st january – 31st (covering contract numbers mb0111 and...

Annual Report for the period 1st January – 31st December 2011

(Covering contract numbers MB0111 and CR0364)

Compiled by R. Deaville (ZSL) Contributing Authors- P.D. Jepson and M. Perkins (ZSL) A. Brownlow and R.J. Reid (SAC) B. Smith, E. L. Duffell and R.C. Sabin (NHM) R. Penrose (MEM)

This report results from work conducted by the collaborative UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme. Partner organisations are Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the

Scottish Agricultural College, Inverness (SAC), the Natural History Museum (NHM) and Marine Environmental Monitoring (MEM).

Funding bodies Contract manager Partner organisations

www.ukstrandings.org CSIP Annual Report 2011

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UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme Information on the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme can also be found at www.ukstrandings.org Data summarised in this report was collected in the UK under contract to Defra and the Devolved Administrations between 1st January 2011 and 31st December 2011. Data was collected partially under contract number CR0364 (2006-2011), but primarily under contract number MB0111 (2011-2014). Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London (ZSL) - Contractor Regent’s Park London NW1 4RY Tel: 020 7449 6672 Fax: 020 7586 1457 Web: www.zsl.org/science/ Scottish Agricultural College, Inverness (SAC) - Subcontractor Wildlife Unit Drummondhill Stratherrick Road Inverness IV2 4JZ Tel: 01463 243030 Fax: 01463 711103 Web: www.sruc.ac.uk/ The Natural History Museum (NHM) - Subcontractor Cromwell Road South Kensington London SW7 5BD Tel: 020 7942 5155 Fax: 020 7942 5572 Web: www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/projects/strandings/ Marine Environmental Monitoring (MEM) - Subcontractor Penwalk, Llechryd Cardigan Ceredigion West Wales SA43 2PS Tel: 01239 682405 Web: www.strandings.com


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Executive summary In 2011, 617 cetaceans were reported to the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP), comprising at least 18 species. This is a 54% increase in the number of individual stranding reports received during 2010, but a figure comparable to previous years. Of these, 518 were found stranded and dead, 86 were seen to have stranded alive and 13 were dead cetaceans found at sea. Consistent with previous years, the most common UK-stranded cetacean species in 2011 were the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena, n=322) and the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis, n=89). Eight reports of UK stranded marine turtles and three reports of UK stranded basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) were also received during 2011. Analysis of the UK strandings dataset between 2007 and 2011 demonstrated that the increase in recorded strandings in 2011 was primarily due to an increase in reported strandings of harbour porpoises in England and Wales, an increase in reported strandings of short-beaked common dolphins (primarily in south-west England) and also an increase in reported strandings of species other than harbour porpoises and short-beaked common dolphins in Scotland. The latter was largely the consequence of a mass stranding of long-finned pilot whales which occurred in north-west Scotland in June and involved 70-80 whales, of which 39 stranded and 19 died. A full investigation of the mass stranding was funded under a variation to contract MB0111. During 2011, 159 cetacean strandings (comprising 15 species) were examined at post-mortem using standardised protocols. A single UK stranded green turtle and basking shark were also examined at post-mortem. The most common causes of mortality of the 74 harbour porpoises examined at post-mortem in 2011 were infectious disease (n=22, mainly pneumonias due to combinations of parasitic and/or bacterial infections), starvation (n=20, including seven neonates), entanglement in fishing gear (by-catch, n=9) and bottlenose dolphin attack (n=7). All cases of fatal attack from bottlenose dolphins occurred in areas of sympatric distribution of these two species, although no cases were recorded in Scotland for the first time in 20 years. There were no consistent trends in any cause of death category of UK-stranded harbour porpoises between 2007 and 2011. The most common causes of mortality of the 31 short-beaked common dolphins investigated at post-mortem during 2011 were live stranding (n=11), by-catch (n=7) and starvation (n=3). There were also no consistent trends in any cause of death category of UK-stranded short-beaked common dolphins. The proportion of UK stranded cetaceans diagnosed as by-catch during 2011 were very broadly similar to that recorded during the previous four year period, apart from the historically low proportion recorded in short-beaked common dolphins in 2008. During 2011 data and tissue samples generated from the systematic examination of UK-stranded cetacean carcasses since 1990 continued to support a broad range of multidisciplinary scientific research activity and outputs and resulted in ten publications within the peer-reviewed scientific literature. A final report to Defra covering work carried out under contract numbers CR0346 and CR0364 during the period 2005-2010 was also released at the end of 2011. Finally, a CSIP leaflet was launched at the end of 2011, including information on the CSIP consortium and funders, background to strandings research in the UK, as well as a species identification chart and information on how to report strandings in the UK. Further information on the CSIP can be found at www.ukstrandings.org.


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Contents Executive Summary 3 Contents 4 1 List of Tables, Figures and Plates 5 2 Introduction 8 3 Materials and methods 9 4 Cetacean, marine turtle and basking shark strandings around 14 the UK coastline for the year 2011 5 Summary of UK-stranded cetaceans, marine turtles and 22 basking sharks for the year 2011 5.1 Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) 22 5.2 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 25 5.3 Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) 27 5.4 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) 27 5.5 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) 28 5.6 Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) 28 5.7 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) 28 5.8 White beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) 28 5.9 Sperm whale (Physeter catodon) 29 5.10 Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) 29 5.11 Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) 30 5.12 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 30 5.13 Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) 31 5.14 Killer whale (Orcinus orca) 31 5.15 Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) 33 5.16 Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) 33 5.17 Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) 33 5.18 Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) 34 5.19 Indeterminate species 35 5.20 Marine turtles 35 5.21 Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) 36 6 Post-mortem investigations and causes of death data 38 7 Spatial distribution of cause of death categories 41 8 Collaborations and outputs 43 8.1 Investigations of relationships between environmental 43 contaminants and health status


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8.2 Additional collaborative research activity 43 8.3 2011 Publications 45 8.4 2011 Conference abstracts 47 8.5 CSIP leaflet 48 9 References 48 10 Glossary of terms and acronyms 50 11 Acknowledgments 51 12 Appendix 1 CSIP leaflet (includes contact details for 52 the reporting of strandings in the UK) 13 Appendix 2 Carcass selection criteria for post-mortem 55 examination of UK stranded cetaceans 14 Appendix 3 Marine litter ingestion and/or entanglement 60 15 Appendix 4 Summary of causes of death 2011 62 1 Tables, Figures and Plates 1.1 Tables Table 1 Reported strandings of cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks 18 in the UK during 2011 Table 2 Reported strandings of cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks 19 in the UK 2007-2011 Table 3 Post-mortem investigations conducted on UK stranded cetaceans, 38 marine turtles and basking sharks during 2011 Table 4 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans in 38 England during 2011 Table 5 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans, marine 39 turtles and basking sharks in Scotland during 2011 Table 6 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans in 39 Wales during 2011 Table 7 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans in 39 Northern Ireland during 2011 Table 8 Causes of death of cetaceans examined at post-mortem in the UK in 2011 40 Table 9 Reported strandings in England, Scotland and Wales 2007-2011 56 (aggregated data)


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Table 10 Regional harbour porpoise stranding data (2007-2011) in relation 57 to the current limits of 55-65 annual PME’s Table 11 Recommended 2012 allocation of harbour porpoise PME’s by area 57 and month, based on 2007-2010 reported stranding data Table 12 Regional common dolphin stranding data (2007-2011) in relation 58 to the current limits of 15-20 annual PME’s Table 13 Recommended 2012 allocation of common dolphin PME’s by area 58 and month, based on 2007-2011 reported stranding data Table 14 Regional stranding data for other cetacean species, excluding 59 harbour porpoises, common dolphins and strandings of indeterminate identity (2007-2011) in relation to the current limits of 10-25 annual PME’s Table 15 Recommended 2012 allocation of other cetacean species PME’s 59 by area and month, based on 2007-2011 reported stranding data Table 16 Marine litter ingestion or entanglement in strandings examined 60 at post-mortem in the UK during 2011 1.2 Figures Figure 1 Organisational structure of the CSIP 8 Figure 2 Outline process in strandings reporting and post-mortem examinations 10 in the UK by the CSIP consortium Figure 3 Reported cetacean strandings in England, Scotland, Wales and 16 Northern Ireland 2007-2011 Figure 4 Annual numbers of UK stranded cetaceans (all species), harbour 16 porpoises and short-beaked common dolphins (1990-2011) Figure 5 UK regions used for analysis of data 17 Figure 6 Inter annual variation in UK regional strandings of harbour porpoises 20 (2007-2011) Figure 7 Inter annual variation in UK regional strandings of short-beaked 20 common dolphins (2007-2011) Figure 8 Inter annual variation in UK regional strandings of cetacean species 21 other than harbour porpoises and short-beaked common dolphins (2007-2011) Figure 9 Inter annual variation in UK regional strandings of cetacean species of 21 indeterminate identity (2007-2011) Figure 10 Distribution of harbour porpoise strandings in the UK (2011) 22 Figure 11 Distribution of short-beaked common dolphin strandings in the UK 22 (2011) Figure 12 Monthly strandings of short-beaked common dolphins in the UK in 24 2011 compared to mean number of strandings for 2007-2011 period Figure 13 Proportions of major cause of death categories in UK stranded 25 harbour porpoises examined at post-mortem 2007-2011


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Figure 14 Monthly strandings of short-beaked common dolphins in the UK in 26 2011 compared to mean number of strandings for 2007-2011 period Figure 15 Proportions of major cause of death categories in UK-stranded 27 short-beaked common dolphins examined at post-mortem 2007-2011 Figure 16 Distribution of other odontocete strandings in the UK (2011) 35 Figure 17 Distribution of mysticete strandings in the UK (2011) 35 Figure 18 Annual numbers of UK reported marine turtles (2002-2011) 37 Figure 19 Distribution of marine turtle strandings in the UK (2011) 37 Figure 20 Distribution of basking shark strandings in the UK (2011) 37 Figure 21a Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post-mortem 41 and diagnosed to have died as a result of live stranding (2011) Figure 21b Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post-mortem 41 and diagnosed to have died as a result of infectious disease (2011) Figure 21c Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post-mortem 41 and diagnosed to have died as a result of starvation (2011) Figure 21d Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post-mortem 42 and diagnosed to have died as a result of by-catch (2011) Figure 21e Spatial distribution of harbour porpoise strandings examined at 42 post-mortem and diagnosed to have died as a result of violent interactions with bottlenose dolphins (2011) 1.3 Plates Plate 1 Mass stranding of long-finned pilot whales in Kyle of Durness 22nd July 2011 15 Plate 2 Harbour porpoise (SW2011/30) exhibiting atypical anthropogenic injuries 23 Plate 3 Sperm whale (SW2011/99) stranded at Pegwell Bay, Kent 29 Plate 4 Sowerby’s beaked whale (SW2011/353) stranded at Thornham, Norfolk 30 Plate 5 Fin whale (SW2011/347) stranded at Lynmouth, Devon 31 Plate 6 Killer whale (SW2011/287) stranded on Lewis, Western Isles 32 Plate 7 Sei whale (SW2011/442) stranded at Skeffling, East Riding of Yorkshire 32 Plate 8 Pygmy sperm whale (SW2011/459) stranded at Easdale, Argyll & Bute 33 Plate 9 Dwarf sperm whale (SW2011/455) observed in Mounts Bay, Penzance, Cornwall 34 Plate 10 Green turtle (T2011/50) examined at post-mortem by SAC Inverness 36 Plate 11 Plastic material found in stomach of Cuvier’s beaked whale (SW2011/97) 61 Plate 12 Fish hook found in cardiac stomach of a minke whale (SW2011/589) 61 Plate 13 Fragment of rubber found in cardiac stomach of a harbour porpoise 61

(SW2011/169)


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2 Introduction This report is based on research conducted under contract (MB0111 and CR0364) to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Devolved Administrations between 1st January and 31st December 2011. The Institute of Zoology (IoZ)1, Scottish Agricultural College, Inverness (SAC), Natural History Museum (NHM) and Marine Environmental Monitoring (MEM) are responsible for the delivery of this contract. Since 1990, the collaborative UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) has been funded by UK government (currently through Defra, Welsh Government and Scottish Government) to; • collate, analyse and report data for all cetacean strandings around the coast of

the UK;

• determine the causes of death in stranded cetaceans, including by-catch and physical trauma; and

• undertake surveillance on the incidence of disease in stranded cetaceans in order to identify any substantial new threats to their conservation status.

The CSIP also continues to submit data on strandings and post-mortem examinations to the UK annual national reports for ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas) and the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The current organisational structure of the CSIP and the responsibilities of each organisation are given below in Figure 1. A Project Steering Group (PSG) consisting of representatives of UK government and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC; managers of the current contract) monitor progress and provide guidance on the objectives and output of the CSIP.

Figure 1 Organisational structure of the CSIP NB WAG- Welsh Assembly Government, SG- Scottish Government, JNCC- Joint Nature Conservation Committee

1 Main Contractor responsible for the delivery of MB0111 and CR0364


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3 Materials and methods 3.1 Reporting and collection of cetacean and marine turtle strandings Strandings are recorded by the CSIP when an animal swims, is left by a receding tide or is deposited onto land (beach, mudflats, sandbank etc) dead or alive. Live animals that are prevented from stranding by human interaction from the shore, but would clearly have otherwise stranded without such intervention, may also be included. In addition, the CSIP also continues to record information on dead cetaceans that are found at sea in and around UK territorial waters. Figure 2 shows an outline process for the reporting of strandings in the UK, covering liaison with appropriate local authorities (primarily the Receiver of Wreck, Maritime Coastguard Agency and local authorities) and the project steering group, along with information on post-mortem investigations and dissemination of results by the CSIP. In England (excluding Cornwall), the reporting, retrieval and transportation of stranded animals is co-ordinated by NHM, with IoZ providing assistance where appropriate. In Cornwall, the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network (www.cwtstrandings.org/index.html) co-ordinate stranding reporting, retrieval and transportation to AHVLA Polwhele for post-mortem investigation. Strandings data collected by CWTMSN is made available to the CSIP for inclusion in the central UK database and also in the CSIP national reports. In Scotland, the reporting, retrieval and transportation of stranded animals is co-ordinated by SAC. In Wales, the reporting, retrieval and transportation of stranded animals is co-ordinated by MEM. Stranding reports are verified wherever possible through the use of digital photographs taken on the beach. Dedicated email addresses and mobile numbers for the provision of camera phone pictures have also been established by the CSIP. The decision about whether to subject a carcass to post-mortem is based on the state of decomposition and whether it can be secured safely prior to collection and transportation to a laboratory for post-mortem examination. The relevant public health considerations of handling stranded cetacean carcasses are stressed to those individuals and organisations that are involved with the day-to-day reporting and recovery of stranded carcasses. Data on strandings in Northern Ireland were collected by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (www.iwdg.ie/), under contract to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (www.ni-environment.gov.uk/). Data on strandings in the Isle of Man were provided by Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture (Isle of Man Government, www.gov.im/daff/Wildlife/species/marine.xml). Appendix 1 gives details of the reporting mechanism for strandings of cetaceans, marine turtles, basking sharks and seals in the UK (both alive and dead), as part of the new CSIP leaflet campaign launched at the end of 2011 (see section 9.5). Appendix 2 gives information on the current guidelines for selecting strandings for post-mortem examination.


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Figure 2 Outline process in strandings reporting and post-mortem examinations in the UK by the CSIP consortium. Blue highlighted sections denote CSIP actions.

Analysis

Dead Live

Rescued

Analysis

Died/euthanased

Stranding report

Rescue organisations

(BDMLR)

CSIP (regional

or national)

No further action (live stranding

report recorded in

CSIP database)

Liaison with PSG (if appropriate)

CSIP post-mortem

investigations

Diagnostic and supplementary

testing

Post mortem report generated. Sent out

to stranding reporters, media

liaison if appropriate

Post mortem conclusions (causes of

death) included in quarterly, annual and

ad hoc reporting

Gather supplementary data

(if appropriate)

Liaison with media (if appropriate)

Liaison with local

authorities e.g. Receiver

of Wreck/MCA, police, local council etc


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3.2 Post-mortem examination Carcasses were routinely transported to one of three pathology laboratories in the UK:

• Institute of Zoology (Zoological Society of London), Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY

• Scottish Agricultural College (Disease Surveillance Centre) Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, Scotland, IV2 4JZ

• Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (Truro), Polwhele, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9AD

In cases where carcasses were too large or too difficult to retrieve, post-mortem investigations were conducted in situ at the stranding site. All cetacean post-mortem investigations (including tissue sampling) were conducted using standard procedures (Kuiken and Garcia Hartmann 1991, Law 1994, Deaville and Jepson et al 2011). Marine turtle post-mortem investigations and tissue sampling were also conducted using standard procedures (Work 2000 and Wyneknen 2001) and basking shark strandings were investigated opportunistically. Essentially, organs were systematically examined and routine tissue samples were collected for virological, microbiological, histopathological, toxicological and other studies. Any observed lesions were also sampled for further diagnostic tests, depending on the suspected aetiology. 3.3 Assessing causes of death Although it is often not possible to arrive at a definitive cause of death for any individual carcass, a probable cause of death was ascribed wherever possible based on the collective findings from post-mortem and other diagnostic investigations. Criteria used to establish selected causes of death are described below.

• By-catch (entanglement in fishing gear) was ascribed as a cause of death in cetacean carcasses using established pathological criteria for by-catch diagnosis (Kuiken et al. 1994 and 1996)

• Infectious Disease- a broad category consisting of a number of causes of death of infectious origin (Jepson et al 2005)

• Live Stranding- attributed as the cause of death in cetaceans that were known or suspected (from post-mortem examination) to have live-stranded in apparent good health and nutritional status. This category excluded severely diseased or emaciated animals that stranded alive (Jepson et al 2005)

• Starvation- given as the cause of death in animals that were severely emaciated and, following post-mortem examination, ascertained to have no other significant disease processes that could explain the poor nutritional status (Jepson et al 2005)

• Starvation (neonate)- given as the cause of death in neonates that were severely emaciated and, following post-mortem examination, ascertained to have no other significant disease processes that could explain the poor nutritional status. Some of these animals may have become maternally separated


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• Fatal attack from one or more bottlenose dolphins- ascribed as a cause of death in cetacean carcasses using established pathological criteria (Ross & Wilson 1996, Jepson & Baker 1998)

• Physical trauma (boat/ship strike)- physical trauma consistent with impact from a boat or ship. Includes blunt trauma to dorsal/lateral aspect of body wall and/or injuries consistent with propeller strike

• Dystocia & Stillborn- attributed as the cause of death in animals which have died during the act or process of giving birth (mothers or calves)

• Physical trauma (unknown origin)- where evidence of physical trauma is found at post-mortem, but no obvious origin or other significant underlying factors. This category is likely to include some undiagnosed cases of boat/ship strike, by-catch or bottlenose dolphin attack.

• Gas embolism- intravascular gas bubble formation that obstructs circulation and causes associated tissue injury

• Entanglement- a cause of death category largely confined to minke whales. Denotes evidence of entanglement in rope (creel etc) or discarded fishing gear/marine litter

• Cold stunned- a cause of death category specific to hard shelled species of marine turtle, resulting from exposure to cold water around the UK coast, leading to immobility, hypothermia and eventual starvation

• Neoplasia- where the cause of death is due to the formation of a tumour • Others- a broad category covering causes of death that cannot be

categorised using existing criteria 3.4 Tissue archiving Tissue specimens collected for research and archive are stored at both -20˚C and -80˚C and in 10% neutral buffered formalin or 70% alcohol at the IoZ and SAC Inverness or sent to collaborating institutions for research purposes. 3.5 Data collection, storage and dissemination Prior to 2009, data generated by the CSIP had historically been collected and archived on a number of different databases. During 2008, a Defra funded web accessed database was created (http://data.ukstrandings.org/, password protected), fully integrating for the first time both strandings data and data collected during post-mortem examinations in the UK. The CSIP web accessed database has been ‘live’ since 1st January 2009, with data on UK stranded cetaceans, marine turtles, basking sharks and seals reported since this date being routinely entered onto it. Pathology and strandings data from cetaceans and basking sharks reported to the CSIP between 1989 and 2008 was integrated during 2009 and imported into the CSIP web accessed database. Levels of access have been set such that data can be viewed by those deemed appropriate by the PSG, but data can only be entered/edited by appropriate members of the CSIP consortium. Data entry and data validation/quality control is performed by the relevant partner organisations in the CSIP consortium and by CWTMSN in Cornwall. As well as enabling the CSIP consortium to collectively enter and edit data through a single web accessed portal, the database facilitates more efficient and accurate capture of data and allows stakeholders to


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access data as required. In addition, during 2010 periodic export of relevant data to the NBN gateway (www.nbn.org.uk/) began, enabling access to strandings and post-mortem data by a much wider audience than at present. Work on the database is ongoing and additional existing data will be imported during the course of the current contract (MB0111). Marine turtle strandings data in the UK is collated by the UK and Republic of Ireland 'TURTLE' Database Manager (Rod Penrose) under supervision of the Turtle Implementation Group (TIG). Collation of marine turtle strandings and sightings data in UK and RoI is collectively funded by the statutory conservation bodies- Natural England, Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish National Heritage and National Parks and Wildlife Service (RoI). As described in last year’s annual report (Deaville et al 2011), the ASOCBANS Secretariat agreed to fund a feasibility study into the creation of a centralised point of access for selected data collected by stranding networks within the ASCOBANS region. An initial meeting to discuss this proposal was held at the European Cetacean Society Conference in Cadiz on 19th March 2011, with attendance from representatives of strandings/pathology networks from 11 different countries. A report was submitted to the Secretariat in early 2012 and it is hoped that this will be first step towards the future development of a common European database. Further details will be given in the CSIP annual report for 2012. Quarterly reports were submitted to the PSG during 2011 and acted as milestones (for both CR0364 and MB0111). The CSIP also provided summary reports of strandings and post-mortem data for the annual ASCOBANS national report, as well as the annual IWC national report and any ad hoc requests made during the course of the year by the Department or the Devolved Administrations.


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4 Cetacean, marine turtle and basking shark strandings around the UK coastline for the year 2011 In 2011, 617 cetaceans were reported to the CSIP comprising at least 18 species (Table 1). Of these, 518 were reports of dead-stranded cetaceans, 86 were of live-stranded cetaceans and 13 were of dead cetaceans found at sea. Of the 86 live-stranded cetaceans, 29 were returned alive to sea. A large proportion of the latter (n=20) were pilot whales involved in the mass stranding event in north-west Scotland in July (see below). In addition, eight UK stranded marine turtles and three basking sharks were also reported during 2011 (Table 1). The figure of 617 cetaceans reported during 2011 is 54% higher than the number of cetacean strandings recorded by the CSIP in 2010, but is a figure comparable to previous years (Figure 4). The most commonly reported UK stranded cetacean species in 2011 were the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) (n=322) and the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) (n=89). Another 145 stranded cetaceans were recorded, comprising long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas, n=48), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, n=14), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba, n=14), Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus, n=14), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata, n=14), white beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris, n=10), sperm whale (Physeter catodon, n=9), Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus, n=9), Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens, n=3), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus, n=3), Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris, n=1), killer whale (Orcinus orca, n=1), sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis, n=1), northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus, n=1), pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps, n=1) and dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima, n=1). The spatial distribution of these strandings (by species) is given in Table 1. A number of strandings (n=61) were too decomposed, incomplete or inaccessible to enable either accurate identification or retrieval for further investigation at post-mortem (Table 1). The largest number of cetacean strandings was reported in England (n=295), with a smaller number in Scotland (n=196), Wales (n=119) and Northern Ireland (n=3). In addition, a small number of cetaceans were also reported in the Isle of Man (n=3) and the Channel Islands (n=1). The annual number of reported strandings was higher than those reported during the previous four years in most countries in the UK (Figure 3 and Table 2). Figure 4 shows the inter-annual variation in numbers of all cetaceans, harbour porpoises and common dolphins recorded stranded in the UK between 1990 and 2011 inclusively. Six stranding events involving two or more animals occurred in the UK during 2011. Five of these events involved two animals found dead stranded in close proximity, one of which was a near mass stranding in Loch Carnan, South Uist in May. In this event, 40-50 long-finned pilot whales were sighted in Loch Carnan over 2-3 days in late May. Although the pod eventually moved out to presumed safety and was not sighted again, two whales were found dead on skerries in the loch. Interestingly, a markedly similar event occurred in Loch Carnan in October 2010, where a number of long-finned pilot whales were also sighted very close to shore for a few days, before again moving out to deeper water. In this instance though, the pod (or part of the pod) was eventually found stranded dead at Donegal in north-west Ireland a week later.


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The sixth event, which occurred in the Kyle of Durness, Scotland, also involved a large number of long-finned pilot whales and was the second largest mass stranding event (MSE) to take place in the UK since the inception of the CSIP in 1990. The largest was the MSE of short-beaked common dolphins in Cornwall in 2008 (Jepson and Deaville, 2009). 2011 long-finned pilot whale mass stranding event On 22nd July 2011, an MSE of long-finned pilot whales occurred in the Kyle of Durness, near Cape Wrath in north-west Scotland. Approximately 70-80 pilot whales may have been involved in the MSE and it is thought that 39 stranded. British Divers Marine Life Rescue volunteers attended on site and together with members of a Royal Navy diving team (who were in the vicinity conducting underwater disposal of unexploded ordnance) and members of the local community, they were able to successfully refloat twenty of the stranded animals. However, 19 long-finned pilot whales are thought to have died or were euthanased during the MSE. A CSIP team lead by staff from SAC Inverness and assisted by staff from ZSL and MEM, conducted field necropsies on the 16 whales that were available for post-mortem. Following the post-mortem examinations, an application for additional funding was proposed which would allow a full and detailed investigation to take place, lead by SAC Inverness and adopting a similar approach to the investigation of the short-beaked common dolphin mass stranding in Cornwall in 2008. Funding was agreed through a variation to the existing contract (MB0111). A full report on the MSE investigation will be made available here. (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&ProjectID=17835&FromSearch=Y&Publisher=1&SearchText=strandings&SortString=ProjectCode&SortOrder=Asc&Paging=10#Description)

Plate 1 Mass stranding of long-finned pilot whales in Kyle of Durness 22nd July 2011 (image credit BDMLR)


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Figure 3 Reported cetacean strandings in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 2007-2011

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Figure 4 Annual numbers of UK stranded cetaceans (all species), harbour porpoises and short-beaked common dolphins (1990-2011)


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The distribution and abundance of the majority of UK cetacean strandings, including harbour porpoise and common dolphins, are largely correlated with the distribution and abundance of these species in UK and adjacent waters (Jepson et al 2005; Reid et al 2003). Analysis of the UK strandings dataset between 2007 and 2011 (Table 2 and Figures 6-9) shows that the increase in strandings recorded in 2011 in relation to 2010 was primarily due to an increase in reported strandings of harbour porpoises in England and Wales (Figure 6), an increase in reported strandings of short-beaked common dolphins in south-west England (Figure 7) and also an increase in reported strandings of species other than harbour porpoises and short-beaked common dolphins in Scotland (Figure 8). The latter was partly driven by the mass stranding of long-finned pilot whales in north-west Scotland in July. In addition, a slight increase in the number of recorded strandings of cetacean species of indeterminate identity was also noted (Figure 9). This may be consequential to the increase in overall stranding numbers.

Figure 5 UK regions used for analysis of data (from Jepson et al 2005)


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Table 1 Reported strandings of cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks in the UK during 2011 Species England Scotland Wales Northern

Ireland Isle of

Man Total

Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

176 53 89 3 1 322

Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

61 15 13 0 0 89

Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas)

1 47 0 0 0 48

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

1 9 4 0 0 14

Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)

6 8 0 0 0 14

Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus)

1 13 0 0 0 14

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

1 13 0 0 0 14

White beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris)

4 6 0 0 0 10

Sperm whale (Physeter catodon)

4 5 0 0 0 9

Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus)

0 5 3 0 1 9

Sowerby’s beaked whale(Mesoplodon bidens)

2 1 0 0 0 3

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)

2 1 0 0 0 3

Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris)

1 1 0 0 0 2

Killer whale (Orcinus orca)

0 1 0 0 0 1

Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)

1 0 0 0 0 1

Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus)

0 1 0 0 0 1

Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps)

0 1 0 0 0 1

Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima)

1 0 0 0 0 1

Cetacean (indeterminate species)

19 7 7 0 1 34

Short beaked common/striped dolphin (indeterminate)

5 2 3 0 0 10

Dolphin (indeterminate species)

3 3 0 0 0 6

Baleen whale (indeterminate species)

4 1 0 0 0 5

Odontocete (indeterminate species)

1 2 0 0 0 3

Lagenorhynchus sp. (indeterminate species)

0 1 0 0 0 1

Mysticete (indeterminate species)

1 0 0 0 0 1

Marine turtles (all species)

4 2 2 0 0 8

Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)

0 2 0 0 1 3

TOTAL 299 200 121 3 4 627NB One cetacean (indeterminate species) from Channel Islands not included above


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Table 2 Reported strandings of cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks in the UK 2007-2011

Species 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

271 270 251 260 322 Short-beaked common dolphin(Delphinus delphis)

90 113 54 36 89 Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas)

12 25 4 3 48 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

11 6 10 6 14 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)

13 6 13 7 14 Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus)

35 14 8 5 14 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

11 19 9 16 14 White beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris)

2 12 21 14 10 Sperm whale (Physeter catodon)

2 4 3 5 9 Risso’s dolphin(Grampus griseus)

5 10 7 5 9 Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens)

4 6 3 2 3 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)

3 2 1 1 3 Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris)

1 17 2 0 2 Killer whale (Orcinus orca)

2 1 0 0 1 Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)

0 0 0 0 1 Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus)

5 3 8 0 1 Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps)

1 0 0 0 1 Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima)

0 0 0 0 1 Cetacean (indeterminate species)

34 42 24 19 35 Short beaked common/striped dolphin (indeterminate)

6 3 4 8 10 Dolphin (indeterminate species)

33 15 2 4 6 Baleen whale (indeterminate species)

0 1 1 1 5 Odontocete (indeterminate species)

12 9 9 6 3 Lagenorhynchus sp. (indeterminate)

1 3 0 1 1 Mysticete (indeterminate species)

1 1 3 0 1 Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

4 2 3 0 4 Kemp’s ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)

1 2 0 0 3 Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)

0 0 0 0 1 Marine turtle (indeterminate species)

0 1 2 0 0 Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)

6 22 5 0 0 Basking shark(Cetorhinus maximus)

5 6 7 2 3 TOTAL 576 616 456 402 628


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Figure 6 Inter annual variation in UK regional strandings of harbour porpoises (2007-2011)

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Figure 7 Inter annual variation in UK regional strandings of short-beaked common dolphins (2007-2011)


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Figure 8 Inter annual variation in UK regional strandings of cetacean species other than harbour porpoises and short-beaked common dolphins (2007-2011) NB Strandings of indeterminate identity have been excluded from Figure 8

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Figure 9 Inter-annual variation in UK regional strandings of cetacean species of indeterminate identity (2007-2011)


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5 Summary of UK-stranded cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks in 2011 (by species) 5.1 Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) In 2011, 322 stranded harbour porpoises (88 males, 67 females and 167 of unknown sex) were reported in the UK, a number higher than that recorded during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Of these, 176 stranded in England, 89 stranded in Wales, 53 stranded in Scotland, three stranded in Northern Ireland and one stranded in the Isle of Man (Figure 10). The increase in 2011 appeared to be largely driven by an increase in reported strandings of harbour porpoises in England and Wales (Figure 6), although the number of reports is still below peak levels recorded in the middle of the last decade (Figure 4).

Figure 10 Distribution of harbour porpoise strandings in the UK (2011)

Figure 11 Distribution of short-beaked common dolphin strandings in the UK (2011)

Of the 322 reported harbour porpoise strandings, 74 were investigated at post-mortem (38 were conducted in England, 17 in Scotland, 17 in Wales and two in Northern Ireland - Tables 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). A cause of death was found in 73 examined individuals (~99% of examined cases). Twenty died as a result of starvation (including seven neonates), seventeen died from pneumonia due to combinations of parasitic, bacterial and mycotic infections, nine died following entanglement in fishing gear (by-catch), seven died as a result of attack from one or more bottlenose dolphins, seven died from physical trauma of unknown origin, three died as a consequence of live-stranding, two died from


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physical trauma consequential to boat or ship strike, two died following atypical anthropogenic trauma, two died from heavy gastro-intestinal tract parasite burdens, two from pleuritis, one from starvation consequential to gastric impaction with fish bones, one as a result of meningitis/encephalitis and a cause of death could not be established in one individual (Table 8). Harbour porpoises that died as a result of atypical anthropogenic trauma continued to be reported during 2011. Plate 2 shows one such case, a harbour porpoise found stranded at Sea Palling in Norfolk. These animals exhibit unusual pathology, consistent with anthropogenic trauma of unknown origin and markedly consistent with findings noted in a number of porpoises found stranded in the Netherlands and Belgium in recent years. The investigation of these unusual strandings is ongoing, in an effort to learn more about the aetiology of the injuries and also whether there are links with impacts on other species. Results of these investigations will be published at a future date.

Plate 2 Harbour porpoise (SW2011/30) exhibiting atypical anthropogenic injuries (credit CSIP/NHM) Figure 12 illustrates that an increase in reported strandings of harbour porpoises was recorded in the UK during the latter half of the year, in relation to the mean numbers recorded over the preceding four year period. This increase (mainly during the summer months June-September) was recorded in several regions of the UK and appears to correlate with a corresponding increase in harbour porpoise strandings recorded on the Dutch coastline during summer 2011, by colleagues from the Dutch stranding network (Naturalis) and Utrecht University. CSIP scientists from ZSL and AHVLA Polwhele subsequently attended a harbour porpoise necropsy workshop at


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Utrecht University in late November 2011, to assist with post-mortem investigations on approximately 130 harbour porpoises found stranded on the Dutch coast during summer 2011 and held frozen pending examination. Results of the investigation will be released by Utrecht University at a future date.

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2007-2010 (mean +/- SD) 2011 Figure 12 Monthly strandings of harbour porpoises in the UK in 2011 compared to mean number of strandings (+/- 1SD) for 2007-2010 period. Annual data for cause of death categories in UK stranded harbour porpoises examined over the five year period 2007-2011 inclusive are shown in Figure 13. Data are shown for the annual proportions of harbour porpoises that died of; infectious disease; starvation; by-catch; as a result of attack from bottlenose dolphins; live stranding; others (remaining cause of death categories); and also where a cause of death could not be established. There were no consistent trends in any cause of death category for UK-stranded harbour porpoises between 2007 and 2011 (Figure 13). All cases of fatal attack from bottlenose dolphins occurred in areas of sympatric distribution of these two species. Interestingly however, no cases were recorded in Scotland in 2011, with all recorded cases occurring in either Wales or Cornwall (Figure 21e). Fatal attack from bottlenose dolphins was the most common cause of death category in Scottish stranded harbour porpoises examined at post-mortem between 1992-2010 (n=290) and this is the first year that no cases have been recorded since funding of post-mortem examinations began in Scotland in 1992.


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Figure 13 Proportions of major cause of death categories in UK stranded harbour porpoises examined at post-mortem 2007-2011 5.2 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) In 2011, 89 stranded short-beaked common dolphins (34 males, 21 females and 34 of unknown sex) were reported in the UK, a figure broadly comparable to the number reported during the previous four years but representing an increase from the historically low number recorded stranded in 2010 (Tables 1 and 2). Of these, 61 stranded in England, 15 in Scotland and 13 in Wales (Figure 11). Although a significant increase in reported strandings of this species was recorded, the figure for 2011 was broadly comparable to that recorded in 2007/08 and is still lower than peak numbers recorded during the middle of the last decade (Figure 4). Of the 89 reported strandings in 2011, 31 were investigated at post-mortem (22 were conducted in England, five in Scotland and four in Wales- Tables 3, 4, 5 and 6). A cause of death was found in all examined individuals. Eleven died as a consequence of live-stranding, seven following entanglement in fishing gear (by-catch), three died as a result of starvation, three from physical trauma of unknown origin, two from physical trauma consequential to boat or ship strike, one as a result of attack from one or more bottlenose dolphins, one died following enteritis, one from starvation consequential to gastric impaction (bladder wrack and bones), one from parasitic and bacterial pneumonia and there was also one neonatal death (Table 8). As in previous years, strandings of common dolphins are strongly spatially and temporally explicit, with a large number occurring in south-west England (Figure 11)


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in winter months. During 2011, a larger number of strandings were also recorded during December, in relation to the previous four year period (Figure 14).

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2007-2010 (mean +/- SD) 2011 Figure 14 Monthly strandings of short-beaked common dolphins in the UK in 2011 compared to mean number of strandings (+/- 1SD) for 2007-2010 period. NB The large SD in June (2007-2010) is due to the mass stranding event in Falmouth Bay, Cornwall on 9 June 2008 (Jepson and Deaville 2009) Annual data for several of the main cause of death categories in short-beaked common dolphins over a five year period (2007-2011 inclusive) are shown in Figure 15. Data are shown for the annual proportions of short-beaked common dolphins that died as a result of; by-catch; infectious disease; live stranding; others (remaining cause of death categories); and also where a cause of death could not be established. The relative incidence of by-catch recorded in stranded short-beaked common dolphins in 2011 was lower than that recorded during previous years, but higher than the historically low incidence recorded in 2008 (Figure 15). The reason/s for this fluctuation in recorded incidence of by-catch in short-beaked common dolphins examined at post-mortem is not currently clear. Short-beaked common dolphins show marked seasonal variation in their distribution. They are at their most abundant off the Brittany coast and English Channel region during winter months, with these areas thought to act as effective wintering grounds for this species (Brereton et al, 1999). If their seasonal movements do not overlap with fishing effort, then the risk of by-catch decreases and this might at least in part explain some of the inter-annual variation in recorded cases of by-catch. Finally, as in previous years the majority of recorded cases of by-catch occurred in south-west England during winter months (predominantly November-February).


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Figure 15 Proportions of major cause of death categories in UK-stranded short-beaked common dolphins examined at post-mortem 2007-2011 NB The large number of live strandings in 2008 was a result of the mass stranding event in Falmouth Bay, Cornwall on 9 June 2008 (Jepson and Deaville 2009) 5.3 Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) Forty eight stranded long-finned pilot whales (nine males, ten females and 29 of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, representing an increase in relation to the number reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Forty seven were found stranded in Scotland and one in England (Figure 16). The increase was driven by the mass stranding of long-finned pilot whales in north-west Scotland on 22nd July 2011, described in the previous section. Of the 48 stranded long-finned pilot whales, 18 from Scotland were investigated at post-mortem (Tables 3 and 5). Of these, seventeen died as a consequence of live stranding and one as a consequence of live stranding in addition to the isolation of Brucella ceti from a pectoral joint and testis (Table 8). Sixteen of the post-mortem examinations were conducted as part of the investigation into the mass stranding event in north-west Scotland, funded under a variation to the existing CSIP contract by Defra and Marine Scotland. 5.4 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Fourteen stranded bottlenose dolphins (three males, five females and six of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, a number broadly comparable to the number reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Nine were found stranded Scotland, four in Wales and one in England (Figure 16). Of the 14 stranded bottlenose dolphins, five were investigated at post-mortem (four in Scotland and one


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in Wales- Tables 3, 5 and 6). Of these, one died from a generalised bacterial infection, one from a non-suppurative meningitis, one neonate died from starvation, one animal was aged and had a cardiac insufficiency and a cause of death could not be established in the last individual (Table 8). 5.5 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) Fourteen stranded striped dolphins (nine males, three females and two of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, a number broadly comparable to the number reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Eight were found stranded in Scotland and six in England (Figure 16). Of the 14 stranded striped dolphins, nine were investigated at post-mortem (five in Scotland and four in England- Tables 3, 4 and 5). Of these, four died as a consequence of live stranding, two as a result of meningitis/encephalitis, two from physical trauma of unknown origin and one died as a result of a generalised bacterial infection (Table 8). 5.6 Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) Fourteen stranded Atlantic white-sided dolphins (six males and eight of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, a number broadly comparable to the number reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Thirteen were found stranded in Scotland and one in England (Figure 16). Of the 14 stranded Atlantic white-sided dolphins, five from Scotland were investigated at post-mortem (Tables 3, and 5). Of these, two died as a consequence of live stranding, two as a result of starvation and one as a result of impaired feeding consequential to skeletal pathology (fused atlanto-occipital joint) (Table 8). 5.7 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) Fourteen stranded minke whales (one male, one female and 12 of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, a number broadly comparable to the number reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Thirteen were found stranded in Scotland and one in England (Figure 17). Of the 14 stranded minke whales, two were investigated at post-mortem (one in England and one in Scotland- Tables 3, 4 and 5). Of these, one died as a result of recent entanglement in linear material (not present when whale found stranded) and one died from a generalised bacterial infection (Table 8). 5.8 White-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) Ten stranded white-beaked dolphins (four females, three males and three of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, a number broadly comparable to the number reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Six were found stranded in Scotland and four in England (Figure 16). Of the ten stranded white-beaked dolphins, five were investigated at post-mortem (three in England and two in


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Scotland - Tables 3, 4 and 5). Of these, two died as a consequence of live stranding, two as a result of starvation and one neonate also died from starvation (Table 8). 5.9 Sperm whale (Physeter catodon) Nine stranded sperm whales (six males and three of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, a number slightly higher than that which was reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Five were found stranded in Scotland and four in England (Figure 16). Of the nine stranded sperm whales, three were investigated at post-mortem (two in England and one in Scotland - Tables 3, 4 and 5). Of these, two died as a result of starvation and one possibly died consequential to chronic entanglement (entangling material not present when whale found stranded) (Table 8). On 3rd March 2011, a juvenile male sperm whale was found stranded at Pegwell Bay in Kent (Plate 3). The sperm whale was examined by the CSIP team from ZSL and featured in a special episode of Inside Nature’s Giants on Channel Four.

Plate 3 Sperm whale (SW2011/99) stranded at Pegwell Bay, Kent (image credit CSIP/ZSL) 5.10 Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) Nine stranded Risso’s dolphins (one female and eight of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, a number broadly comparable to the number reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Five were found stranded in Scotland, three in Wales and one in the Isle of Man (Figure 16). None of the stranded Risso’s dolphins were investigated at post-mortem.


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5.11 Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) Three stranded Sowerby’s beaked whales (one male, one female and one of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, a number broadly comparable to the number reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Two were found stranded in England and one in Scotland (Figure 16). A single Sowerby’s beaked whale from England was investigated at post-mortem (Tables 3 and 4 and Plate 4) and was found to have died as a consequence of live stranding (Table 8).

Plate 4 Sowerby’s beaked whale (SW2011/353) stranded at Thornham, Norfolk (image credit Gary Hibberd) 5.12 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Three stranded fin whales (one male, one female and one of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, a number broadly comparable to the number reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Two were found stranded in England and one in Scotland (Figure 17). Of the three stranded fin whales, two were investigated at post-mortem (one in England and one in Scotland - Tables 3, 4 and 5). Of these, one was found to have died as a consequence of live stranding and one as a result of starvation (Table 8 and Plate 5).


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Plate 5 Fin whale (SW2011/347) stranded at Lynmouth, Devon (image credit CSIP/ZSL) 5.13 Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) Two stranded Cuvier’s beaked whales (one female and one of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, a number broadly comparable to the number reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). One was found stranded in England and one in Scotland (Figure 16). A single Cuvier’s beaked whale from England was investigated at post-mortem (Tables 3 and 4) and died as a consequence of physical trauma possibly consequential to boat or ship strike (Table 8). 5.14 Killer whale (Orcinus orca) A single stranded female killer whale was reported and investigated at post-mortem in Scotland during 2011, a number broadly comparable to the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 16). A cause of death was not established at post-mortem (Tables 3, 5 and 8). The killer whale was found stranded on Lewis in June (Plate 6) and is only the 23rd recorded stranding of this species in the UK since the inception of the CSIP in 1990.


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Plate 6 Killer whale (SW2011/287) stranded on Lewis, Western Isles (image credit CSIP/SAC)

Plate 7 Sei whale (SW2011/442) stranded at Skeffling, East Riding of Yorkshire (image credit CSIP/ZSL)


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5.15 Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) A single female sei whale was reported stranded in England during 2011 (Plate 7). This was an unusual event, representing only the third reported stranding in the UK since the inception of the CSIP in 1990 and only the fourteenth recorded stranding of this species in the UK since strandings data began to be collected by the Natural History Museum in 1913 (Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 17). A CSIP team attended on site the following week, confirmed the identification (it had originally been identified as a fin whale) and carried out a field post-mortem. The stranded sei whale was found to have died as a consequence of live stranding (Tables 3, 4 and 8). 5.16 Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) A single northern bottlenose whale of unknown sex was reported stranded in Scotland during 2011, a number broadly comparable to the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 16). The northern bottlenose whale was not examined at post-mortem. 5.17 Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) A single male pygmy sperm whale was reported stranded in Scotland during 2011 and was the first reported stranding of this species in the UK since 2007 (Tables 1 and 2, Figure 16 and Plate 8). The pygmy sperm whale was investigated at post-mortem and found to have died as a consequence of live stranding (Tables 3, 5 and 8).

Plate 8 Pygmy sperm whale (SW2011/459) stranded at Easdale, Argyll & Bute (image credit CSIP/SAC)


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5.18 Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) A single dwarf sperm whale of unknown sex was reported stranded in England during 2011 (Tables 1 and 2). It was originally reported as a live stranded small cetacean on 9th October, in Mount’s Bay, Penzance, Cornwall by members of public, who subsequently refloated the animal. Volunteers from British Divers Marine Life Rescue and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network arrived on site shortly afterwards and recorded images of the animal swimming in the vicinity, before losing sight of it as it moved out of the bay. Although initially identified as a harbour porpoise, subsequent analysis of footage and images taken on the day (including some taken next to an adjacent diver to give an idea of relative scale), indicated that it was something more unusual. Organisations with experience of sightings of pelagic species at sea subsequently confirmed the identity of this stranding as a dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima). This represents the first recorded stranding of this species in the UK since the Natural History Museum began collating reports of strandings in 1913. Dwarf sperm whales are thought to normally inhabit deeper waters near to the continental shelf and this may also be the most northerly recorded stranding of this species in Europe. The whale was not re-sighted again following the stranding on 9th October.

Plate 9 Dwarf sperm whale (SW2011/455) observed in Mounts Bay, Penzance, Cornwall. (Image credit Kimara McCrindle and Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network)

Figure 16 Distribution of other odontocete strandings in the UK (2011)

Figure 17 Distribution of mysticete strandings in the UK (2011)

5.19 Indeterminate cetacean species Once decomposition or scavenging has destroyed identifiable external characteristics, distinguishing between morphologically similar species (such as short-beaked common dolphins and striped dolphins) can be difficult. Consequently, in 2011 there were 61 strandings of cetaceans that were too decomposed, incomplete or inaccessible to enable either accurate identification or retrieval for further investigation at post-mortem (Tables 1 and 2). These consisted of 35 indeterminate cetaceans, 10 short beaked common dolphins/striped dolphins, six indeterminate dolphin species, five indeterminate baleen whale species, three indeterminate odontocetes, one indeterminate Lagenorhynchus species and one indeterminate mysticete species. 5.20 Marine turtles In 2011, eight UK stranded marine turtles or marine turtles found dead at sea in UK waters were reported to Marine Environmental Monitoring2, the UK and Republic of Ireland co-ordinator for marine turtle strandings. This number is broadly comparable with previous years (Figure 18), excluding the unusual number of stranded

2 Marine turtle stranding information in this report is provided courtesy of Marine Environmental Monitoring (MEM, www.strandings.com/Wales.html)


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loggerhead turtles during 2008 (Penrose and Gander 2009). The eight reports consisted of four strandings of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), three strandings of Kemp’s ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) and a single stranding of a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) (Tables 1 and 2). Two of the leatherback turtle reports were of dead animals sighted at sea, the other six reports were of turtles found dead stranded. All four of the leatherback turtles were reported in England or floating dead at sea off the English coast. Two of the Kemp’s ridley turtles were reported in Wales and one in Scotland and the green turtle was reported in Scotland (Figure 19). The green turtle was investigated at post-mortem and was diagnosed to have died due to cold stunning. The two Kemp’s ridley turtles from Wales are currently held frozen pending post-mortem examination. Further detail on UK stranded marine turtles reported during 2011 is available in the UK and Republic of Ireland annual marine turtle report for 2011 (Penrose and Gander 2011).

Plate 10 Green turtle (T2011/50) examined at post-mortem by SAC Inverness (image credit CSIP/SAC) 5.21 Basking sharks Three basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) (one male and two of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2011, a number broadly comparable to that reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2). Two were found stranded in Scotland and one in the Isle of Man (Figure 20). A single stranded basking shark from Scotland was investigated at post-mortem and the cause of death was not established (Table 8).


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Figure 19 Distribution of marine turtle strandings in the UK (2011)

Figure 20 Distribution of basking shark strandings in the UK (2011)


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6 Post-mortem investigations and causes of death data Table 3 Post-mortem investigations conducted on UK-stranded cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks during 2011

Species Number Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) 74 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 31 Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) 18 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) 9 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) 5 White beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) 5 Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) 5 Sperm whale (Physeter catodon) 3 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) 2 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 2 Killer whale (Orcinus orca) 1 Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) 1 Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) 1 Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) 1 Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) 1 Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) 1 Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) 1 Total 161

Table 4 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans in England during 2011

Species Number Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) 38 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 22 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) 4 White beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) 3 Sperm whale (Physeter catodon) 2 Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) 1 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) 1 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 1 Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) 1 Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) 1 Total 74


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Table 5 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks in Scotland during 2011

Species Number Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) 18 Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) 17 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 5 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) 5 Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) 5 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) 4 White beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) 2 Sperm whale (Physeter catodon) 1 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) 1 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 1 Killer whale (Orcinus orca) 1 Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) 1 Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) 1 Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) 1 Total 63

Table 6 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans in Wales during 2011

Species Number Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) 17 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 4 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) 1 Total 22

Table 7 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans in Northern Ireland during 2011

Species Number Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) 2 Total 2

NB Post-mortem examinations in Northern Ireland were carried out by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, under contract to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, which kindly provided NI data for Tables 7 and 8


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Table 8 Causes of death of cetaceans examined at post-mortem in the UK in 2011 Species Cause of death category No.Harbour porpoise Pneumonia, Parasitic 15 Starvation 13 By-catch 9 Bottlenose Dolphin Attack 7 Starvation (neonate) 7 Physical Trauma (unidentified cause) 7 Live Stranding 3 Others 3 Gastritis &/or Enteritis 2 Physical Trauma, Atypical Anthropogenic 2 Physical Trauma, Boat/Ship Strike 2 Pneumonia, Parasitic and Bacterial 1 Pneumonia, Bacterial 1 (Meningo)encephalitis 1 Not Established 1

Short-beaked common dolphin Live Stranding 11 By-catch 7 Starvation 3 Physical Trauma (unidentified cause) 3 Physical Trauma, Boat/Ship Strike 2 Bottlenose Dolphin Attack 1 Gastritis &/or Enteritis 1 Neonatal Death 1 Pneumonia, Parasitic and Bacterial 1 Others 1

Long-finned pilot whale Live Stranding 17 Others 1

Striped dolphin Live Stranding 4 (Meningo)encephalitis 2 Physical Trauma (unidentified cause) 2 Generalised Bacterial Infection 1

Bottlenose dolphin Generalised Bacterial Infection 1 Others 1 (Meningo)encephalitis 1 Starvation (neonate) 1 Not Established 1

White-beaked dolphin Live Stranding 2 Starvation 2 Starvation (neonate) 1

Atlantic white-sided dolphin Live Stranding 2 Starvation 2 Others 1

Sperm whale Starvation 2 Entanglement 1

Minke whale Generalised Bacterial Infection 1 Entanglement 1

Fin whale Live Stranding 1 Starvation 1

Killer whale Not Established 1

Pygmy sperm whale Live Stranding 1

Sowerby’s beaked whale Live stranding 1

Cuvier’s beaked whale Physical Trauma, Boat/Ship Strike 1

Sei whale Live Stranding 1

Green turtle Cold Stunned 1

Basking shark Not Established 1


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7 Spatial distribution of cause of death categories

NB Figure legend given overleaf


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Figure 21 Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post-mortem in 2011 and diagnosed to have died as a result of; a) live stranding (n=43) ; b) infectious disease (n=32); c) starvation (n=32, includes nine neonates); d) by-catch and entanglement (n=18); e) violent interactions with bottlenose dolphins (n=8) Spatial distributions of the five main cause of death categories (live-stranding, infectious disease, starvation, by-catch/entanglement and attack from bottlenose dolphins) for 2011 are given in the preceding figures (Figures 21a-21e).


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8 Collaborations and outputs 8.1 Investigations of relationships between environmental contaminants and health status During 2011, Defra funded the analysis of 100 retrospective samples from UK-stranded harbour porpoises (2004-2008) for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS, www.cefas.co.uk/). Combining this new data with older date from 1990-2008 has enabled a near 20-year time series of data for PCBs (n=540), OC pesticides (n=489) and brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs) (n=415) in UK-stranded harbour porpoises (Law et al submitted). Initial results show that concentrations of organochlorine pesticides, HBCD and BDEs are declining. In contrast, PCB concentrations have reached a plateau since 1997 following earlier reductions due to regulation of commercial use. Further reductions in PCB levels in UK waters are likely to take decades. Blubber PCB concentrations are still at toxicologically significant levels in many stranded harbour porpoises (Jepson et al 2005a) and occur at even higher levels in UK-stranded bottlenose dolphins and killer whales (ICES 2010), mainly due to their higher trophic level in marine food chains in these top predator species. Further reductions in PCB inputs into the marine environment are undoubtedly needed to mitigate risk from PCB exposure in these species (ICES 2010, Law et al submitted). Given the concerns about high PCB levels, ASCOBANS funded IoZ to co-ordinate a project to assess PCB exposure in stranded bottlenose dolphins in European waters in 2010. Blubber samples from stranded bottlenose dolphins from UK, Spain and Portugal are currently being analysed for organochlorine contaminants (PCBs). Data will be analysed and a report submitted to the ASCOBANS Secretariat later in 2012. Finally, Defra agreed to fund additional contaminant analyses under a variation to the current contract (MB0111) during 2011. The two small scale projects that were funded are titled “UK-stranded common dolphin contaminant analyses (supporting EU-funded Marie Curie Fellowship “Cetacean Stressors”, awarded to Dr Sinead Murphy)” and “Risk assessment of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure in marine top predators”. Delivery of final reports to Defra for both projects will be linked to Milestone 25 of contract MB0111 (15th April 2014). 8.2 Additional collaborative research activity In addition to the collection, analysis and reporting for the purposes of MB0111/CR0364, samples and data collected by the CSIP since 1990 continue to be used in a number of research collaborations. These currently include; • Dr. Simon Northridge, Sea Mammal Research Unit, Gatty Marine Laboratory,

University of St. Andrews, St Andrews, Fife. Teeth and stomach contents from cetaceans stranded in England and Wales are routinely sent for teeth ageing and stomach content analysis respectively. This biological data from UK stranded


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cetaceans forms an integral part of additional Defra-funded research on cetacean by-catch co-ordinated by the Sea Mammal Research Unit.

• Robin Law, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, UK. Marine contaminant studies on UK stranded cetaceans.

• Dr. Ailsa Hall, Sea Mammal Research Unit, Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St. Andrews, St Andrews, Fife. Blubber samples from a range of stranded cetaceans provided, to aid a Masters project aiming to identify how the lipid content of the blubber of a number of different odontocete species varies across its body.

• Dr Ailsa Hall, , Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St. Andrews, St Andrews, Fife. Tissue, urine and faeces samples sent for screening for biotoxins. The potential for algal toxins to detrimentally impact marine mammal populations is a focus of investigation at SAC and SMRU.

• Dr. Sinead Murphy, Coastal Marine Research Group, Massey University, Aukland, New Zealand and Institute of Zoology, London, UK. A three year EU-funded Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowship for Dr Sinead Murphy entitled “The independent and interactive effects of multiple stressors on reproduction and development in cetaceans” (Cetacean Stressors) was awarded to the Institute of Zoology, to compare common dolphins from two geographically separated populations (UK and New Zealand) exhibiting similar life history parameters.

• Dr. Mark Dagleish, Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0PZ, Scotland. Neurohistopathological studies on cetacean tissues from Scottish cetaceans. Several additional collaborative studies currently active using data and samples from the CSIP archive, including assessment of a glycogen storage myopathy in deep diving species, the vectoral role of helminths in Brucella sp. transmission and improving immunohistochemical diagnostic techniques.

• Dr. Graham Pierce, University of Aberdeen, School of Biological Science, Oceanlab, George Street, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YJ. Collaboration on life history, dietary and toxicological studies of harbour porpoises and other cetaceans stranded in Scotland.

• Professor Antonio Fernandez, Facultad de Veterinaria Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Pathological investigations into gas and fat embolism in cetaceans. Immunohistochemical investigations of intracytoplasmic inclusions in cetacean hepatocytes. Immunohistochemical studies of muscle fibre types and interstitial skeletal muscle fat globules in shallow and deep-diving cetaceans.

• Dr. Judy Stack, Brucella Section, Veterinary Laboratories Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB. Serological studies to assess exposure to Brucella spp. and typing of Brucella isolates.

• Dr John Pinnegar, CEFAS Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT. Stable isotopes analyses of pinniped and harbour porpoise tissues from the central and southern North Sea as part of a Defra-funded R&D project (MF0323) centred on the Dogger Bank and central North Sea and looking at the importance of sandeels to various predators (mostly bird and fish).

• Dr. Andrew Kitchener, Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland. Recording all marine mammal stranding events in Scotland. Marine mammal skulls and scapulae are sent to Dr. Kitchener for marine mammal morphometric studies.


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• Gilles Vergnaud, University of South Paris, CNRS, UMR8621, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Orsay 91405, France. Molecular typing of Brucella isolates.

• Dr Marc Gottschling, Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, AG Stockfleth/Nindl, Charitéplatz 1, D - 10117 Berlin, Germany. Samples of UK stranded cetaceans have been supplied to contribute to a molecular investigation of the diversity and evolution of papillomaviruses.

• Dr Eva Krupp, University of Aberdeen, Chemistry Department, Aberdeen. Collaborative study with SAC to study of total metal content, methylmercury and fat soluble arsenic compounds in tissue samples from stranded cetaceans. (initial screen on pilot whale MSE). The metal analysis is a proxy for environmental pollution, but may also help to assess nutritional status of the animals regarding essential elements like Zinc or Selenium. Combined with methylmercury/mercury speciation analysis and arsenic and its metabolites provides a valuable overview over some known contaminants impacting on health.

• Lilian Lieber, Zoology Building, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen. MASTS Prize PhD Student working on seascape genomics and spatial ecology of basking sharks. Research focuses on shark genetics, health and movement and how this respond to oceanic pollution, as well as changes in sea surface temperature and associated shifts in primary productivity. Data from stranded sharks contributed to this work.

• Dr Ruth Fernandez, Centre for Geogenetics, University of Copenhagen,1350 Copenhagen. Samples from CSIP archive provided for work investigating the effects of climate change on habitat connectivity and gene flow between populations of marine top predators using landscape genetics. The project aims to provide a better understanding of the genetic history, habitat connectivity and gene flow within the global populations of cool water apex predators of Lagenorhynchus spp., in order to investigate how climate change may affect the conservation of the species in the NE Atlantic

• Dr Marc Jones, Research Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London. Marine turtle anatomy and skeletal morphology.

• Dr Rus Hoelzel, University of Durham. Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham DH1 3LE, UK. Conservation genetics and phylogeography of Lagenorhynchus spp. and the harbour porpoise.

8.3 2011 Publications • Ayling, R.D., Bashiruddin, S., Davison, N.J., Foster, G., Dagleish, M.P. and

Nicholas, R.A.J. (2011) The occurrence of Mycoplasma phocicerebrale, Mycoplasma phocidae, and Mycoplasma phocirhinis in grey and common Seals (Halichoerus grypus and Phoca vitulina) in the United Kingdom. Journal of Wildlife Disease, 47(2), pp. 471-475

• Bernaldo de Quirós, Y., González-Díaz, Ó., Saavedra, P., Arbelo, M., Sierra, E., Sacchini, S., Jepson, P.D., Mazzariol, S., Di Guardo, G. and Fernández, A. (2011) Methodology for in situ gas sampling, transport and laboratory analysis of gases from stranded cetaceans. Scientific Reports 1 doi:10.1038/srep00193

• Davison, N.J., Perrett, L.L., Law, R.J., Dawson, C.E., Stubberfield, E.J., Monies, R.J., Deaville, R. and Jepson, P.D. (2011) Infection with Brucella ceti and high


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levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) stranded in southwest England. Veterinary Record doi: 10.1136/vr.d2714.

• Deaville, R. (compiler) (2011) UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme annual report, 2010 (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=FINALUKCSIPAnnualReport2010.pdf)

• Deaville, R. and Jepson P.D. (compilers) (2011) UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme Final report for the period 1st January 2005-31st December 2010 (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=FinalCSIPReport2005-2010_finalversion061211released[1].pdf)

• Foote, A.D., Vilstrup, J.T., De Stephanis, R., Verborgh, P., Abel Nielsen, S.C., Deaville, R., Kleivane, L., Martin, V., Miller, P.J.O., Oien, N., Perez-Gil, M., Rasmussen, M., Reid, R.J., Robertson, K.M., Rogan, E., Simila, T., Tejedor, M.L., Vester, H., Vikingsson, G.A., Willerslev, E., Gilbert, M.T.P. and Piertney, S.B. (2011) Genetic differentiation among North Atlantic killer whale populations. Mol. Ecol. 20(3):629-641

• Foster, G., Higgins, R., Leclair, D., Korczak, B.M., Mikaelian, I., Patterson, I.A., Kuhnert, P. (2011) Proposal of Bisgaardia hudsonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. and an additional genomospecies, isolated from seals, as new members of the family Pasteurellaceae. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 61:12, 3016-22

• Gottschling, M., Bravo, I.G., Schulz, E., Bracho, M.A., Deaville, R., Jepson, P.D., Van Bressem, M.F., Stockfleth, E. and Nindl, I. (2011) Modular organizations of novel cetacean papillomaviruses Mol. Phyl. Evol. 59:1, 34-42

• Hooker, S.K., Fahlman, A., Moore, M.J., Aguilar de Soto, N., Bernaldo de Quiros, Y., Brubakk, A.O., Costa, D.P., Costidis, A.M., Dennison, S., Falke, K.J., Fernandez, A., Ferrigno, M., Fitz-Clarke, J.R., Garner, M.M., Houser, D.S., Jepson, P.D., Ketten, D.R., Kvadsheim, P.H., Madsen, P.T., Pollock, N.W., Rotstein, D.S., Rowles, T.K., Simmons, S.E., Van Bonn, W., Weathersby, P.K., Weise, M.J., Williams, T.M. and Tyack, P.L. (2011) Deadly diving? Physiological and behavioural management of decompression stress in diving mammals. Proc. Roy. Soc. B. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2011.2088

• Lambert E, MacLeod CD, Hall K, Brereton T, Dunn, T.E., Wall, D., Jepson, P.D., Deaville, R., Pierce, G.J. (2011) Quantifying likely cetacean range shifts in response to global climatic change: implications for conservation strategies in a changing world. Endang Species Res 15: 205–222.

• McCarthy, A.J., Shaw, M.A, Jepson P.D., Brasseur, S.M.J.M., Reijnders, P.J. H. and Goodman, S.J. (2011) Variation in European harbour seal immune response genes and susceptibility to phocine distemper virus (PDV). Infection, Genetics and Evolution 11, 1616 – 1623

• Murphy, S., Deaville, R., Monies, R.J., Davison, N. and Jepson, P.D. (2011) True hermaphroditism: First evidence of an ovotestis in a cetacean species. Journal of Comparative Pathology 144, 195-199.

• Penrose, R.S. (2011). Marine Mammal & Marine Turtle Strandings (Welsh Coast) Annual Report 2010 (http://www.strandings.com/Graphics%20active/2010%20Marine%20Mammal%20Strandings%20Annual%20Report.pdf)

• Penrose, R.S. and Gander, L.R. (2011). UK & Republic of Ireland Marine Turtle Strandings & Sightings Annual Report 2010 (http://www.strandings.com/Graphics%20active/2010%20Turtle%20Strandings%20Report.pdf)


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8.4 2011 Conference abstracts • Barnett, J., Deaville, R., Brownlow, A., Reid, R., Patterson, T., Simpson. V.,

Baker, J., and Jepson, P. (2011) The role of pathology in defining live cetaceans stranding response in the UK. Proceedings of the 25th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, Cadiz, Spain, 21st-23rd March 2011.

• Brownlow, A., Baker, J., Barnett, J., Chimonides, J., Foster, G., Davison, N., Deaville, R., Law, R., Loveridge, J., Patterson, T., Penrose, R., Reid, R., Simpson. V., Turk, S. and Jepson, P. (2011) The porpoise of surveillance: review of 20 years of harbour porpoise strandings in the UK. Proceedings of the 25th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, Cadiz, Spain, 21st-23rd March 2011.

• Davison, N., Perrett, L., Law, R., Dawson, C., Stubberfield, E., Monies, B., Deaville, R., and Jepson, P. (2011) Infection with Brucella ceti and high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) stranded on the southwest coast of England. Proceedings of the 25th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, Cadiz, Spain, 21st-23rd March 2011.

• Deaville, R., Baker, J., Barley, J., Brownlow, A., Barnett, J., Brownlow, A., Chimonides, J., Davison, N., Law, R., Loveridge, J., Monies, B., Patterson, T., Penrose, R., Perkins, M., Reid, R., Ross, H., Simpson. V., Turk, S. and Jepson, P. (2011) The UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme- 20 years of research into strandings. Proceedings of the 25th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, Cadiz, Spain, 21st-23rd March 2011.

• Dolman, S., Hodgins, N., Deaville, R., Jepson, P., Baker, J., Penrose, R. and Reid, R. (2011) Risso’s dolphin strandings in the British Isles. Proceedings of the 25th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, Cadiz, Spain, 21st-23rd March 2011.

• Jepson, P.D., Deaville, R., Bernaldo de Quiros, Y., Patterson, T., Sierra, E., Pocknell, A.M., Godinho, A., Ross, H., Saccini, S., Baker, J.R., Arbelo, M, Reid, R.J., de la Fuente, J., Colloff, A., Davison, N., Penrose, R., Perkins, M., Cunningham, A.A. and Fernandez, A. (2011) A 20 year review of acute and chronic gas and fat embolic lesions in UK-stranded cetaceans: cetacean decompression sickness? Proceedings of the 25th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, Cadiz, Spain, 21st-23rd March 2011.

• Law, R., Bersuder, P., Barber, J., Bolam, T., Deaville, R., Reid, R. and Jepson, P. (2011) UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme: 20 years of contaminant studies. Proceedings of the 25th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, Cadiz, Spain, 21st-23rd March 2011.

• Ryan, C., Berrow, S., McHugh, B., Harrod, C., Minto, C., Deaville, R., O’Connor, I. And McGrath, D. (2011) Stable isotope analysis of baleen whale skin and blubber: a model for lipid normalization of δ13C. Proceedings of the 25th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, Cadiz, Spain, 21st-23rd March 2011.


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8.5 CSIP Leaflet During 2011, work was completed on a new CSIP leaflet, funded during 2010-11 under the one year extension period of the previous contract (CR0364). The leaflet was updated from a previous version prepared by the CSIP consortium and aimed to publicise the work of the programme in the UK, as well as promoting more effective reporting of strandings to the consortium. To that end, a new free-phone contact number was also launched (0800 652 0333), connecting to a menu based system that links up to the variety of reporting arrangements that exist in each country. Leaflets were produced in a folded A3 format, with species ID chart on one side and contact details, logos and updated information on the project and what to do in the event of finding a stranded cetacean on the other. The leaflet was officially launched at the end of 2011, coinciding with the release of the CSIP final report for the period 2005-2010 (Deaville and Jepson, 2011). An initial print run of 20 000 copies was prepared and roll out continues around the UK. The leaflet is shown in Appendix 1 and can also be directly downloaded from the CSIP site- www.ukstrandings.org/CSIP_leaflet.pdf As part of the leaflet launch, a CSIP Facebook page was also set up in an effort to further promote the reporting of strandings in the UK and the dissemination of information arising from the project to the wider public.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cetacean-Strandings-Investigation-Programme-UK-strandings/142706582438320 9 References

• Brereton, T.M., Williams, A.D., and Williams, R. (1999) Distribution and relative abundance of the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) in the Bay of Biscay. Proceedings of the 13th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, Valencia, Spain, 5th-8th April 1999.

• Deaville, R. and Jepson, P.D. (compilers) (2011) UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme Final report for the period 1st January 2005-31st December 2010 (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=FinalCSIPReport2005-2010_finalversion061211released[1].pdf)

• Deaville, R. (compiler) (2011) UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme annual report, 2010

(http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=FINALUKCSIPAnnualReport2010.pdf • ICES. 2010. Report of the Working Group on Marine Mammal Ecology (WGMME), 12-

15 April 2010, Horta, The Azores. ICES CM 2010/ACOM:24. 212 pp. (www.ices.dk/reports/ACOM/2010/WGMME/wgmme_final_2010.pdf)

• Jepson, P.D. and Deaville. R. (2009) Investigation of the common dolphin mass stranding event in Cornwall, 9th June 2008. Final report to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 29pp. (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=WC0601_8031_TRP.pdf)

• Jepson, P.D., Bennett, P.M., Deaville, R., Allchin, C.R., Baker, J.R., Law, R.J. (2005a) Relationships between polychlorinated biphenyls and health status in harbor porpoises


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(Phocoena phocoena) stranded in the United Kingdom. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 24, 238-248.

• Jepson, P.D. (editor (2005) Cetacean Strandings Investigation and Co-ordination in the UK 2000-2004. Final report to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 79pp. (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=WP01011_8244_FRP.pdf)

• Jepson, P.D. and Baker, J.R. (1998) Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) as a possible cause of acute traumatic injuries in porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Veterinary Record 143:614-615.

• Kuiken, T. (Editor) (1996) Diagnosis of By-catch in cetaceans. Proceedings of the Second ECS Workshop on cetacean pathology, Montpelier, France, 2 March 1994.

• Kuiken, T., Simpson, V.R., Allchin, C.R., Bennett, P.M., Codd, G.A., Harris, E.A., Howes, G.J., Kennedy, S., Kirkwood, J.K., Merrett, N.R. and Phillips, S. (1994) Mass-mortality of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in south west England due to incidental capture in fishing gear. Veterinary Record 134:81-89.

• Kuiken, T. and Garcia Hartmann, M. (eds.) (1991) Proceedings of the first European Cetacean Society workshop on cetacean pathology: dissection techniques and tissue sampling. ECS newsletter 17, Special issue: 39pp

• Law, R.J., Barry, J., Barber, J.L., Bersuder, P., Deaville, R., Reid, R.J., Brownlow, A., Penrose, R., Barnett, J., Loveridge, J., Smith, B. and Jepson, P.D. Contaminants in cetaceans from UK waters: status as assessed within the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme from 1990 to 2008. (submitted for publication)

• Law, R.J. (1994). (Compiler). Collaborative UK marine mammal project: summary of data produced 1988-1992. Fisheries Research Technical Report, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Directorate of Fisheries Research, Lowestoft, (97), 42 pp.

• Penrose, R.S. & Gander, L.R. (2012). UK & Republic of Ireland Marine Turtle Strandings & Sightings Annual Report 2011 (http://www.strandings.com/Graphics%20active/2011%20Turtle%20Strandings%20Report.pdf)

• Penrose, R.S. & Gander, L.R. (2009). UK & Republic of Ireland Marine Turtle Strandings & Sightings Annual Report 2008 (http://www.strandings.com/Graphics%20active/2008%20Turtle%20Strandings%20Report.pdf)

• Reid, J.B., Evans, P.G.H., and Northridge, S.P. (2003) Atlas of Cetacean distribution in north-west European waters. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. (http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2713)

• Ross, H.M. and Wilson, B. (1996) Violent interactions between bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 263:283-286.

• Work, T.M. (2000) Sea turtle necropsy manual for biologist in remote refuges. USGS national Wildlife Health Centre Necropsy manuals. (www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/necropsy_manuals/Sea_Turtle_Necropsy_Manual-English.pdf)

• Wyneken, J. (2001) The Anatomy of Sea Turtles. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-470 (http://courses.science.fau.edu/~jwyneken/sta/SeaTurtleAnatomy.pdf)


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10 Glossary of Terms and Acronyms Acute Rapid onset Aetiology The cause of the disease AHVLA Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency BDMLR British Divers Marine Life Rescue By-catch Incidental catch of non-target species during fishing activity Chronic Refers to a persistent, lasting or slow developing disease. CCW Countryside Council for Wales Cold stunned When marine turtles (hard shell species only) become lethargic or comatose following exposure to a drop in temperature CSIP UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme CWTMSN Cornish Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network Defra The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Devolved Administrations The devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales (Scottish Government and Welsh Government) Dystocia Difficulty encountered during the act or process of giving birth Encephalitis Inflammation of the brain. Often viral in origin Enteropathy Disease or abnormality of the intestinal tract Epizootic A rapidly spreading disease which affects a large number of animals in a particular region at the same time Gastropathy Disease or abnormality of the stomach/s Histology The study of tissue sectioned as a thin slice IoZ Institute of Zoology JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee Mass stranding When two or more cetaceans (excluding mother-calf pairs) of the same species strand at the same time and location MEM Marine Environmental Monitoring Meningitis Inflammation of the meninges, the three membranes covering the brain and spinal cord Meningoencephalitis Infection/inflammation of the meninges and/or brain Morphometric The measurement of shapes or forms MSE Mass stranding event Neoplasia The formation of a tumour NHM Natural History Museum OCs Organochlorine pesticides (e.g. DDT’s, dieldrin etc) Pathology The science/study of the origin, nature and course of disease PBDEs Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, a class of compounds used predominantly as flame retardants PCBs Polychlorinated biphenyls (organochlorine pollutants) PMEs Post-mortem examinations PSG CSIP Project Steering Group SAC Scottish Agricultural College (Inverness) SG Scottish Government SMRU Sea Mammal Research Unit Sympatric Occupying the same/overlapping regions without interbreeding Toxicology The science or study of poisons UME Unusual Mortality Event. Defined within the US MMPA as “A stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response”. WG Welsh Government Zoonosis Infectious disease of animals that can be transmitted to humans


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11 Acknowledgments We would like to acknowledge the continued support and funding of the CSIP by Defra, Welsh Assembly Government, Scottish Government and Countryside Council for Wales. We would also like to thank the members of the CSIP Steering Group, particularly the contract managers within Defra (Carole Kelly) and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (Eunice Pinn, Kelly Macleod and Mark Tasker) for their comments, advice and support during the period of this report. The success of the CSIP relies heavily upon the efforts of a countless number of individuals and organisations. We would like to acknowledge and thank the Receiver of Wreck, Alison Kentuck and her deputy Rebecca Tye, along with staff of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for their continued help and assistance with strandings over the last year. Within England, Jan and Jeff Loveridge and other members of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust have given endless and unstinting help with the coordination and reporting of cetacean strandings in Cornwall for many years, along with support from Dr. Nick Tregenza. Given the high density of cetacean strandings in SW England, their individual and collective contribution has been immense. In Devon, the staff of Devon Wildlife Trust and Lindy Hingley, have been equally helpful in the reporting of a large number of strandings and the collection of carcasses for post-mortem examination. We would also like to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of the Durlston Marine Project and Hampshire Wildlife Trust for assistance with strandings in Dorset and Hampshire. In Wales, Dr. Mandy McMath (CCW) and Robin Pratt have given enormous support to strandings research along with Jemma and Ray Lerwill, Paul Newman, Lin Gander, Nia Jones, Sal Shipley and Gerry Jones. We would also like to thank and acknowledge; Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group for providing information on strandings in Northern Ireland; Laura Hanley and Fiona Gell from the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture (Isle of Man Government) for providing information on strandings in the Isle of Man; and Environment Department (States of Jersey) for strandings in the Channel Islands. Pathologists contributing significantly to the research in the UK include James Barnett and Adrian Colloff (AHVLA Truro) and Dr. John Baker and Dr. Julian Chantrey (University of Liverpool). Nick Davison (AHVLA Truro) has been a huge asset to cetacean research in Cornwall and is undoubtedly one of the foremost authorities on marine mammal bacteriology in the UK. As a result of internal changes within the AHVLA, Nick has had to move posts to AHVLA Starcross in Devon- we wish him all the very best of luck with his new position and look forward to many more years of collaborative work together on strandings. Within IoZ, Dr Andrew Cunningham, Shaheed Macgregor, Shinto John and Professors Tim Blackburn, Georgina Mace and Bill Holt have given considerable support to the development of research on UK strandings. Robin Law and colleagues at the CEFAS Lowestoft Laboratory have conducted extensive toxicological analyses of UK strandings, leading to the production of one of the world’s largest datasets on marine contaminants in cetaceans. In Scotland, Geoff Foster has given invaluable support to the CSIP at SAC Inverness and Dr. Mark Dagleish at the Moredun Research Institute has conducted neurohistopathological studies on cetacean tissues from Scottish cetaceans for many years. Professor Graham Pierce at Aberdeen University


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continues to support research on Scottish stranded cetaceans by conducting examination of stomach contents, teeth (for ageing) and gonads. Staff at the National Museums of Scotland also provide assistance, with identification of species using voucher material. We would also like to acknowledge the following colleagues for their ongoing collaboration on research into cetacean gas embolism: Antonio Fernandez (ULPGC), Dorian Houser (Biomimetica), Sam Ridgway (SPAWAR), Michael Moore and Peter Tyack (WHOI). Many individuals and organisations have assisted with the reporting and collection of stranded carcasses for post-mortem examination during 2011, including staff of coastal local government authorities as well as members of the public and our grateful thanks go to them all. A number of non Governmental organisations including the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, British Diver’s Marine Life Rescue, RSPCA, Seawatch Foundation, WWF-UK and Marine Connection are also acknowledged for their continued support of the research conducted by the CSIP. Finally, it is with sadness that we bid farewell to Bob Reid, who has recently departed from SAC Inverness. Bob was the strandings coordinator in Scotland for over 20 years and as well as being one of the longest serving members of the CSIP consortium, had also made a considerable contribution to strandings research in the UK. We wish him all the best for the future.


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12 Appendix 1 CSIP leaflet


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Report strandings in the UK on 0800 652 0333

Additional information on the CSIP can be found at www.ukstrandings.org


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13 Appendix 2 Carcass selection criteria for post-mortem examination of UK stranded cetaceans This appendix relates to UK stranded cetaceans only and does not analyse UK stranded marine turtles or basking sharks, of which a relatively small number of annual examinations take place. The figures presented here are intended to act as guidelines only and should in no way be viewed as exact requirements. Introduction Following external review of the CSIP in 2005 by Crane and Shepherd3, a number of recommendations were made, including that the number of cetacean post-mortem examinations (PME’s) conducted in any one year should be capped at 100 per year and that a limit should be set on the annual number of PME’s that might be carried out on any one species (see below). Because of this cap, a means of selecting carcasses for PME needed to be implemented, that would take into account both spatial and temporal variation in annual strandings. Following discussion within the CSIP steering group, the following additional recommendations were also made;

• Post-mortems should be undertaken annually on 55-65 harbour porpoise, 15-20 common dolphins and 10-25 other species, with a maximum of 100 post-mortems in any one year

• Annual post-mortem examination limits should be set to 55 in England,

25 in Scotland and 20 in Wales

• Indeterminate strandings should not be counted when any allocation of regional post-mortem examinations is made

• Any carcass sampling rationale should be subject to review annually

including an analysis by species, area and month using a rolling 5 year mean and included as an appendix in the annual report

To that end, this appendix analyses aggregated cetacean stranding data for the UK (England, Scotland and Wales) for the calendar years 2007-2011 inclusively. The five regions corresponding with previous Defra reports (e.g. Deaville and Jepson 20114 and Figure 5 of this report) were used to calculate the range of regional PME’s that should be undertaken on harbour porpoises, common dolphins and other species. These ranges were then related to aggregated monthly stranding data over the last five year period to arrive at a range of recommended PME’s of each group that could be carried out in each area in each month of 2012.

3 www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/resprog/findings/cetaceanstrand-review/index.htm 4 http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=FinalCSIPReport2005-2010_finalversion061211released[1].pdf


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Strandings data analysis 2007-2011 During the five year period between 2007 and 2011, the CSIP received reports of 2604 cetaceans. Of these, 58 were excluded from this analysis as they had either stranded in Northern Ireland (n=36), the Isle of Man (n=16) or the Channel Islands (n=6). In addition, reports were also excluded of cetaceans that had live stranded and subsequently refloated (n=80) or that had been found floating at sea (n=77) or had been retrieved directly from fishing vessels (n=4). Of the remaining 2385 stranding reports, 1137 were found in England, 713 in Scotland and 535 in Wales. Table 9 shows the number of reported strandings in each country together with the number of strandings where the species was identified and the number of strandings where the species could not be determined. Table 9 Reported strandings in England, Scotland and Wales 2007-2011 (aggregated data) Country Total strandings Strandings of

indeterminate species

Strandings of known species

Proportion of known species stranding

England 1137 119 1018 0.48 Scotland 713 60 653 0.31 Wales 535 93 442 0.21 Total 2385 272 2113 Consequently, the current allocation of PME’s of 55 to England, 25 to Scotland and 20 to Wales under contract MB0111 are not entirely supported by the aggregated data from the last five year period and may need to be revised during any future period of funding. Regional distribution of post-mortem examinations The following three sections describe how the spatial/temporal allocation of post-mortem examinations of UK stranded harbour porpoises, common dolphins and other cetacean species for 2012 have been arrived at and may aid more effective decision making on where and when to retrieve a stranding for post-mortem examination. It should be stressed again that the data presented in Tables 10-15 are intended to act as guidelines only and should in no way be viewed as exact requirements. NB As in the above section, data presented in the following sections exclude reports of animals floating at sea, those retrieved directly from fishing vessels, live stranded animals that were subsequently refloated and strandings from Northern Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.


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Harbour porpoises Table 10 Regional harbour porpoise stranding data (2007-2011) in relation to the current limits of 55-65 annual PME’s West

coast Southwest Channel East

coastScotland TOTAL

2007 100 37 11 59 46 253 2008 88 43 7 53 61 252 2009 81 41 10 46 56 234 2010 80 34 5 62 60 241 2011 107 53 23 76 52 311 Total 456 208 56 296 275 1291 Annual mean (+/-1SD)

91 (11.9)

42(7.3)

11(7.0)

59(11.2)

55 (6.2)

258 (30.6)

Lower limit (55) 19 9 2 13 12 55 Upper limit (65) 23 10 3 15 14 65 i.e. the following range of PME’s may be carried out on harbour porpoises that strand in each region of the UK in 2012

• Wales and English west coast: 19-23; • Southwest England: 9-10; • English Channel: 2-3; • English east coast: 13-15; and • Scotland: 12-14.

Table 11 Recommended 2012 allocation of harbour porpoise PME’s by area and month, based on 2007-2011 reported stranding data Month West Coast,

Wales and England

Southwest England

English Channel

East coast, England

Scotland

January 0-1 2-3 0-1 0-1 0-1February 0-1 1-2 0-1 0-1 0-1March 0-1 0-1 0-1 2-3 2-3April 0-1 0-1 0-1 2-3 2-3May 2-3 0-1 0-1 0-1 1-2June 3-4 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1July 2-3 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1August 2-3 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1September 1-2 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1October 1-2 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1November 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1December 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1Area allocation

19-23 9-10 2-3 13-15 12-14


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Common dolphins Table 12 Regional common dolphin stranding data (2007-2011) in relation to the current limits of 15-20 annual PME’s West


coastScotland TOTAL

2007 13 58 10 0 5 86 2008 14 68 6 1 3 92 2009 9 37 1 0 3 50 2010 7 24 0 0 4 35 2011 11 56 4 0 13 84 Total 54 243 21 1 28 347 Annual mean (+/- 1SD)

11 (2.9)

49(17.7)

4(4.0)

1(0.4)

6(4.2)

69 (25.3)

Lower limit (15) 2 11 0 0 1 15 Upper limit (20) 3 14 1 1 2 20 NB common dolphins that died during the mass stranding event (MSE) in Cornwall, June 2008 have been included in this analysis i.e. the following range of PME’s may be carried out on common dolphins that strand in each region of the UK in 2012

• Wales and English west coast: 2-3; • Southwest England: 11-14; • English Channel: 0-1; • English east coast: 0-1; and • Scotland: 1-2.

Table 13 Recommended 2012 allocation of common dolphin PME’s by area and month, based on 2007-2011 reported stranding data Month West Coast,

Wales and England

Southwest England

English Channel

East coast, England

Scotland

January 0-1 3-4 0-1 0-1 0-1February 0-1 1-2 0-1 0-1 0-1March 0-1 3-4 0-1 0-1 0-1April 0-1 1-2 0-1 0-1 0-1May 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1June 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1July 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1August 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1September 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1October 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1November 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1December 0-1 1-2 0-1 0-1 0-1Area allocation

2-3 11-14 0-1 0-1 1-2


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Other species Table 14 Regional stranding data for other cetacean species, excluding harbour porpoises, common dolphins and strandings of indeterminate identity (2007-2011) in relation to the current limits of 10-25 annual PME’s West


coastScotland TOTAL

2007 10 8 3 7 72 100 2008 4 9 4 6 92 115 2009 13 6 2 7 56 84 2010 3 2 1 7 43 56 2011 7 10 1 13 87 118 Total 37 35 11 40 350 473 Annual mean (+/- 1SD)

7 (4.2)

7(3.2)

2(1.3)

8(2.8)

70(20.6)

95 (25.5)

Lower limit (10) 1 1 0 1 7 10 Upper limit (25) 2 2 1 2 18 25 i.e. the following range of PME’s may be carried out on other cetacean species that strand in each region of the UK in 2012

• Wales and English west coast: 1-2; • southwest England: 1-2; • English Channel: 0-1; • English east coast: 1-2; and • Scotland: 7-18.

Table 15 Recommended 2012 allocation of other cetacean species PME’s by area and month, based on 2007-2011 reported stranding data Month West Coast,

Wales and England

Southwest England

English Channel

East coast, England

Scotland

January 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 February 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 March 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 April 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 May 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 June 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 2-3 July 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 2-3 August 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 2-3 September 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 October 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 November 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 December 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 1-2 Area allocation

1-2 1-2 0-1 1-2 7-18


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14 Appendix 3 Marine litter ingestion and/or entanglement Implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the UK (http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine/msfd/) has led to much recent attention on the issue of litter in the marine environment (indicator 10). Consequently, the project steering group requested that the CSIP summarise findings of marine litter ingestion and/or entanglement in UK stranded animals which were subjected to post-mortem examination, to determine whether this may be an issue of concern. Table 16 summarises evidence of marine litter ingestion or entanglement in 159 cetaceans, one basking shark and one marine turtle which were examined at post-mortem in the UK during 2011. Table 16 Marine litter ingestion or entanglement in strandings examined at post-mortem in the UK during 2011 Species PMEs Marine litter

ingestion Marine litter entanglement

Harbour porpoise 74 2 0 Short-beaked common dolphin 31 0 0 Long-finned pilot whale 18 0 0 Striped dolphin 9 0 0 Bottlenose dolphin 5 0 0 White beaked dolphin 5 0 0 Atlantic white-sided dolphin 5 0 0 Sperm whale 3 0 1 Minke whale 2 1 1 Fin whale 2 0 0 Killer whale 1 0 0 Sowerby’s beaked whale 1 0 0 Pygmy sperm whale 1 0 0 Cuvier’s beaked whale 1 1 0 Sei whale 1 0 0 Green turtle 1 0 0 Basking shark 1 0 0 Total 161 4 2 NB PMEs- post-mortem examinations Two large pieces of plastic were found in the fore stomach of a Cuvier’s beaked whale examined at post-mortem in Cornwall (SW2017/97, Plate 11). A fish hook and small fragment of plastic was found in the stomach of a minke whale (SW2011/589, Plate 12). A crisp packet fragment was found in the stomach of a harbour porpoise (SW2011/101) and a small fragment of rubber was found in the stomach of a harbour porpoise (SW2011/169, Plate 13). No other evidence of marine litter ingestion was found in any of the other examined individuals. None of the cases where evidence of plastic/litter ingestion was found resulted in any significant pathological impact on the


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animal and had no relationship to the cause of death (i.e. was an incidental finding). Consistent with data presented in the final report for the period 2005-2010 (Deaville and Jepson, 2011), there is additional evidence that ingestion of marine litter may be more prevalent in deep diving species like members of the Ziphiidae family, possibly reflecting the relative risk of litter ingestion as a result of specific feeding strategies for target prey species in these cetaceans. However, both the numbers of PME’s and recorded cases of litter ingestion in Ziphiidae are relatively low and this may be a confounding factor. A stranded sperm whale examined at post-mortem in Scotland in 2011 (SW2011/586) had evidence of deep lacerations on the head in a cross-hatch pattern, possibly consistent with entanglement. A stranded minke whale also examined at post-mortem in Scotland (SW2011/142) had findings consistent with an acute entanglement through the jaw and along the flank. No foreign body was found on either stranding and it was not possible to conclude whether the whales had been entangled in fishing gear (set or discarded) or marine litter. No other evidence of entanglement in marine litter was found in any of the other examined individuals.

Plate 11 Plastic material found in stomach of Cuvier’s beaked whale (SW2011/97) (image credit Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network)

Plate 13 Fragment of rubber found in cardiac stomach of a harbour porpoise (SW2011/169, image credit CSIP/ZSL)

Plate 12 Fish hook found in cardiac stomach of a minke whale (SW2011/589, image credit CSIP/ZSL)

15 APPENDIX 4 Summary of causes of death of UK-stranded cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks examined at post-mortem during 2011 National Ref. PM Number Species (scientific) Sex Length Date Location Local Authority Region Cause of DeathSW2011/16 M001/11 Phocoena phocoena F 160 02/01/11 Port Bannatyne Argyll and Bute Scotland pulmonary calcification (Klebsiella pneumoniae ssp. pneumoniae) SW2011/18 M004/11 Stenella coeruleoalba M 161 06/01/11 Crail Harbour Fife Scotland live stranding SW2011/2 M45/01/11 Delphinus delphis F 166 08/01/11 Marazion Beach Cornwall South-west enteritis (Clostridium perfringens) SW2011/10 XT038/11 Delphinus delphis F 197 11/01/11 Hope Cove Devon South-west live stranding SW2011/20 M006/11 Stenella coeruleoalba M 152 11/01/11 Broughty Ferry Tayside Scotland live stranding SW2011/11 XT042/11 Phocoena phocoena M 108 11/01/11 Louisa Bay Kent East coast parasitism, heavy (multiple sites) and physical trauma, acute SW2011/13 XT059/11 Phocoena phocoena M 141 13/01/11 Leigh-on-Sea Southend-on-Sea East coast parasitism, pulmonary (heavy) SW2011/21 XT055/11 Phocoena phocoena F 154 19/01/11 Goldhanger Creek Essex East coast parasitism, pulmonary (heavy) SW2011/24 XT063/11 Phocoena phocoena M 137 21/01/11 Palm Bay Kent East coast necro-purulent pleuropneumonia (Klebsiella oxytoca) SW2011/27 M126/1/11 Delphinus delphis M 195 24/01/11 Porthmeor Beach Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2011/25 XT078/11 Phocoena phocoena M 134 24/01/11 Heacham Norfolk East coast acute physical trauma (atypical/anthropogenic) and chronic blood loss SW2011/31 EXTERNAL Lagenorhynchus albirostris F 150 27/01/11 Druridge Bay Northumberland East coast starvation/hypothermia SW2011/38 XT087/11 Phocoena phocoena F 104 28/01/11 Kingsgate Bay Kent East coast physical trauma, acute SW2011/35 XT1048/11 Phocoena phocoena M 123 28/01/11 Holyhead Anglesey West coast physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin attack SW2011/42 XT196/12 Phocoena phocoena M 120 01/02/11 Tywyn Gwynedd West coast starvation/hypothermia SW2011/44 XT110/11 Phocoena phocoena M 110 02/02/11 Saltburn beach Redcar & Cleveland East coast live stranding SW2011/43 XT102/11 Delphinus delphis M 202 02/02/11 Aberystwyth Ceredigion West coast live stranding SW2011/46 XT103/11 Delphinus delphis F 176 04/02/11 Leas foot Devon South-west physical trauma, acute (boat propeller) SW2011/51 XT115/11 Phocoena phocoena M 101 08/02/11 Salthouse Norfolk East coast acute physical trauma (atypical/anthropogenic) SW2011/55 M66/2/11 Phocoena phocoena M 161 10/02/11 Marazion Cornwall South-west physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin attack SW2011/61 XT132/11 Phocoena phocoena M 132 12/02/11 Hartlepool Hartlepool East coast physical trauma, by-catch SW2011/63 XT118/11 Phocoena phocoena M 155 14/02/11 Goring West Sussex Channel parasitism, pulmonary (heavy) and haemorrhage, pulmonary (acute) SW2011/67 XT399/11 Phocoena phocoena F 129 16/02/11 Nolton Haven Pembrokeshire West coast starvation/hypothermia SW2011/72 XT127/11 Lagenorhynchus albirostris F 206 16/02/11 Chapel St Leonards Lincolnshire East coast starvation/hypothermia SW2011/86 M023/11 Phocoena phocoena M 117 16/02/11 Montrose Angus Scotland physical trauma, acute SW2011/68 M113/2/11 Delphinus delphis M 203 16/02/11 Wallace Beach Cornwall South-west live stranding SW2011/599 11-003320 Phocoena phocoena M 147 17/02/11 Murlough Beach Down N. Ireland septic arthritis and meningitis SW2011/71 XT129/11 Delphinus delphis F 199 17/02/11 River Exe Devon South-west live stranding, possible sequel to by-catch SW2011/89 M026/11 Stenella coeruleoalba M 170 18/02/11 Cairnbulg Aberdeenshire Scotland live stranding SW2011/76 M147/2/11 Delphinus delphis F 196 21/02/11 Gyllyngvase Beach Cornwall South-west physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin attack SW2011/91 M030/11 Phocoena phocoena M 101 22/02/11 Limekilns Fife Scotland starvation/hypothermia SW2011/94 M038/11 Phocoena phocoena M 122 24/02/11 Montrose Bay Angus Scotland pneumonia, parasitic SW2011/95 M039/11 Stenella coeruleoalba F 154 25/02/11 Earlsferry beach Fife Scotland physical trauma SW2011/97 M3/3/11 Ziphius cavirostris F 508 26/02/11 Port Quin Cornwall South-west physical trauma, acute (suspected boat

strike); pleural adhesions; renal parasites


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National Ref. PM Number Species (scientific) Sex Length Date Location Local Authority Region Cause of DeathSW2011/98 M1/3/11 Delphinus delphis M 206 27/02/11 Lushington Cove Cornwall South-west starvation (sequel to gastric impaction) SW2011/99 EXTERNAL Physeter catodon M 1390 03/03/11 Pegwell Bay Kent East coast starvation/hypothermia SW2011/101 XT167/11 Phocoena phocoena M 106 05/03/11 Sandwich bay Kent East coast starvation/hypothermia SW2011/112 M051/11 Phocoena phocoena F 170 07/03/11 Crail Fife Scotland physical trauma and pneumonia, parasitic; subsequent impaired feeding and starvation SW2011/114 M053/11 Tursiops truncatus M 284 11/03/11 Cuthill Sands Highland Scotland meningitis (non-suppurative) SW2011/113 M052/11 Phocoena phocoena F 119 11/03/11 Aberdeen Beach City of Aberdeen Scotland emaciation/starvation (intestinal parasitism) SW2011/107 XT1050/11 Phocoena phocoena M 131 11/03/11 Kingsnorth Kent East coast starvation (sequel to gastric impaction, fish bones) SW2011/136 M058/11 Phocoena phocoena F 162 20/03/11 Loch Sunart Highland Scotland starvation/hypothermia SW2011/137 M059/11 Phocoena phocoena F 105 20/03/11 St Andrews Fife Scotland starvation/hypothermia SW2011/139 M061/11 Phocoena phocoena M 131 23/03/11 Barassie beach North Ayrshire Scotland pneumonia, parasitic SW2011/128 M176/03/11 Phocoena phocoena F 130 28/03/11 Long Rock Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2011/131 XT502/11 Phocoena phocoena M 103 28/03/11 Minnis Bay Kent East coast starvation/hypothermia SW2011/132 XT398/11 Phocoena phocoena M 105 31/03/11 Southend-on-sea Essex East coast physical trauma, acute (possible boat strike) SW2011/143 M068/11 Phocoena phocoena M 116 31/03/11 North Berwick East Lothian Scotland physical trauma, bycatch (possible) SW2011/142 M067/11 Balaenoptera acutorostrata F 466 01/04/11 Green Geo Orkney Scotland physical trauma, entanglement SW2011/149 XT336/11 Phocoena phocoena F 165 06/04/11 Black Rock Sands Gwynedd West coast physical trauma, by-catch SW2011/159 M072/11 Phocoena phocoena M 141 07/04/11 Footdee City of Aberdeen Scotland parasitism, pulmonary and cardiac (heavy) SW2011/150 XT255/11 Delphinus delphis F 212 07/04/11 Harlech Gwynedd West coast live stranding SW2011/160 M073/11 Phocoena phocoena F 104 11/04/11 Limekilns Fife Scotland physical trauma and starvation SW2011/174 M081/11 Phocoena phocoena M 116 22/04/11 Embo Pier Highland Scotland live stranding SW2011/173 M080/11 Tursiops truncatus M 300 23/04/11 West Wemyss Fife Scotland aged animal, cardiac insufficiency SW2011/166 XT138/12 Phocoena phocoena M 145 24/04/11 New Quay Ceredigion West coast starvation (possible sequel to live by- catch) SW2011/169 XT381/11 Phocoena phocoena F 110 29/04/11 Tankerton Bay Kent East coast parasitism, gastric and intestinal (heavy) SW2011/170 XT437/11 Phocoena phocoena F 101 05/05/11 West Mersea Essex East coast physical trauma, acute SW2011/172 M42/5/11 Phocoena phocoena M 83 07/05/11 Sennen Cove Cornwall South-west starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2011/182 XT505/11 Phocoena phocoena F 150 13/05/11 Barmouth Gwynedd West coast physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin attack SW2011/184 XT442/11 Phocoena phocoena M 113 14/05/11 New Quay Ceredigion West coast physical trauma, acute SW2011/185 XT426/11 Tursiops truncatus F 255 14/05/11 Aberaeron Ceredigion West coast generalised bacterial infection (Escherichia coli) SW2011/187 M093/11 Globicephala melas F 451 15/05/11 Garths Voe Shetland Scotland live stranding SW2011/475.1 M096/11a Globicephala melas F 461 21/05/11 Loch Carnan Western Isles Scotland live stranding SW2011/194 XT662/11 Phocoena phocoena F 157 23/05/11 Porth y Rhaw Pembrokeshire West coast physical trauma, acute (possible boat strike)


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National Ref. PM Number Species (scientific) Sex Length Date Location Local Authority Region Cause of DeathSW2011/197 M175/05/11 Phocoena phocoena F 80 26/05/11 Polzeath Cornwall South-west starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2011/199 M107/11 Delphinus delphis M 168 28/05/11 Dornoch Highland Scotland live stranding SW2011/198 EXTERNAL Physeter catodon M 1395 31/05/11 Redcar Redcar & Cleveland East coast starvation SW2011/287 M114/11 Orcinus orca F 495 04/06/11 Little Bernera Highland Scotland not established SW2011/205 XT855/11 Phocoena phocoena F 85 07/06/11 Pembrey Carmarthenshire West coast starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2011/207 XT884/11 Phocoena phocoena M 72 08/06/11 Pendine Carmarthenshire West coast starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2011/275 M123/11 Phocoena phocoena M 152 10/06/11 St. Mary's Orkney Scotland live stranding SW2011/216 XT634/11 Phocoena phocoena F 156 13/06/11 St Ishmael Carmarthenshire West coast physical trauma, by-catch SW2011/245 11-011518 Phocoena phocoena M 59 14/06/11 White Rocks Antrim N. Ireland starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2011/221 XT580/11 Delphinus delphis F 159 17/06/11 Clevedon Somerset South-west live stranding SW2011/224 M140/06/11 Delphinus delphis M 103 25/06/11 Perran Sands Cornwall South-west neonatal death SW2011/227 M141/6/11 Stenella coeruleoalba M 214 27/06/11 Hannafore Point Cornwall South-west cerebral abscess and gastric parasitism (heavy) SW2011/239 XT913/11 Phocoena phocoena M 132 28/06/11 Tresaith Ceredigion West coast physical trauma, acute (suspected bottlenose dolphin attack) SW2011/240 XT609/11 Phocoena phocoena M 76 03/07/11 The Warren Kent East coast starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2011/256 XT658/11 Phocoena phocoena F 97 06/07/11 Danes Dyke East Riding of Yorkshire East coast starvation/hypothermia SW2011/283 M139/11 Tursiops truncatus F 310 09/07/11 Nairn Highland Scotland not established SW2011/252 M35/07/11 Stenella coeruleoalba M 187 09/07/11 Upton Towans Cornwall South-west (meningo)encephalitis (Brucella) SW2011/255 XT1023/11 Phocoena phocoena F 77 09/07/11 Pembrey Carmarthenshire West coast starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2011/295 XT984/11 Delphinus delphis F 207 18/07/11 Settlands Pembrokeshire West coast live stranding SW2011/303.8 M168.8/11 Globicephala melas M 373 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, drowning SW2011/303.1 M168.1/11 Globicephala melas F 457 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, euthanased, extensive rhabdomyolysis SW2011/303.12 M168.12/11 Globicephala melas M 437 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, sand/water aspiration, capture myopathy SW2011/303.5 M168.5/11 Globicephala melas M 530 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, Brucella ceti isolated from pectoral joint and testis SW2011/303.4 M168.4/11 Globicephala melas F 408 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding SW2011/303.9 M168.9/11 Globicephala melas M 555 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, euthanased SW2011/303.13 M168.13/11 Globicephala melas F 413 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, capture myopathy SW2011/303.15 M168.15/11 Globicephala melas M 539 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, capture myopathy SW2011/303.6 M168.6/11 Globicephala melas F 457 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding,myoglobinurea/ capture myopathy SW2011/303.7 M168.7/11 Globicephala melas M 554 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, hyperthermia SW2011/303.3 M168.3/11 Globicephala melas F 438 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, drowning SW2011/303.10 M168.10/11 Globicephala melas F 393 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, drowning SW2011/303.2 M168.2/11 Globicephala melas M 283 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, euthanased SW2011/303.11 M168.11/11 Globicephala melas F 305 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, drowning SW2011/303.14 M168.14/11 Globicephala melas M N/A 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, capture myopathy


65

National Ref. PM Number Species (scientific) Sex Length Date Location Local Authority Region Cause of DeathSW2011/303.16 M168.16/11 Globicephala melas F 445 22/07/11 Kyle of Durness Highland Scotland mass stranding, drowning SW2011/304 M114/7/11 Phocoena phocoena F 170 24/07/11 Kyle of Durness Cornwall South-west physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin attack SW2011/309 M122/7/11 Phocoena phocoena F 149 25/07/11 Droskyn Point Cornwall South-west physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin attack SW2011/305 M121/07/11 Stenella coeruleoalba M 230 25/07/11 Carne Beach Cornwall South-west physical trauma and poor nutritive condition SW2011/318 XT749/11 Lagenorhynchus albirostris M 194 27/07/11 Druridge Bay Northumberland East coast live stranding SW2011/317 M140/7/11 Delphinus delphis M 206 28/07/11 Watergate Bay Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2011/347 EXTERNAL Balaenoptera physalus F 1790 09/08/11 Lynmouth beach Devon South-west starvation/hypothermia, enteritis and peritonitis SW2011/353 EXTERNAL Mesoplodon bidens F 370 15/08/11 Thornham Norfolk East coast live stranding SW2011/354 XT832/11 Phocoena phocoena M 127 15/08/11 Ulrome East Riding of Yorkshire East coast parasitism, pulmonary and cardiac (heavy) SW2011/378 M222/11 Tursiops truncatus U 135 27/08/11 Kirkcaldy Fife Scotland starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2011/383 XT845/11 Stenella coeruleoalba F 160 28/08/11 Saunton Sands Devon South-west possible generalised bacterial infection (Photobacterium damselae) SW2011/385 M 223 /11 Lagenorhynchus acutus M 211 29/08/11 Sollas Western Isles Scotland starvation/hypothermia SW2011/401 XT883/11 Phocoena phocoena M 135 31/08/11 Camber Sands East Sussex Channel physical trauma, by-catch SW2011/389 M 226 /11 Lagenorhynchus acutus M 252 31/08/11 Dunnet Bay Highland Scotland live stranding SW2011/416 XT942/11 Phocoena phocoena F 97 08/09/11 Rockley Point Poole Channel starvation/hypothermia SW2011/411 M236/11 Delphinus delphis M 229 11/09/11 Clachan Seil Argyll and Bute Scotland starvation/hypothermia SW2011/410 XT137/12 Phocoena phocoena F 160 11/09/11 Abercastle Pembrokeshire West coast pleuritis (unilateral) SW2011/414 XT918/11 Phocoena phocoena F 151 13/09/11 Brighstone Bay Isle of Wight Channel starvation/hypothermia SW2011/418 XT939/11 Phocoena phocoena M 115 14/09/11 Bexhill East Sussex Channel physical trauma, by-catch SW2011/425 M244/11 Lagenorhynchus acutus M 253 21/09/11 Stornoway Western Isles Scotland live stranding SW2011/430 XT976/11 Phocoena phocoena F 141 21/09/11 Ynyslas Ceredigion West coast physical trauma, acute (suspected bottlenose dolphin attack) SW2011/442 EXTERNAL Balaenoptera borealis F 984 23/09/11 Skeffling East Riding of Yorkshire East coast live stranding SW2011/436 M102/09/11 Phocoena phocoena M 140 25/09/11 Praa Sands Cornwall South-west pneumonia, parasitic SW2011/386 M225/11 Lagenorhynchus albirostris M 122 30/09/11 Bay of Skail Orkney Scotland starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2011/448 M255/11 Balaenoptera physalus M 1797 04/10/11 Gerinish Western Isles Scotland live stranding SW2011/459 M256/11 Kogia breviceps M 211 06/10/11 Easdale Argyll and Bute Scotland live stranding SW2011/452 XT1164/11 Phocoena phocoena M 143 10/10/11 Aberavon Sands Neath Port Talbot West coast starvation/hypothermia SW2011/458 XT1022/11 Delphinus delphis M 129 11/10/11 Woolacombe Devon South-west physical trauma, acute (probable boat strike) SW2011/472 M269/11 Stenella coeruleoalba M 190 17/10/11 Corpach lochs Highland Scotland live stranding SW2011/491 M276/11 Delphinus delphis M 216 20/10/11 Farr Bay Highland Scotland live stranding SW2011/479 M158/10/11 Delphinus delphis M 137 25/10/11 Padstow Cornwall South-west starvation/hypothermia SW2011/492 XT1063/11 Phocoena phocoena M 98 27/10/11 River Thames Greater London East coast physical trauma, acute SW2011/513 XT1151/11 Phocoena phocoena F 93 31/10/11 Weymouth Dorset Channel physical trauma, by-catch SW2011/510 M61/11/11 Delphinus delphis F 176 10/11/11 Longrock Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch


66

National Ref. PM Number Species (scientific) Sex Length Date Location Local Authority Region Cause of DeathSW2011/514 XT194/12 Phocoena phocoena F 151 11/11/11 Oddicombe Devon South-west pleuritis, gastritis (verminous) and physical trauma SW2011/516 XT1092/11 Phocoena phocoena M 146 12/11/11 Whitburn beach Sunderland East coast pneumonia, parasitic; pleuritis and pericarditis SW2011/515 XT1100/11 Phocoena phocoena M 140 13/11/11 Hayling Island Hampshire Channel pneumonia, parasitic SW2011/518 M306/11 Phocoena phocoena M 114 14/11/11 St Andrews Tayside Scotland pneumonia, parasitic SW2011/524 M321/11 Phocoena phocoena F 138 15/11/11 Rockend Aberdeenshire Scotland physical trauma and pneumonia, parasitic SW2011/537 M335/11 Lagenorhynchus albirostris M 176 19/11/11 Auchmithie Harbour Angus Scotland live stranding SW2011/531.2 XT1163/11 Phocoena phocoena M 109 20/11/11 New Romney Kent East coast starvation/hypothermia SW2011/531.1 XT1156/11 Phocoena phocoena F 113 20/11/11 New Romney Kent East coast parasitism, pulmonary (heavy) SW2011/541 M151/11/11 Delphinus delphis M 125 28/11/11 Porthcothan Cornwall South-west physical trauma, acute SW2011/549 M343/11 Lagenorhynchus acutus M 267 29/11/11 Arbroath Angus Scotland Impaired feeding from skeletal pathology, fused atlanto-occipital joint SW2011/545 M12/12/11 Delphinus delphis M 187 29/11/11 Par Sands Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2011/550 XT1186/11 Delphinus delphis M 165 01/12/11 Hengistbury beach Bournemouth Channel physical trauma, by-catch (possible) SW2011/552 XT1170/11 Delphinus delphis F 192 04/12/11 Woolacombe Devon South-west live stranding SW2011/555 M349/11 Delphinus delphis M 159 04/12/11 Fort George Highland Scotland parasitic and bacterial pneumonia SW2011/556 M50/12/11 Delphinus delphis F 131 04/12/11 Holywell Bay Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2011/554 M49/12/11 Delphinus delphis M 215 05/12/11 Godrevy Cove Cornwall South-west live stranding, possibly aged SW2011/563 M356/11 Lagenorhynchus acutus M 243 06/12/11 Spiggie Beach Shetland Scotland starvation/hypothermia SW2011/562 XT1168/11 Delphinus delphis F 183 08/12/11 Goodwick Pembrokeshire West coast live stranding SW2011/564 M91/12/11 Delphinus delphis F 181 09/12/11 Bodigga Cliff Cornwall South-west starvation/hypothermia SW2011/567 M93/12/11 Delphinus delphis M 220 10/12/11 Porthmeor Beach Cornwall South-west physical trauma, acute SW2011/566 M365/11 Delphinus delphis M 166 11/12/11 Rennibister Orkney Scotland physical trauma, Brucella sp. isolated from multiple organs SW2011/575 XT155/12 Phocoena phocoena M 128 15/12/11 Milford Beach Pembrokeshire West coast parasitism, pulmonary and cardiac (heavy) SW2011/576 M372/11 Phocoena phocoena M 117 16/12/11 Scapa beach Orkney Scotland not established SW2011/584 XT1191/11 Phocoena phocoena M 152 17/12/11 Leysdown on sea Kent East coast starvation/hypothermia SW2011/586 M378/11 Physeter catodon M 1200 27/12/11 Dornie Highland Scotland entanglement (suspected) SW2011/589 EXTERNAL Balaenoptera acutorostrata M 810 30/12/11 Epple Bay Kent East coast possible generalised bacterial infection (Photobacterium damselae), gastric parasitism (heavy) SBS2011/3 M221/11 Cetorhinus maximus M 294 26/08/11 Braes on Skye Western Isles Scotland not established T2011/50 M366/11 Chelonia mydas M 37 13/12/11 Newark Bay Orkney Scotland starvation/hypothermia (cold stunned)

NB Data in this appendix is subject to revision and possible change, pending the results of follow up investigations. Regions used in the production of this appendix are shown in Figure 5 of the main report.

st january – 31st (covering contract numbers mb0111 and...

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