| UK. Whale and Dolphin strandings numbers down thirteen percent 2004/2005 |
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| Thursday, 06 July 2006 | |
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Government news: The number of whales and dolphins stranded on UK shores has dropped between 2004 and 2005. Initial figures show a UK-wide decrease in strandings of around 13 per cent (799 in 2004, 700 in 2005). In South-west England, which has one of the most comprehensive stranding volunteer networks in the UK, there was a decrease of 41 per cent (477 in 2004, 282 in 2005). Figures for the preceding four years (2000 to 2004) had shown a national increase in strandings (420 in 2000, 799 in 2004). Defra has today published a report to analyse the findings. Marine and Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw said: "This is very welcome news, particularly for the South West. I am pleased that the measures implemented in recent years appear to be having an effect. But we must not be complacent. The British Government will continue to be in the forefront of national and international efforts to protect our much loved dolphins, porpoises and other cetaceans." A short report for 2004/2005 will be published shortly. Editors note: Defra has funded an internationally acclaimed UK-wide cetacean strandings monitoring programme for the last 15 years. 2000-2004 Strandings Report is available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/resprog/findings/index.htm In December 2004 UK vessels were banned from pelagic pair trawling for bass within 12 miles of the south west coast of England. Currently there are no UK bass pair trawls operating beyond 12 miles. Although there is a very small sporadic UK involvement, this fishery is now prosecuted almost exclusively by French pair trawlers. Defra recently commissioned a review of the long-running Cetacean Strandings Contract. The Review is available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/resprog/findings/index.htm One review recommendation was to reduce the number of post mortems undertaken. Analysis indicates that for common causes of death, fewer numbers are sufficient to detect statistically valid trends. For uncommon causes, there are too few cases to detect trends. This recommendation has been adopted in the current interim strandings contract. The current contract should allow for examination of all stranded cetaceans in suitable condition with the exception of Harbour Porpoise and Common Dolphin that strand more frequently. A statistically valid sub-sample of these species will be post-mortemed. This approach will involve c.100 post-mortems/year. All cetacean strandings will continue to be recorded and monitored as previously but a more strategic approach will be adopted when deciding which carcasses require post-mortem. The Department is considering the other review recommendations and will continue negotiations with the Institute of Zoology and other contractors in the coming year to secure a more strategic cetacean strandings investigation and coordination service for 2007 onwards. Defra continues to fulfil our international commitments and provide a scientifically robust assessment of the number and causes of stranding |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 06 July 2006 ) |
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