CONSERVATION ISSUES - JUNE 2005

There were two very blatant incidents of harassment of Bottlenose Dolphins in St. Ives Bay. early last month.. On the 8th, two Jet skiers were observed harassing the dolphins and the Police, Coastguard and British Divers Marine Life Rescue Unit were all alerted, and the Police quickly removed the skiers from the water. Next day a fishing boat was purposefully driven at speed, repeatedly through the pod of dolphins while sounding its horn, which looked as if they were trying to scare the dolphins away. The incident was captured on film, which I understand was handed to the Police, so hopefully a prosecution will follow. As mentioned in my last report, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 cetaceans are protected species and anyone found guilty of their ill-treatment faces a six-month prison sentence. 

Dusky Dolphins living off the coast of Cape Town are like Bottlenose Dolphins here, in that they tend to keep close to shore, which make them excellent subjects for a study of their movement which is about to take place. They will be fitted with a SIM card similar to those used in mobile phones, but also comprises a GPS unit, and once fitted, the animals are just a text message away from the researchers. Scientists simply send a text message asking where a particular animal is located, and they will receive an automated answer giving its exact position, and because they naturally swim close to shore, they will be within range of the mobile base station’s signal. If the trial is successful it will be extended to other dolphin species and possibly whales, if a way can be found to collar them. Mobile phone technology is revolutionising the way animals -both on land and sea-are tracked. Some 200 animals in Africa, including elephants, zebras and baboons, are now tracked by SIM cards, which is a much cheaper technology than using a satellite system. . .    

Bottlenose Dolphins were seen and  reported 24 times during May, from the Camel Estuary on the north coast to Fal bay on the south. There appeared to be two pods, one ranging from Sennen all the way to the Camel estuary on the north coast and the other from Porthcurno to Falmouth on the south coast. However the pod seen at Sennen on the 14th could have been the south coast pod. There was also a large pod seen near the Wolf Rock. 3 other reports of unidentified dolphins were probably also Bottlenose. Basking Sharks were reported 27 times The largest group being 6 seen from Carn Gloose on the 30th. There are quite a number around the coast for 22 different animals were seen on the 30th from Newquay on the north coast to Maenport on the south. Grey Seals were reported 4 times, the largest number being 9 at Godrevy on the 27th. There were 2 reports of two Risso,s Dolphins, probably the same pair off Coverack on the 3rd and Lamorna on the 7th, and another report of 8 Risso’s off Nanjulian Cliff.  Only 1 report of Harbour Porpoises in May,  two heading west off Tater du on the 30th. A pod of 50 or more Common Dolphins was seen from Carn Gloose heading north across Sennen Bay on the 30th, this was the only report of Common Dolphins. A Thresher Shark was seen in Fal Bay and there was an interesting report of a Basking Shark surrounded by 6 Bottlenose Dolphins off Porthleven, with a Killer Whale following at a short distance. There was a later report that day of a Basking Shark in the area with a very big black dolphin close to it. I wonder if in fact it was the Killer Whale seen earlier. A diver emailed me about a dive in Gerrans Bay where a John Dory seemed to be unconcerned about being surrounded by five divers, who were all thrilled to see it. I replied asking if he or any of the other divers had ever seen more than one John Dory at a time and he said that they had discussed this on the way back in the boat, none of them had. I have seen several John Dory’s when diving, but it has always been one at a time. I would be interested to know if any diver has seen a pair or more when diving. They seem to be loners.     

Three cetacean carcasses were found on Cornish beaches during May, all were Common Dolphins and all were very decomposed. They were at Harlyn Bay on the north coast, and Gunwallow and Carne Beach, Veryan on the south. A Grey Seal carcass was also found at Kynance near Godrevy, this was also very decomposed.

Conservation Officer Raymond Dennis

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