Record numbers of dolphins and whales have been sighted in Britain this week as part of the annual National Whale and Dolphin Watch.
Scotland recorded the highest number of cetacean sightings, closely followed by England and Wales in the 2019 National Whale and Dolphin Watch.
This year, there have been over 600 sightings of cetaceans – marine animals including whales, dolphins and porpoises – which is 400 more than this time last year.
Eight different species have been recorded from Shetland down to South Devon so far, including Atlantic white-sided dolphins, orcas and minke whales.
Bottlenose dolphins have also been sighted daily in New Quay, west Wales, while also being spotted in Littlehampton, Sussex.
The National Whale and Dolphin Watch is one of the oldest and longest running citizen science projects in the world, and scientists are still urging the public to join the monitoring effort.
“No experience is necessary, you just need to download a watch form from our website, record the environmental conditions every fifteen minutes and watch for at least an hour” says Dr Chiara Giulia Bertulli, Sightings Officer at Sea Watch Foundation and organiser of this year’s event.
“Not all watches will result in a sighting, but that piece of information is still very valuable to us. By taking part you are contributing greatly to the report we will publish” adds Chiara.
To find out more about the National Whale and Dolphin Watch or view the sightings that have been made so far, head to the Sea Watch Foundation.
