Residents are being asked to contribute to a campaign which aims to protect whales and dolphins.

Eastern Daily Press: A harbour porpoise. Picture: M Reichelt/ Sea Watch Foundation.A harbour porpoise. Picture: M Reichelt/ Sea Watch Foundation. (Image: Archant)

For over forty years, Sea Watch Foundation scientists as well as volunteer observers all around the coast have been reporting on whales, dolphins and porpoises to inform Sea Watch's huge database of records.

And residents are being invited to take part in the 'National Whale and Dolphin Watch', which is now in its 16th year, and runs from July 29 to August 6.

Kathy James, from the Sea Watch Foundation, said: 'Many people don't realise the wealth of whales and dolphins we have around our coasts. You don't need to go abroad to go whale watching or to have a dolphin experience.

'In recent weeks, bottlenose dolphins have been cropping up all along the south coast of England with other species such as white-beaked dolphins off Northumberland and Risso's dolphins in the south-west.

'All that people need to do to take part is to report their whale and dolphin sightings to us and to either participate in the advertised organised watches or to arrange their own.'

During the nine-day 2016 event, eleven different whales and dolphins were recorded in UK waters as well as the tiny harbour porpoise which measures just a metre and a half when fully grown. Also, some 394 sightings were logged around England, which for the first time recorded more sightings than Scotland.

Find out more about the event visit www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdwOr to join a registered event, visit www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/nwdw-2017-watch-list