BRDP

2nd September 2009

Press Release

ALARM BELLS RINGING FOR FIN WHALE ABSENCE

Two leading whale and dolphin research charities Marinelife and Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) are concerned that the annual summer migration of Fin Whales into the eastern Bay of Biscay has failed to materialise this year, raising wider concerns for the health of this important ecosystem.

Marinelife, through it’s project the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) and ORCA have been researching whales and dolphins in the Channel and Bay of Biscay for many years and each year they have recorded a two phase immigration of the second largest whale on the planet, the Fin Whale, into the Bay of Biscay, where they spend the spring and summer months feeding on schooling fish and krill. During the late autumn, the Fin Whale leave Biscay and spend the winter elsewhere. Whilst further research is needed to prove where they migrate to, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), have been recording Fin Whale off of southern Ireland during late autumn and winter for a number of years, suggesting a westerly movement.

Marinelife chairman and wildlife officer Clive Martin said: “We are concerned that the Fin Whale have not yet returned to Biscay this year in their usual high numbers. They initially arrived in small numbers in May but, their numbers have not increased through July and August as has been recorded in previous years.”

Clive Martin went onto say: “At this time of year, on a return crossing from Portsmouth to Bilbao on P&O’s Pride of Bilbao we would normally see 50 – 100 Fin Whale, yet on the last few crossings, we have been seeing less than 5.”

The low Fin Whale sightings are also being observed by the Portuguese marine mammal organisation CEMMA (Coordinadora para o Estudio dos Mamíferos Mariños). Dylan Walker from ORCA has contacted other whale and dolphin researchers working in the Atlantic to determine if Fin Whale are being seen elsewhere in higher than normal numbers.

Two other research groups, the Seatrust and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, who collaborate with Marinelife and Ambar through the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC), have been encountering low numbers of Fin Whale in the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel at a time of year when they are not usually recorded. However, the numbers seen do not account for those usually seen in Biscay.

Biscay appears to be an important feeding ground for Fin Whale and their absence rings alarm bells for both BDRP and ORCA as this could be an indication of losses in fish stocks and other food sources due to over-fishing, or ecosystem disturbance due to climate change. BDRP previously raised concerns with the EU fisheries commission about low dolphin numbers in Biscay in 2007 which coincided with the continued failure of the anchovy fishery which according to the EU fisheries commission still remains in a state of collapse showing no signs of recovery, prompting the EU Fisheries commission to recently implement a long term conservation policy to safeguard the future sustainability of the anchovy fishery in Biscay.

Marinelife Research Director Dr Tom Brereton commented: “Our ongoing research in Biscay and our partnership with other European research organisations through ARC, allows us to very quickly identify short term and longer term changes in whale and dolphin distribution. This absence of Fin Whale at a time of year when their numbers have previously been high could simply indicate a late arrival or usage of a richer feeding ground elsewhere this year, but could equally signal issues with fish stocks in Biscay.”

BDRP and ORCA will continue to monitor the Biscay Fin Whale population with the hope that they are just late arriving this year. Their ongoing long-term monitoring work is vital in helping to understand year round habitat usage and the extensive database of sightings information is a valuable resource for the designation of protected areas for marine wildlife and to assess climate change impacts on biodiversity.

- Ends -

For further information including interviews and images please contact:

Emma Webb
Marinelife Community & Operations Officer Tel: +44 (0) 7787 893540
E: emma.webb@biscay-dolphin.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Marinelife
Marinelife is a Charitable Limited Company established to co-ordinate and develop a growing portfolio of global research and monitoring projects. Through these we aim to further the conservation of the wildlife of coasts and oceans through scientific investigation and educational activities. Marinelife continues to work in partnership with a number of other research groups, spearheading an international initiative, the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC) that aims to describe changes in the status of whales and dolphins at a European scale.
Further information on Marinelife can be found by visiting our website at
www.marine-life.org.uk

About the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP)
Marinelife has been monitoring whales and dolphins, seabirds and other marine life in the English Channel and European Atlantic continuously for thirteen years through one of its main projects, the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) using ferries as research platforms for monthly surveys. In addition, a BDRP full-time Wildlife Officer collects daily data on whale and dolphin abundance. Data from such long-term surveys give an accurate picture of changes in the status of whale and dolphin populations and their behaviour within the survey areas, thus far recording more than 20 species of whale and dolphin. They also highlight threats they face over time. www.biscay-dolphin.org.uk

About ORCA (Organisation Cetacea)
ORCA is a marine conservation organisation which promotes the conservation of the marine environment through research, partnership and education. Founded in 2000, we seek to provide a forum for raising interest and participation in conservation research by creating a network that is accessible to all interested groups and provides a focus for enjoying and learning about cetaceans.
Further information on ORCA can be found by visiting our website at www.orcaweb.org.uk

About the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC)
ARC is a working group composed of several cetacean research organisations working across a number of countries with the primary aims of sharing data and therefore gaining greater insights into whale and dolphin distribution and species movement.

Current ARC members:
• Marinelife / Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) – England
• Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) - Ireland
• SeaTrust - Wales
• Sociedad para Estudio y la Conservacion de la Fauna Marina AMBAR - Spain
• Project Rugvin – Netherlands
• Aberdeen University – Scotland
• Plymouth to Santander Marine Survey – England
• Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) – England
• Norcet - The Northern North Sea Cetacean Ferry Survey

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