Harbour porpoise and Bottlenose dolphin most common sightings in UK Whale and Dolphin Watch

Harbour porpoise, the most commonly sighted species. Credit Seawatch

August 2010. Eight different species of whales and dolphins and porpoise have been recorded so far during this year's annual National Whale and Dolphin Watch NWDW organised by the marine conservation and education charity Sea Watch.

So far more than 320 sightings have been reported to the charity with the most common species being harbour porpoise with 144 reports and bottlenose dolphins close behind with 105 recordings.

"The aim of the watch is to raise awareness of the status of UK cetaceans and to collect a large volume of effort and sightings data that can produce a snapshot of the distribution of cetaceans in UK waters," explains Gemma Veneruso, the charity's Sightings Officer.

Minke, Killer & Northern bottlenose whales
"Harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphin made up the vast majority of sightings but there have also been 35 Minke whale reports, 13 short-beaked common dolphin, seven Risso's dolphin, five killer whale, four white-beaked dolphin, one northern bottlenose whale and eight counts of unidentified cetaceans."

People were urged to take part by joining manned watches organised by Sea Watch volunteers, doing their own cetacean watch and by sending in sightings.

Information gathered during NWDW creates a snapshot of the distribution of dolphins, whales and porpoises - cetaceans - around the coast, feeding into scientific discussions on abundance and distribution.

Sea Watch collects sightings data all year round which provides essential background on the relative abundance and distribution of cetaceans which helps to feed into discussions to help shape marine conservation policies aimed at protecting the whales, dolphins and porpoises around our coast.

This year, as part of NWDW, Sea Watch also called on members of the public to help in its campaign to solve the mysteries of the UK's dolphin and whale population by taking photos of the fins of any they spot.

The pictures were then compared to others held on national ID databases at the charity's base in Wales, and with regional catalogues held by other organisations.

Dolphin and whale tracking project
"This is a very exciting project for us and we want to encourage as many people as possible to send us their photos. The more we receive, the more we should be able to uncover about movement patterns, habits and behaviour," explains Dr Peter Evans, Sea Watch research director.

"We are already aware of some of the movements of certain groups. For example, known bottlenose dolphins on the west coast of Scotland have been spotted off the Irish and Cornish coasts. Scottish east coast bottlenose dolphins were photo-identified near Whitby last year, which is further south than has been recorded before.

"However, we have no evidence yet that the Cardigan Bay bottlenose dolphins in Wales ever go to the Irish coast or out of the Irish Sea or whether the Irish dolphins ever leave their coastal waters to come to Wales.

Photographing fins of other species will also help provide an insight into their movements. Individuals are recognised from nicks on their fin or unique markings on their back or flanks, as is the case for orca and Minke whale, or particular patterns of markings on the underside of their tail flukes as in humpback whales.

Bottlenose dolphins were the second most commonly sighted species. Credit Sea Watch.

"By analysing movements more through this ID project, we can learn a lot from the dolphins, whales and porpoises around the UK - about the way they live, where they range to, and the challenges they are likely to face during their journeys. We need to understand more about them to shape conservation policies and so enable them to thrive in UK waters."

It is important to note that cetaceans are protected by law & it is an offence to intentionally disturb them. View the marine code of conduct at www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk.

Adopt a dolphin
Sea Watch is also encouraging people to adopt a dolphin through its adoption scheme. Details about Sea Watch and the adoption scheme can be found at www.adoptadolphin.org.uk. All monies raised through the adoption scheme are used to fund the charity's research on the dolphins.