Fishing By-catch Responsible for Rise In Dead Dolphins, Whales And Por

[Achilles Tang]

Four weeks on from the shocking incident that led to the death of 26 dolphins near Falmouth, UK, research sheds new light on the extent of the problems facing Cornwall's marine mammals. A new study has revealed a disturbing rise in the number of whales, dolphins and porpoises found dead on Cornish beaches. The frequency of these mammals, collectively known as cetaceans, found stranded on beaches in Cornwall has increased with a sharp rise in the last eight years. After analyzing nearly 100 years of data, the researchers believe this could, in part, be due to more intensive fishing. Researchers found that, since 1990, at least 61% of incidents in Cornwall are the result of fishing activity, with animals being caught up in nets in a phenomenon known as 'bycatch'.

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