Honouring the Marine Mammal Heroes

It has been a great pleasure in the last few weeks to see two of the modest super-heroes of the marine mammal world honoured for their work.

Firstly, we have the English veterinarian, James Barnett who for many years has worked closely with the UK’s rescue organization, British Divers Marine Life Rescue. James is the man who everyone turns to when they need advice about how to cope with many tricky marine situations. Whether it is a whale stranding or a off-colour seal pup, James is the man to ask. He has also been an enthusiastic teacher for the UK’s network of marine mammal medics and what make’s James’ contribution all the more remarkable is that he does what he does as a volunteer, like many of the people he is advising.

James’ award was given to him by the Marine Animal Rescue Coalition (MARC) at its annual meeting in November. This is a UK forum for all those involved in trying to help marine animals. (A brief history of MARC can be found here.)

The award to James Barnett was the first award in MARC’s 16 year history – an exceptional award to an exceptional man.

Paul Jepson the UK’s stranding co-ordinator and Mark Simmonds, Chair of MARC, made the presentation (a sperm whale tooth mounted on a wooden plaque bearing an inscription recognizing this first MARC life-time award). Paul noted James’ dedication the wildlife rescue through the various phases of his career, including his Churchill Fellowship to the US where he went to study rescue methods; knowledge that was well used on his return. Mark noted how James’ contributions underpinned so much of the rescue work in the UK.


James Barnett (in the blue shirt) is congratulated by Mark Simmonds and other members of MARC. Alan Knight, the Director of BDMLR who was unable to attend the meeting sent the following message:

"James has championed the cause of marine mammal medicine for the past 18 years. He has always given his time to work with marine mammals and has produced 6 editions of the Marine Mammal Handbook which is now recognized as a leader in the field of marine mammal rescue. James has managed to tread the very difficult line between Scientists, Vets, rehabilitators and rescuers, producing protocols that all groups find acceptable. I feel James is a worthy recipient of the first award given by MARC.”

The other modest recipient of an exceptional and entirely justified award is our old friend the Italian cetacean expert, environmentalist and philosopher, Dr Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara. He has recently been given a knighthood in the Order of Saint-Charles by H.S.H. the Prince Albert II of Monaco. Giuseppe is a renowned champion of cetacean-kind and the founder and president of Tethys, the Mediterranean group that WDCS works closely with. For more details of Giuseppe’s work and his award please click here.