Dead dolphins washed up

Richard Sabin, from Worthing, a co-ordinator of the UK Cetacean Strandings Programme at the Natural History Museum in London, has carried out post-mortems on more than 100 dolphins and porpoises since January.

He is trying to discover why such large numbers of the animals have been found dead on beaches in West Sussex, Cornwall, Dorset, Devon and Hampshire.

Since the project began, two dead dolphins have been found on the shores of West Sussex , one at Felpham and another at Littlehampton.

Both were too decomposed to have autopsies performed on them but Mr Sabin, who has been monitoring dolphin deaths for two years, said the injuries were consistent with those of animals entangled in fishing nets.

He said: "The injuries of the dolphins found in West Sussex were consistent with those animals found in South and South-West England.

"Their deaths were caused by bycatch, which means they died as a result of entanglement or became trapped in fishing gear.

"I think the dolphins initially die off Dorset and Cornwall and a strong south-westerly wind pushes them towards West Sussex.

"That explains why their bodies are so decomposed.

"The adverse weather conditions may have brought more carcasses in than previously."

Mr Sabin is not the only person concerned about an increasing fatality rate.

MP Peter Bottomley has been asked by Arun councillor Ricky Bower to get answers from government departments and European agencies.

Coun Bower said: "While I appreciate these mammals are frequently seen around our shores at this time of year and that conditions can be stressful for them, the number of dead dolphins and porpoises is exceptional.

"These creatures are very important to our local biodiversity and I believe we must do all we can to protect them.

"I am sure with Peter Bottomley's help we can get the answers residents are demanding."

Anyone who finds a washed up dolphin should call the National Stranding Hotline on 0207 9425155.