The UK has amazing marine life

Bill Gibb looks at the work of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue as they celebrate their 35th year.

THEY'RE on hand for the big rescues we witness on our TV screens for the many and smaller ones we don't see.

When a creature is in peril on our shores, British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) rush to help.

That can be anything from a mass stranding of heavyweight whales to aiding a stricken seal.

In every case, those who undertake these mercy missions are volunteers giving up their own time to make a difference.

They've all gone through one of the Marine Mammal Medic training courses, which the charity is restarting this spring after a winter break.

Every year over 1,000 volunteers undergo the intensive training, which involves refloating a two-tonne, life-size model pilot whale.

Such is their expertise, the BDMLR are asked to run them all over the world, and this year they are marking their milestone 35th anniversary.

"It all began with a group of diving friends who wanted to help some seals suffering from a virus in East Anglia," Operations Director Julia Cable explains.

"The RSPCA were struggling with the sheer volume of work and, afterwards, the friends realised there wasn't really a group around to rescue. marine life.

"It started with seals and then dolphins, and then whales, which were stranding.

"Originally it all ran from a converted office in one of the founders' houses, and it just grew from there." The BDMLR operate from an office in East Sussex, with three full-time members of staff and everyone else volunteering.

They're responsible for the 3,000-plus call-outs they attend annually on shorelines the length and breadth of the UK.

They've faced massive high-profile challenges, with mass strandings of pilot whales over the years, and had memorable successes.