Above: BDMLR training session in Bridlington with current and new marine mammal medic volunteers.
British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR), working across Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, have successfully run several of their Marine Mammal Medic courses thanks to support from Associated British Ports (ABP).
ABP donated £1,150 to the BDMLR, for the charity to purchase inflatable, life-sized marine mammals to use on their courses.
The BDMLR carry out vital work across the Humber and beyond to help marine and freshwater wildlife. Volunteers, who complete the BDMLR Marine Mammal Medic course, are on hand to rescue injured or sick mammals.
It is not the first time ABP have supported the BDMLR. Each year ABP host a collection of unwanted towels and cotton sheets in good condition to be used for seal rescues, and in 2019 ABP purchased two seal rescue bags and a kennel.
Seal rescues make up a sizeable proportion of the BDMLR’s work in the area. The UK and its waters are home to over 120 000 grey seals, representing 40% of the species’ global population.
ABP has its own team of volunteers called the Green and Clean Team. The group works to help ABP reduce its waste, create places for wildlife to live and for colleagues to enjoy, across the Humber Port estate. They also act as champions for local charities' such as the BDMLR to continue their vital work in the area.
Simon Bird, Director Humber, said:
“It is great that ABP have been able to support such a worthy cause. This donation is part of a wider set of activities we carry out to support community groups and charities across the Humber area.”
Catherine and Dave Leng, BDMLR Area Coordinators, said:
“We would like to thank ABP Humber for their very generous donation. These models, that are handmade in the UK, have already been used to train 25 new volunteers in Bridlington.
In July we are heading to Skegness where we will teach crews from the RNLI and HM Coastguard how to assist stranded dolphins and porpoises.
The models will also be used across the year for public engagement and fundraising events, the first of which is this month.
If you would like to find out more about the BDMLR you can do so by visiting their website - https://bdmlr.org.uk/ or following their social media channels @BDMLR.
www.abports.co.uk
