/24-7PressRelease/ - FARNHAM, SURREY, UK, September 16, 2008 - On a return crossing from Biscay through the Channel yesterday, passengers and researchers were beside themselves with excitement when a Humpback Whale was spotted near the Channel Islands. Humpback Whales are amongst the most familiar to people and yet this sighting in such a busy shipping area is unprecedented, considering how rarely they are observed in the eastern Atlantic.
Humpback Whales are known to be highly migratory, travelling between breeding and feeding grounds annually. They are found throughout the world's oceans, but numbers were decimated by whaling. Whilst the whales seem to be making a recovery in certain areas, sightings remain few and far between around the UK and mainland Europe. Sporadic sightings are reported annually in the Irish Sea, the North Sea and the waters off western Scotland, but there has not been a report of a Humpback Whale in the Channel in recent history.
The whale was initially detected as it created splashes on the surface by members of the Spanish research organisation AMBAR. This species is known to be quite acrobatic often engaging in breaching - where the animal leaps clear of the water or crashing its massive tail and large pectoral fins on the waters surface. This particular whale was engaging in such behaviour and was photographed. Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) on board Wildlife Officer John Arnott, was able to confirm the sighting as a Humpback Whale.
John Arnott commented: "The photographs clearly showed the distinctive dorsal hump characteristic of this species. Many passengers were delighted, having witnessed the blows and splashes from their vantage point on deck 11 of the ship."
BDRP Chairman Clive Martin said: "Our first thought was for the whale's safety and we have alerted the coastguard to its presence and exact location. Being such a busy shipping area, the whale is at risk of ship strike and it is important that vessels are aware and therefore able to take extra care in this area".
It is likely that the whale is undertaking its annual migration from Northerly feeding grounds to warmer equatorial waters and has entered the Channel en-route. It may have been following its fish prey or could have become confused and entered the Channel through the Western Approaches by accident.
BDRP will continue to monitor the Channel for further sightings of the whale, keeping the coast guard informed of its movements.
For further information including interviews and images please contact:
Emma Webb
Tel: +44 (0) 7787 893540
E: emma.webb@biscay-dolphin.org.uk
Tom Brereton
Tel: +44 (0) 7816 786173
E: tom.brereton@biscay-dolphin.org.uk
Adrian Shephard
Tel: +44 (0) 7789 657617
E: adrian.shephard@biscay-dolphin.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP)
Marinelife has been monitoring whales and dolphins, seabirds and other marine life in the English Channel and European Atlantic continuously for thirteen years through one of its main projects, the Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) using ferries as research platforms for monthly surveys. In addition, a BDRP full-time Wildlife Officer collects daily data on whale and dolphin abundance. Data from such long-term surveys give an accurate picture of changes in the status of whale and dolphin populations and their behaviour within the survey areas, thus far recording more than 20 species of whale and dolphin. They also highlight threats they face over time. http://www.biscay-dolphin.org.uk
About AMBAR
AMBAR (Sociedad para Estudio y la Conservacion de la Fauna Marina), a member of the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC) is a marine conservation organisation founded in 1996 who research marine mammals and turtles off the Basque coast of Spain. They run several research projects, including dedicated surveys from large commercial ferries. Further information on AMBAR can be found by visiting our website at http://www.ambarcetaceos.com
About Marinelife
Marinelife is a Charitable Limited Company established to co-ordinate and develop a growing portfolio of global research and monitoring projects. Through these we aim to further the conservation of the wildlife of coasts and oceans through scientific investigation and educational activities. Marinelife continues to work in partnership with a number of other research groups, spearheading an international initiative, the Atlantic Research Coalition (ARC) that aims to describe changes in the status of whales and dolphins at a European scale.
Further information on Marinelife can be found by visiting our website at http://www.marine-life.org.uk
Marinelife is a marine conservation charity conducting scientific research on the distribution, abundance and the threats to whales, dolphins and porpoises. For further information, please visit our website at http://www.marine-life.org.uk or contact us at adrian.shephard@biscat-dolphin.org.uk
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