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WDC report reveals many EU countries ignore Regulation to prevent whale and dolphin deaths in nets

The windy watch – Bardsey Island Survey 2017

Another Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli) field season is over, this time a little earlier than planned as the strong winds, some of which were over 50 mph, made it impossible for us to survey. However in the short time we were there we were treated to some dolphin delights. The waters around Bardsey Island are…

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Countries agree better protection for whales and dolphins

A UN-meeting, which concluded in the Finnish capital of Helsinki today, has adopted a plan to aid the urgent recovery of the Baltic harbour porpoise, which is one of the most endangered marine mammals on the planet. Fewer than 500 Baltic harbour porpoises remain. The agreement by governments to step up efforts to protect the…

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A Holistic Approach to Conservation and Protection

It was with huge pleasure that I was able to take up the invitation of ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans in the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas) to deliver the Keynote Speech to the 2016 Meeting of the Parties in Helsinki, Finland (29th August – 1st September). The following…

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North Sea piling development worrying for porpoises

The UK government has given consent for the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Hornsea 2, to be built off the Yorkshire coast. This decision could lead to significant negative impacts to the harbour porpoise, the smallest porpoise found in our waters. We raised our concerns during public consultations. Harbour porpoises are ‘strictly’ protected under the…

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New research reveals harbour porpoise hunting skills

The harbour porpoise might be one of the smallest cetaceans (the collective name for whales, dolphins and porpoises) but findings in a new report from Danish scientists reveal that it when it comes to success in hunting its prey, it has few rivals. Being small (less than two metres long) with a high metabolic rate…

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