Records Centre loses its sole employee

Liz Sweet has been the driving force behind the Bailiwick’s ‘one-stop-shop’ for information on sites, habitats and species since 2018, but is leaving the role to take up a position with whale and dolphin charity Orca in the summer.

‘I had no idea when I started that the islands were home to 14,000 different species,’ she said.

‘The role has been a challenge at times, especially during Covid, and was quite isolating, but working with all the volunteers has been wonderful and that’s what I will miss the most.

‘I’m really looking to be a feral field scientist again. I’ll be back at sea which I love, travelling the world on ferries and cruise ships collecting data on whales and dolphins, but also doing some important education work.’

During her five years at the centre she has initiated and contributed to a whole host of citizen science projects, including co-founding the DolFin Project to learn more about the island dolphin population, as well as providing education and outreach programmes to the local community.

Born and raised in Torteval, her love of wildlife and especially marine animals came from a childhood spent searching through the rockpools of Portelet and Rocquaine bay.

Although she originally studied to be a geologist, she undertook her PhD in Germany in the field of paleobiology, studying plankton in the fossil record and in the oceans of today.

This meant spending several months at sea and gave her the opportunity to travel to Antarctica.

‘I had it all planned to have my photo taken in Antarctica with my Guernsey flag, but when we got there I realised I’d forgotten to put it in my suitcase – it’s one of the biggest regrets of my career.’

The GBRC was opened in 2003 as a joint venture by La Societe Guernesiaise and the States, and both paid tribute to Ms Sweet’s dedication to the role.

La Societe president Trevor Bourgaize said they had been very fortunate to find someone with Ms Sweet’s background to run the records centre.

Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services’ director of natural environment, Jim Robinson, added that Ms Sweet had been a fantastic voice for wildlife on the island during her time at the GBRC.

‘Her biggest passion, though, was sharing her knowledge of the species and habitats on our doorstep, and we wish her luck in her new adventures,’ he said.

Much has changed over Ms Sweet’s time at the centre, but she said she was sure the island had begun to see the impact of global warming.

‘It’s in the data both in the effects on our native species, but also in the higher recordings of invasive species such as Asian hornets,’ she said.

But she was still optimistic about the future, especially with the hard work provided by a community of volunteers among the island’s environmental charities.

‘It’s an exciting time for conservation on the island with the new nature commissioner due to start in March, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds.’