BRDP

14th May 2007

Press Release

Rare Sighting Of Threatened Bottlenose Dolphins In English Channel

On a crossing of the English Channel aboard the P&O Cruise Ferry, the Pride of Bilbao on the 5th of May, a large group of approximately 30 Bottlenose Dolphin was sighted by Clive Martin, Director for the wildlife charity Marinelife and senior Wildlife Officer for the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme.

The dolphins, which are threatened in UK waters, were recorded 4 miles off of St. Catherine’s point on the Isle of Wight – a truly rare occurrence.

Clive Martin said: “In over 10 years of research in the English Channel, Marinelife have never before recorded Bottlenose Dolphin in this location or in such large numbers in the central part of the Channel – it represents a significant sighting and together with other recent sighting, may indicate that the central part of the Channel is again becoming part of the territory for a range of dolphins.”

The English Channel is generally thought of as an area of coastline which is under populated or depleted of whales and dolphins, but whilst sighting tend to be sporadic, they are being recorded.

A small population of Bottlenose Dolphin are known to spend time within the Western portion of the English Channel and they are regularly sighted during Marinelife research trips from Plymouth to Roscoff aboard Brittany Ferries and by the Durlston Marine Project around Swanage. However, sightings of Bottlenose Dolphin in the central and eastern parts of the Channel are more unusual, but individuals are occasionally seen – these are thought to be adolescent males, which are known to roam over considerable distances and may spend considerable time in busy areas of coast or harbours, attracting much attention from people. An example was “Spinnaker”, the Bottlenose Dolphin which spent some time in Portsmouth harbour, before being accidentally killed in a tragic accident with a boat’s propeller.

Other recent sightings in the Channel include Common Dolphin, again seen off of the Isle of Wight and a young animal rescued by the British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) in Eastbourne harbour. Risso’s Dolphin have been recorded at Torpoint in Devon, regular sightings of Harbour Porpoise and Common Dolphin have been made by Marinelife in the western portion of the Channel and Pilot Whale have been seen near Portland in Dorset recently.

Marinelife’s research will continue to monitor for these and other whales and dolphins in the Channel and beyond and this will help build greater understanding of their movements, distribution, abundance and threats.

For further information about the research work of Marinelife and the whales and dolphins of the English Channel, please contact Adrian Shephard, Public Relations & Publicity Officer at adrian.shephard@biscay-dolphin.org.uk or visit the website at www.marine-life.org.uk/biscay

(ends)

Notes for editors:
1. Marinelife (Registered Charity Number: 1110884) researches the behaviour, distribution and abundance of whales, dolphins and other marine life.
Marinelife is supported by a team of volunteer researchers and raises awareness of marine wildlife through its research. The research and education roles of Marinelife assist in the conservation of these sea mammals.

2. Bottlenose Dolphin are known in other key sites in UK waters, namely the Moray Firth in Scotland, which represents the most northerly population of this dolphin species in the World, and Cardigan Bay in Wales.

3. Further details about the research of Marinelife can be found at www.marine-life.org.uk. The Directors of the charity are Dr Tom Brereton, Chief Scientific Officer and Clive Martin, Chairman and Senior Wildlife Officer.

4. Further information on P&O whale watching mini-cruises across the Bay of Biscay aboard the Pride of Bilbao can be found at www.biscay-dolphin.org.uk or by telephoning 08705 980333.

5. The English Channel is a relatively shallow stretch of water reaching a depth of around 120m and is a busy shipping area for commercial and pleasure vessels.

6. The British Divers Marine Life Rescue provides a committed 24 hour marine animal rescue service. They train over 400 volunteer Marine Mammal Medics a year.

7. The Durlston Marine Project is a community based marine research and education programme, based at Durlston Country Park, near Swanage.

8. All images used in this article are Copyright Clive Martin / Marinelife.

9. The Bottlenose Dolphin is one of the most threatened cetacean species in Europe, and consequently has extensive legislative protection at a European level. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES, Appendix II of the Bern Convention and Annexes II and IV of the EC Habitats Directive. It is also on Appendix 2 of the Bonn Convention and is covered by ASCOBANS. CITES is the Convention International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Further details can be found at www.cites.org. ASCOBANS is the Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic and North Seas, further information can be found at www.ascobans.org. The Bonn convention (82/461/EEC) covers the conservation of migratory species. Further information can be found at http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l28051.htm. The Bern Convention (82/72/EEC) covers the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats by means of cooperation between states. Further information can be found at http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l28050.htm. Further information on the EC habitats directive (92/43/EEC) can be found at http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/nature_conservation/
eu_nature_legislation/ habitats_directive/index_en.htm

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