Cornwall Marine and Coastal Code Group

Cornwall's Marine and Coastal Code Group is a collaboration between a number of organisations to respond to concerns over pressure to marine wildlife caused by recreational use of our seas and coastline

The group was formed in 2011 and includes among its members:

Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Natural England
RSPB
National Trust
Marine Management Organisation
Cornwall Council
Wildlife Safe Scheme (WiSe Scheme)
Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust
British Divers Marine Life rescue
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary

The Cornwall Marine and Coastal Code helps you to understand how to act responsibly during encounters with marine life.

Minimising your impact makes your marine and coastal encounter great for you and for marine life!

Key messages

Learn

Find out first. Learn as much as you can about what wildlife you might see, where and know the best way to act around it. This will help you improve your chances of great sightings

See

Be alert whilst out and about

Respect

Act responsibly and aim to leave wildlife as you found it. Understand that our marine life has numerous encounters with people every day

Tell the Cornwall Marine & Coastal Code Group about your sighting and any disturbance you see.

What YOU can do to help

• Give the animals SPACE and TIME
• Check for sensitive wildlife sites using our online map
• Expect the unexpected – be alert and get prepared
• Observe from a distance – use binoculars if you can
• Look for signs you’ve been spotted by wildlife and avoid actions that scare, startle or panic them
• Large groups, hauled seals and mothers with young are best avoided completely
• If you decide to move closer, approach side on making sure the animal/s have a clear escape route
• Be patient and wait downwind, move predictably, steadily and slowly
• Be calm and quiet while you enjoy your encounter
• Be considerate, back off and move on to keep your encounter brief
• Leave wildlife and the environment as you found it
• Report sightings www.ORKS.org.uk or disturbance incidents to the hotline 0345 201 26 26.

Ensure disturbance of marine life doesn’t threaten our shared economic future.

For more information when planning an outing check the Cornwall Marine & Coastal Code Group website sections:

At the coast
On the sea
In the sea