The Importance of Marine VHF Radio for Sea Mammal Rescue

The BDMLR (British Divers Marine Life Rescue) carries out important work in the protection and welfare of sea mammals. Marine VHF radio plays an important role helping them plan, communicate and keep their volunteers safe.

The BDLMR is a voluntary network of trained marine mammal medics who respond to call-outs from the general public, HM Coastguard, Police, RSPCA and SSPCA. They are the only marine animal rescue organisation operating across England, Wales and Scotland. BDMLR is a registered charity and is run entirely by volunteers. Rescue teams are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There are, on average, between 2,000 and 3,000 trained BDLMR volunteers at any one time.

The charity rescues stranded whales, dolphins & porpoise and injured & abandoned seals. It also has Europe's only large whale disentanglement kits used to free whales trapped in ropes or nets. The charity run training courses for members of the public wishing to become marine mammal medics.

Icom radios are used by the Large Whale Disentanglement team when it is deployed around the UK and elsewhere in Europe to cut free stranded whales. Primarily Humpback and Minke Whales but also Dolphins and Basking Shark often need help too. The unit uses IC-M423GE fixed VHF/DSC radios on their RIBS and IC-M25EURO bouyant marine VHF handhelds.

Cath Bain, Large Whale Disentanglement Team Equipment and Logistics Coordinator, said, 'VHF radios are invaluable in what we do, allowing us to communicate between rescue boats and also with the shore team, Coastguard, RNLI and other vessels who may be helping with locating the entangled animal.'

Cath added, 'We like that the radios are rugged and hard-wearing. They are meeting all our expectations and are used on both training and rescue call-outs.'

Cath also said, 'We are always looking for more volunteers. We offer a one-day training course to become a Marine Mammal Medic. You don't need any prior knowledge, nor do you need to be a diver.'

Anyone wanting to find out more about the BDMLR can visit their website https://bdmlr.org.uk/.

15/11/2021