We are currently running our sightings programme and welcome photos of cetaceans around the Cornish Coast. All data we collect is available to any institution, college or student who may need it for their research.

More data will be posted as the season progresses.

We have been comparing sightings of Bottlenose Dolphins around the Cornish coast with those of Devon and Dorset. Our thanks go to the Durlston Marine Project, Devon Wildlife Trust, the Goodrington Seashore Centre, Orca Seafaris of Falmouth, Mermaid Trips of Penzance and Ray Dennis of the Cornwall Wildlife trust, for their help.

The Silver Dolphin Centre co-ordinates training for the Cornish Marine Life Rescue group. There is no charge for this training and membership of the group is free. So far we have had two bottlenose dolphin strandings, one in Penzance harbour, which died and one at Roskilly beach which was a healthy juvenile and was successfully refloated.

We were also called out to a Minke Whale stranding in May of 2003 in which the whale was successfully refloated. 

We are also involved with researching the bycatch problem. All information we gather is sent to the Natural History Museum and the Wildlife Trust. A study has been carried out by the centre and a report is available.

While many of the cetaceans show signs of bycatch, it would be difficult to lay the blame on Gill nets as they have not shown the usual markings. In the 'Net Effect' a report by WDCS in 2004 it was stated that while harbour porpoise standings were on the increase in the southwest, it was notable that many of the porpoise examined lacked the usual mono filament net marks. It has been suggested that these porpoise may have been caught in a smaller mesh mobile gear (trawls Nets) since they often strand in the same area and in a similar state of decomposition to larger numbers of Common Dolphins that were diagnosed as having died due to bycatch. ( Sabine et al 2003)

The bycatch increases to large numbers during the winter months from December to March which is the pair trawling season for bass and then drops off to very small numbers for the rest of the year.

The UK governments recent change in the twelve mile limit may be responsible for the shift in distribution of the bycatch which has now moved to the east of the county.

We are currently looking at the tagging of small cetaceans, as there is a plan to tag dolphins that strand using invasive methods which means drilling holes through the dorsal fin. The tag is then held in with two bolts that are supposed to rust through at the same time allowing the tag to fall off. In reality they don't, so one bolt is left holding the tag and may cause damage to the dorsal fin.

Please see Progressions of fin change due to dorsal fin tagging by Kristen Mazzaerlla 2001 look on website www.Nagsheaddolphinwatch.com  

There are many other scientists studying cetacean movements by tagging with suction cups. This is something we are presently researching and will update this page when we have more information.

This invasive tagging in the UK came about as we are one of the few countries that refloats cetaceans with out a period of rehabilitation. So tagging is said to be necessary to prove that direct reflotation with out rehabilitation works.

The centre is currently looking at methods of rehabilitation and non invasive tagging, as while the present system does have its faults, proving that the cetaceans survive direct reflotation, by invasive tagging, may cause sever trauma to the dorsal fin and reduce their chances of survival and so is probably not the best way to go. we need to look at other options that are already in use around the world.

Some of the dolphins that we have examined have proven to be hybrids between Common Dolphins and Striped Dolphins. This was confirmed at the necropsy. They display some of the markings from both animals, as shown below. The centre staff and volunteers are now looking for similar cases. If you have any photos or information on animals that you think may be a similar hybrid we would like to hear from you. 

Many of our sightings include calves and juveniles, so examination of the data collected may show the south west waters is a breeding ground. This information can be used to help protect cetaceans in our waters.

The Centre now has an inflatable pool that can be used for training. Lainy Miller of the Centre has just returned from the US where she visited rehabilitation centres. This pool is now used for training in our PADI Whale and Dolphin Research Diver course.

During the running of a course the Centre had several phone calls reporting dead dolphins and porpoise on Cornish beaches, this was sad but it did give the students first hand experience of recording a dead porpoise.

Whilst we were on the beach several members of the public came up to us to ask what we were doing. The Centre always needs more volunteers to help with this recording work. The picture shows students Imogen and Lauren with Instructor Dave.