White-beaked dolphins and the Farne Deeps
This report from the North East Cetacean Project presents evidence of recent changes in the distribution of whales and dolphins recorded off the coast of North East England.
The North East Cetacean Project (NECP) - a partnership including the charity Marinelife, Northern Experience Wildlife Tours, Natural England, the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club and the University of Aberdeen - was set up to discover more about the dolphins and whales (cetaceans) off the Northumberland coast in winter.
Surveys of the Farne Deeps and the Northumberland coast were carried out between December and March to investigate reports by local fishermen that the area is an important wintering ground for white-beaked dolphins. The results of the surveys, which were funded by Natural England, were combined with a review of records of sightings of cetaceans since 2003.
The results suggest that there have been recent changes in the types of cetaceans seen off the North East coast, with increases in the number of sightings of species associated with warmer waters, such as common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin and Risso’s dolphin; and declines in the number of sightings of white-beaked dolphin and harbour porpoise, which are cold water species.The report also describes the distribution and winter status of seabird species, including some of BAP/Conservation Concern, that were observed during the survey.
You can read the report in full here: Importance of the Farne Deeps and surrounding waters off the Northumberland Coast for White-beaked Dolphin, other cetaceans and seabird of Conservation Concern: (8.17mb)
The links on this page will take you to the websites of the partners invlolved in the production of this report:
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.
North East Cetacean Project (NECP) is a new initiative which aims to generate up-to-date information on the status of cetaceans (the collective name for dolphins and whales) off the Northumberland coastline and beyond. Sighting of dolphins and whales can be reported at the NECP site.
The Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club was founded in 1958 and membership is open to all with a beneficial interest in ornithology.
The University of Aberdeen
