peculiar pirates visit every year?
A fabulous and free annual community event!
Event Details: Voodz, the vicious pirate will lead you along the John Muir Way with her villainous friends to occupy lands and vanquish our rivals. Argh mateys, are you up for the challenge? Register here: https://bit.ly/2Ur8RQj
Location: North Berwick Harbour to Dunbar Harbour, along the John Muir Way (approx. 12 miles)
Date:Sun 26th May Time: 10:15 departure. Meet outside the Seabird Centre, North Berwick at 9:30 approx.
Another way to register contact the organiser email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Confirmation of your registration and a sponsor form will be sent to you after you register.
photos by Fraser Stewart
Lifejackets and the importance of being earnest ….
No matter how short the boat-trip, lifejackets are vitally important.
These kids are clearly safety-concious.
Are your lifejackets maintained and correctly-adjusted ?
photos by Kenny Maule, with permission from their parents.
RNLI slipway/ramp extension
This giant green crane costs £2,000/day and drives at a maximum of 40mph.
Want to hire it? -- then remember you also pay for (very slow) positioning costs!
The work has been a 9m. extension to the slipway, from the west edge of the bridge directly into Victoria Harbour in order to improve tidal access for the RNLI’s ILB launch and recovery. There has been temporary closure of the Broadhaven slipway and divers were down for several days (!), to be less dependent on the tides. The work caused occasional inconvenience for harbour users however work-dates were changed to make allowance for the craning-in boat lift on 12 April. The works are expected to cease by May 3rd, so fingers crossed.
photos by Kenny Maule
