Rare Sighting of Threatened Bottlenose Dolphins in English Channel
Quick facts
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The Durlston Marine Project is a community based marine research and education programme, based at Durlston Country Park, near Swanage.
- 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.
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.
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 sighting during Marinelife research trips from Plymouth to Roscoff aboard Brittany Ferries and by the Durlston Marine Project around Swanage. However, sighting 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 Dolphins, again seen off of the Isle of Wight
- A young common dolphin 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.
- Pilot Whale have been seen near Portland in Dorset recently.
Marine Life’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.
