Yahoo News England’s only resident bottlenose dolphins discovered off the coast of Cornwall
Researchers have discovered England’s only resident population of bottlenose dolphins off the coast of Cornwall.
Experts analysed thousands of sightings and photographs from the south west of England between 2007 and 2016 and identified 98 individual bottlenose dolphins.
They were able to define a distinct group of 28 that were resident throughout the year, present in shallow coastal waters mainly in Cornwall – particularly St Ives Bay and Mount’s Bay – but also in Devon and Dorset.
Ruth Williams, marine conservation manager at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, described the discovery as “incredibly exciting”.
She said: ”The future of these iconic animals is in our hands and we need to make sure the few we currently have in the south west are given the protection not just to survive, but to thrive.”
The dolphins were seen along the south west coastline but appeared to be concentrated in St Ives Bay and Mount’s Bay in Cornwall.
Conservationists say the discovery could have implications for the conservation of the dolphins, who currently receive no specific protection in their home range.
Dolphins are a wide-ranging species, with strong evidence needed to show that an area is important before protection can be considered.
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The UK’s other two resident bottlenose dolphin populations – in the Moray Firth in Scotland and Cardigan Bay in Wales – both have protection.
A spokesman for Cornwall Wildlife Trust said: “Bottlenose dolphins in the southwest face several threats, including pollution from plastics and chemicals, injury by fishing nets, and disturbance from recreational activities.
“Highlighting the existence of a resident population is the first step in seeking specific protection for these animals, with the next step being to collect more evidence on their movements and behaviour and strengthen the case for the importance of this area.”
