st January st (Contract number MB0111) - GOV.UKrandd.defra.gov.uk/...Document=14001_FINALUKCSIPAnnualReport2… · Annual Report for the period 1st January – 31st December 2015

Annual Report for the period 1st January – 31st December 2015

(Contract number MB0111)

Compiled by R. Deaville (ZSL)

Contributing Authors-

P.D. Jepson and M. Perkins (ZSL) A. Brownlow, N. Davison and M. ten Doeschate (SRUC) B. Smith, R. Lyal, L. Allan and R.C. Sabin (NHM) R. Penrose (MEM)

This report results from work conducted by the collaborative UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme. Partner organisations are Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the Scottish Rural College, Inverness

(SRUC), the Natural History Museum (NHM) and Marine Environmental Monitoring (MEM).

Funding bodies Contract manager Partner organisations

www.ukstrandings.org CSIP Annual Report 2015

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UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme

MB0111 Marine Biodiversity Division, Defra Information on the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme can also be found at www.ukstrandings.org. Data summarised in this report was collected in the UK under contract to Defra and the Devolved Administrations between 1st January 2013 and 31st December 2014. Data was collected under contract number MB0111 (2011-2016). Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London (ZSL) - Contractor Regent’s Park London NW1 4RY Tel: 020 7449 6672 Fax: 020 7586 1457 Web: www.zsl.org/science/

Scottish Rural College, Inverness (SRUC) - Subcontractor Wildlife Unit Drummondhill Stratherrick Road Inverness IV2 4JZ Tel: 01463 243030 Fax: 01463 711103 Web: www.sruc.ac.uk/

The Natural History Museum (NHM) - Subcontractor Cromwell Road South Kensington London SW7 5BD Tel: 020 7942 5155 Fax: 020 7942 5572 Web: www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/projects/strandings/

Marine Environmental Monitoring (MEM) - Subcontractor Penwalk, Llechryd Cardigan Ceredigion West Wales SA43 2PS Tel: 01239 682405 Web: www.strandings.com

Strandings in the UK can be reported on 0800 652033.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cetacean-Strandings-Investigation-Programme-UK-strandings/142706582438320

http://www.ukstrandings.org/


http://www.zsl.org/science/

http://www.sruc.ac.uk/

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/projects/strandings/

http://www.strandings.com/




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Executive summary

During 2015, 570 cetaceans were reported to the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP), comprising at least 16 species, a figure broadly comparable to that reported during the previous four year period (mean n=607, 2011-2014). Of these, 488 were found stranded and dead, 63 were seen to have stranded alive (of which 29 were refloated) and 19 were dead cetaceans found at sea (two of which were found entangled in netting). The largest number of cetacean strandings were reported in England (n=253), followed by Scotland (n=217), Wales (n=91), Northern Ireland (n=7) and the Channel Islands (n=2). Consistent with previous years, the most common UK-stranded cetacean species in 2015 were the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena, n=274) and the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis, n=110). Seventeen reports of UK stranded marine turtles and five reports of UK stranded basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) were also received during 2015. Although not part of its formal remit, data on stranded seals continue to be collected by the CSIP and during 2015, 533 dead stranded seals were recorded by the CSIP, with the majority (n=314) being recorded in Scotland. There were also nine stranding events involving two or more animals during 2015 (the largest of which involved 21 long-finned pilot whales). During 2015, 115 cetacean strandings (comprising 13 species) and four marine turtles (comprising two species) were examined at post mortem using standardised protocols. The most common causes of mortality of the 53 harbour porpoises examined at post-mortem during 2015 were entanglement in fishing gear (by-catch, n=10), infectious disease (n=10, primarily pneumonias due to parasitic infestations or diseases of the gastrointestinal tracts), starvation (n=9, including seven neonates) and attack by one or more bottlenose dolphins (n=8). All cases of fatal attack from bottlenose dolphins occurred in areas of sympatric distribution of these two species. There were no consistent trends in any cause of death category for UK-stranded harbour porpoises between 2011 and 2015. The most common causes of mortality of the 25 short-beaked common dolphins investigated at post mortem during 2015 were live stranding (n=7), by-catch (n=5), infectious disease (n=5) and starvation (n=3). There were no consistent trends in any cause of death category for UK-stranded short-beaked common dolphins between 2011 and 2015. Data and tissue samples generated from the systematic examination of UK-stranded cetacean carcasses since 1990 continues to support a broad range of multidisciplinary scientific research activity and has resulted in over 215 publications within the peer-reviewed scientific literature in that period, including 13 published during 2015. Six reports were produced by the CSIP during 2015 and a wide variety of outreach and education events were also carried out. Further information on the CSIP can be found at www.ukstrandings.org.




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Contents

Executive Summary 3

Contents 4

1 List of Tables, Figures and Plates 5

2 Introduction 8

3 Materials and methods 9

4 Cetacean, marine turtle and basking shark strandings around 14 the UK coastline for the year 2015

4.1 Mass strandings/Unusual Mortality Events 22

5 Summary of UK-stranded cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks in 2015 (by species) 5.1 Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) 25 5.2 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 28 5.3 Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) 30 5.4 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) 30 5.5 White beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) 30 5.6 Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) 31 5.7 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) 32 5.8 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) 33 5.9 Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) 33 5.10 Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) 34 5.11 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 34 5.12 Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) 35 5.13 Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) 35 5.14 Killer whale (Orcinus orca) 36 5.15 Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) 36 5.16 Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) 37 5.17 Indeterminate species 38 5.18 Marine turtles 40 5.19 Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) 41 5.20 Seals 42

6 Post mortem investigations and causes of death data 44

7 Spatial distribution of cause of death categories 48

8 Collaborations and outputs 50

8.1 Investigations of relationships between environmental 50 contaminants and health status

8.2 Additional collaborative research activity 51

8.3 2015 Peer reviewed publications 54



5

8.4 2015 Reports 55

8.5 2015 Conference abstracts 56

8.6 Demonstration necropsies 57

8.7 Outreach and Education 58

9 References 59

10 Glossary of terms and acronyms 61

11 Acknowledgments 62

12 Appendix 1 Contact details for the reporting of strandings 64 in the UK

13 Appendix 2 Carcass selection criteria for post-mortem 66 examination of UK stranded cetaceans

14 Appendix 3 Marine debris ingestion and/or entanglement 71

15 Appendix 4 Summary of causes of death 2015 73

1 Tables, Figures and Plates

1.1 Tables Table 1 Reported strandings of cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks 16 in the UK during 2015

Table 2 Reported strandings of cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks 17 in the UK 2011-2015

Table 3 Post-mortem investigations conducted on UK stranded cetaceans 44 during 2015

Table 4 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans and 44 marine turtles in England during 2015

Table 5 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans in 45 Scotland during 2015

Table 6 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans and 45 Marine turtles in Wales during 2015

Table 7 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans in 45 Northern Ireland during 2015

Table 8 Causes of death of cetaceans and marine turtles examined at 46 post mortem in the UK in 2015

Table 9 Reported strandings in England, Scotland and Wales 2011-2015 67 (aggregated data)

Table 10 Regional harbour porpoise stranding data (2011-2015) in relation 68 to the current limits of 55-65 annual PME’s

Table 11 Recommended 2016 allocation of harbour porpoise PME’s by area 68 and month, based on 2011-2015 reported stranding data

Table 12 Regional common dolphin stranding data (2011-2015) in relation 69 to the current limits of 15-20 annual PME’s

Table 13 Recommended 2016 allocation of common dolphin PME’s by area 69



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and month, based on 2011-2015 reported stranding data

Table 14 Regional stranding data for other cetacean species, excluding 70 harbour porpoises, common dolphins and strandings of indeterminate identity (2011-2015) in relation to the current limits of 10-25 annual PME’s

Table 15 Recommended 2015 allocation of other cetacean species PME’s 70 by area and month, based on 2011-2015 reported stranding data

Table 16 Marine litter ingestion or entanglement in cetacean and marine turtle strandings 71 examined at post-mortem in the UK during 2015

1.2 Figures Figure 1 Organisational structure of the CSIP 8

Figure 2 Outline process in strandings reporting and post-mortem examinations 10 in the UK by the CSIP consortium

Figure 3 Annual numbers of reported strandings of cetaceans (all species), 15 harbour porpoises and common dolphins in the UK (1990-2015)

Figure 4 Reported cetacean strandings in England, Scotland, Wales and 15 Northern Ireland 2011-2015

Figure 5 Annual reported strandings of harbour porpoises and short-beaked common 18 dolphins in the UK in 2015 compared to mean number of reported strandings

Figure 6 Annual reported strandings of other cetacean species in the UK in 2015 18 compared to mean number of reported strandings for 2011-2014 period

Figure 7 UK regions used for analysis of data 19

Figure 8 Inter annual variation in UK regional reported strandings of harbour 20 porpoises (2011-2015)

Figure 9 Inter annual variation in UK regional reported strandings of common 20 dolphins (2011-2015)

Figure 10 Inter annual variation in UK regional reported strandings of cetacean 21 species other than harbour porpoises and common dolphins (2011-2015)

Figure 11 Inter annual variation in UK regional reported strandings of cetacean 21 species of indeterminate identity (2011-2015)

Figure 12 Location of mass strandings during 2015 22

Figure 13 Distribution of harbour porpoise strandings in the UK (2015) 25

Figure 14 Distribution of short-beaked common dolphin strandings in the UK 25 (2015)

Figure 15 Monthly reported strandings of harbour porpoises in the UK in 2015 27 compared to mean number of reported strandings for 2011-2014 period

Figure 16 Proportions of major cause of death categories in UK stranded 27 harbour porpoises examined at post mortem 2011-2015

Figure 17 Monthly reported strandings of short-beaked common dolphins in the UK in 29 2015 compared to mean number of reported strandings for 2011-2014 period

Figure 18 Proportions of major cause of death categories in UK-stranded 29 short-beaked common dolphins examined at post mortem 2011-2015

Figure 19 Distribution of other odontocete strandings in the UK (2015) 39

Figure 20 Distribution of mysticete strandings in the UK (2015) 39

Figure 21 Annual reported strandings of marine turtles in the UK in 2015 compared to mean number of reported strandings for 2011-2014 period. 41

Figure 22 Distribution of marine turtle strandings in the UK (2015) 42

Figure 23 Distribution of basking shark strandings in the UK (2015) 42



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Figure 24 Distribution of dead seal strandings in the UK (2015) 43

Figure 25 Annual variation in reported dead seal strandings in the UK (2011-2015) 43

Figure 26a Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post mortem 48 and diagnosed to have died as a result of live stranding (2015)

Figure 26b Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post mortem 48 and diagnosed to have died as a result of infectious disease (2015)

Figure 26c Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post mortem 48 and diagnosed to have died as a result of by-catch and entanglement (2015)

Figure 26d Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post mortem 49 and diagnosed to have died as a result of starvation (2015)

Figure 26e Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post mortem 49 and diagnosed to have died as a result of violent interactions with bottlenose dolphins (2015)

Figure 26f Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post mortem 49 and diagnosed to have died as a result of boat/ship strike (2015)

Figure 27 Annual publications produced by the CSIP and through collaborations 55 (1990-2015)

1.3 Plates Plate 1 Long-finned pilot whale mass stranding at Staffin, Isle of Skye and field 23 necropsies conducted by SMASS and CSIP

Plate 2 Short-beaked common dolphin stranded at Perranarworthal in the Kennal river 24

Plate 3 Kemp’s ridley turtle which live stranded at Aberystwyth, Ceredigion 24

Plate 4 Harbour porpoise found stranded at Port Henderson in Highland, exhibiting 26 pathology consistent with predation by grey seals

Plate 5 Short-beaked common dolphin with traumatic injuries consistent 28 with trauma consequential to ship-strike

Plate 6 Minke whale stranding near Inverkip exhibiting ropemarks around tail flukes 31

Plate 7 White-beaked dolphin stranding at Magilligan Point, Londonderry 31

Plate 8 Risso’s dolphin stranding at Freshwater, Pembrokeshire 32

Plate 9 Bottlenose dolphin field necropsy carried out at a landfill site 33

Plate 10 Cuvier’s beaked whale found live stranded at Skye on 3rd

December 34

Plate 11 Fin whale stranding at Botany Bay, Kent with parallel linear incisions 35 on the caudal peduncle consistent with ship strike

Plate 12 Killer whale stranding on South Uist 36

Plate 13 Pygmy sperm whale stranded at Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset 37

Plate 14 Humpback whale found entangled off Helmsdale, prior to necropsy 38

Plate 15 Panel of selected marine turtle strandings during 2015 40

Plate 16 Field necropsy of a Cuvier’s beaked whale in 2015 47

Plate 17 Images used during presentations at ECS annual conference in Malta 57

Plate 18 Demonstration necropsies carried out by the CSIP at Exeter University 57 and Newcastle University

Plate 19 Orkney Stranding Volunteers training, necropsy demonstration for 58 Aberdeen University Masters and Glasgow Vet School students

Plate 20 CSIP stall and talks at Sunset Safari events in ZSL over summer 2015. 58 CSIP staff from ZSL and NHM at Science Uncovered

Plate 21 Small plastic fragment found in cardiac stomach of pygmy sperm whale 72

Plate 22 Large amount of plastic in the stomach of a Cuvier’s beaked whale 72



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2 Introduction

This report is based on research conducted under contract (MB0111) to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) between 1st January and 31st December 2015. The Institute of Zoology1 (IoZ), Scottish Rural College (SRUC), Natural History Museum (NHM) and Marine Environmental Monitoring (MEM) are responsible for the delivery of this contract. Since 1990, the collaborative UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) has been funded by UK governments (currently through Defra, Welsh Government and Scottish Government) to;

collate, analyse and report data for all cetacean strandings around the coast of the UK;

determine the causes of death in stranded cetaceans, including by-catch and physical trauma; and

undertake surveillance on the incidence of disease in stranded cetaceans in order to identify any substantial new threats to their conservation status.

The CSIP also continues to submit data on strandings and post-mortem examinations to the UK annual national report for ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas). The current organisational structure of the CSIP and the responsibilities of each organisation are given below in Figure 1. A Steering Group consisting of representatives of UK government and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC; managers of the current contract) monitor progress and provide guidance on the objectives and output of the CSIP.

Figure 1 Organisational structure of the CSIP NB WG- Welsh Government, SG- Scottish Government, JNCC- Joint Nature Conservation Committee

1 Main Contractor responsible for the delivery of MB0111



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3 Materials and methods

3.1 Reporting and collection of cetacean and marine turtle strandings Strandings are recorded by the CSIP when an animal swims, is left by a receding tide or is deposited onto land (beach, mudflats, sandbank etc) dead or alive. Live animals that are prevented from stranding by human interaction from the shore, but would clearly have otherwise stranded without such intervention, may also be included. In addition, the CSIP continues to record information on dead cetaceans that are found at sea in and around UK territorial waters. Figure 2 shows an outline process for the reporting of strandings in the UK, covering liaison with appropriate local authorities (primarily the Receiver of Wreck/Maritime and Coastguard Agency and local authorities) and the project steering group, along with information on post-mortem investigations and dissemination of results by the CSIP. In England (excluding Cornwall), the reporting, retrieval and transportation of stranded animals is co-ordinated by NHM, with IoZ providing assistance where appropriate. In Cornwall, the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network (www.cwtstrandings.org/index.html) co-ordinate stranding reporting, retrieval and transportation to the University of Exeter (Penryn campus) for post-mortem investigation. Strandings data collected by CWTMSN is made available to the CSIP for inclusion in the central UK database and also in the CSIP national reports. The CSIP has also recently set up a regional collaboration in the north-east of England with Dr Per Berggren at the University of Newcastle, whereby appropriate strandings are retrieved and held frozen prior to retrieval for post-mortem examination by the CSIP. In Scotland, the reporting, retrieval and transportation of stranded animals is co-ordinated by SRUC. In Wales, the reporting, retrieval and transportation of stranded animals is co-ordinated by MEM. Stranding reports are verified wherever possible through the use of digital photographs taken on the beach. In Wales and Scotland, dedicated email addresses and mobile numbers for the provision of camera phone pictures have also been established. The decision about whether to subject a carcass to post-mortem is based on the state of decomposition and whether it can be secured safely prior to collection and transportation to a laboratory for post-mortem examination. The relevant public health considerations of handling stranded cetacean carcasses are stressed to those individuals and organisations that are involved with the day-to-day reporting and recovery of stranded carcasses. Data on strandings in Northern Ireland were collected by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (www.iwdg.ie/), under contract to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA, www.ni-environment.gov.uk/). Data on strandings in the Isle of Man were provided by Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture (Isle of Man Government, www.gov.im/daff/Wildlife/species/marine.xml). Appendix 1 gives details of the reporting mechanism for strandings of cetaceans, marine turtles, basking sharks and seals in the UK (both alive and dead). Appendix 2 gives information on the current guidelines for selecting strandings for post-mortem examination.


http://www.cwtstrandings.org/index.html

http://www.iwdg.ie/

http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/

http://www.gov.im/daff/Wildlife/species/marine.xml


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Figure 2 Outline process in strandings reporting and post-mortem examinations in the UK by the CSIP consortium. Blue highlighted sections denote CSIP actions.

Analysis

Dead Live

Rescued

Analysis

Died/euthanased

Stranding report

Rescue organisations (BDMLR etc)

CSIP (regional

or national)

No further action (live stranding

report recorded in

CSIP database)

Liaison with PSG (if appropriate)

CSIP post-mortem

investigations

Diagnostic and supplementary

testing

Post mortem report generated. Sent out

to stranding reporters, media liaison if

appropriate

Post mortem conclusions (causes of

death) included in quarterly, annual and ad

hoc reporting

Gather supplementary data

(if appropriate)

Liaison with media (if appropriate)

Liaison with local

authorities e.g. Receiver

of Wreck/MCA, police, local council etc



11

3.2 Post-mortem examination Carcasses were routinely transported to one of three pathology laboratories in the UK:

Institute of Zoology (Zoological Society of London), Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY

Scottish Rural College (Disease Surveillance Centre), Drummondhill, Stratherrick Road, Inverness, Scotland, IV2 4JZ

University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Truro, Cornwall, TR10 9EZ In cases where carcasses were too large or too difficult to retrieve, post-mortem investigations were conducted in situ at the stranding site. All cetacean post-mortem investigations (including tissue sampling) were conducted using standard procedures (Kuiken and Garcia Hartmann 1991, Law 1994, Deaville and Jepson et al., 2011). Marine turtle post-mortem investigations and tissue sampling were also conducted using standard procedures (Work 2000 and Wyneken 2001) and basking shark strandings were investigated opportunistically. Essentially, organs were systematically examined and routine tissue samples were collected for virological, microbiological, histopathological, toxicological and other studies. Any observed lesions were also sampled for further diagnostic tests, depending on the suspected aetiology. 3.3 Assessing causes of death Although it is often not possible to arrive at a definitive cause of death for any individual carcass, a most probable cause of death was ascribed wherever possible based on the collective findings from post-mortem and other diagnostic investigations. Oversight of the allocation of causes of death is conducted by Dr. Paul Jepson (CSIP lead scientist and pathologist). Criteria used to establish selected causes of death are described below.

By-catch (entanglement in fishing gear) was ascribed as a cause of death in cetacean carcasses using established pathological criteria for by-catch diagnosis (Kuiken et al., 1994 and Kuiken 1996)

Infectious Disease- a broad category consisting of a number of causes of death of infectious origin (Jepson 2005, Jepson et al. 2005a)

Live Stranding- attributed as the cause of death in cetaceans that were known or suspected (from post-mortem examination) to have live-stranded in apparent good health and nutritional status. This category excluded severely diseased or emaciated animals that stranded alive (Jepson 2005)

Starvation- given as the cause of death in animals that were severely emaciated and, following post-mortem examination, ascertained to have no other significant disease processes that could explain the poor nutritional status (Jepson 2005)

Starvation (neonate)- given as the cause of death in neonates that were severely emaciated and, following post-mortem examination, ascertained to have no other significant disease processes that could explain the poor nutritional status. Some of these animals may have become maternally separated



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Fatal attack from one or more bottlenose dolphins- ascribed as a cause of death in cetacean carcasses using established pathological criteria (Ross & Wilson 1996, Jepson & Baker 1998)

Grey seal attack- ascribed as a cause of death in individuals presenting with pathology potentially consistent with grey seal attack, as recently described (Haelters et al., 2013 and Leopold et al., 2014).

Physical trauma (boat/ship strike)- physical trauma consistent with impact from a boat or ship. Includes blunt trauma to dorsal/lateral aspect of body wall and/or injuries consistent with propeller strike

Dystocia & Stillborn- attributed as the cause of death in animals which have died during the act or process of giving birth (mothers or calves)

Physical trauma (unknown origin)- where evidence of physical trauma is found at post-mortem, but no obvious origin or other significant underlying factors. This category is likely to include some undiagnosed cases of boat/ship strike, by-catch or bottlenose dolphin attack.

Gas embolism- intravascular gas bubble formation that obstructs circulation and causes associated tissue injury (Jepson et al. 2003; 2005b)

Entanglement- a cause of death category largely confined to minke whales. Denotes evidence of entanglement in rope (creel etc.) or discarded fishing gear/marine litter

Cold stunned- a cause of death category specific to hard shelled species of marine turtle, resulting from exposure to cold water around the UK coast, leading to immobility, hypothermia and eventual starvation

Neoplasia- where the cause of death is due to the formation of a tumour

Others- a broad category covering causes of death that cannot be categorised using existing criteria

3.4 Tissue archiving Tissue specimens collected for research are stored frozen at either -20˚C or -80˚C and fixed in either 10% neutral buffered formalin or 70% alcohol at the IoZ and SRUC Inverness or sent to collaborating institutions for research purposes. 3.5 Data collection, storage and dissemination Prior to 2009, data generated by the CSIP had historically been collected and archived on a number of different databases. During 2008, a Defra funded web accessed database was created (http://data.ukstrandings.org/), fully integrating for the first time both strandings data and data collected during post-mortem examinations in the UK. The CSIP web accessed database has been ‘live’ since 1st January 2009, with data on UK stranded cetaceans, marine turtles, basking sharks and seals reported since this date being routinely entered onto it. Pathology and strandings data from cetaceans and basking sharks reported to the CSIP between 1989 and 2008 was integrated during 2009 and imported into the CSIP web accessed database. Levels of access have been set such that data can be viewed by those deemed appropriate by the PSG, but data can only be entered/edited by appropriate members of the CSIP consortium. Data entry and data validation/quality control is performed by the relevant partner organisations in the CSIP consortium and by


http://data.ukstrandings.org/


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CWTMSN in Cornwall. As well as enabling the CSIP consortium to collectively enter and edit data through a single web accessed portal, the database facilitates more efficient and accurate capture of data and allows stakeholders to access data as required. In addition, during 2010 periodic export of relevant data to the NBN gateway (www.nbn.org.uk/) began, enabling access to strandings and post-mortem data by a much wider audience than at present. Work on the database is ongoing and additional existing data will be imported during the course of the current contract (MB0111). Causes of death of strandings examined in the UK are validated by Dr Paul Jepson, in his role as lead scientist and pathologist on the programme. Causes of death may be amended and/or altered if new test results are generated or data becomes available, with an audit trail of amendments automatically recorded on the database in every instance. Marine turtle strandings data in the UK is collated by the UK and Republic of Ireland 'TURTLE' Database Manager (Rod Penrose) under supervision of the Turtle Implementation Group (TIG). Collation of marine turtle strandings and sightings data in UK and RoI is collectively funded by the statutory conservation bodies- Natural England, Countryside Council for Wales, Scottish National Heritage and National Parks and Wildlife Service (RoI).

Quarterly reports were submitted to the PSG during 2015 and acted as project milestones. The CSIP also provided summary reports of strandings and post-mortem data for the annual ASCOBANS national report, as well as the annual IWC national report and any ad hoc requests made during the course of the year by the Department or the Devolved Administrations.


http://www.nbn.org.uk/


14

4 Cetacean, marine turtle and basking shark strandings around the UK coastline for the year 2015

During 2015, 570 cetaceans were reported to the CSIP comprising at least 16 species (Table 1). Of these, 488 were reports of dead-stranded cetaceans, 63 were of live-stranded cetaceans and 19 were of dead cetaceans found at sea (including two which were known by-catches). Of the 63 live-stranded cetaceans, 29 were returned alive to sea. In addition, 17 UK stranded marine turtles and five UK stranded basking shark were also reported during 2015 (Table 1). The figure of 570 cetaceans reported during 2015 is a figure that is broadly comparable to the previous four-year period (mean n=607, 2011-2014).

The most commonly reported UK stranded cetacean species in 2015 were the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) (n=274) and the short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) (n=110). Another 140 stranded cetaceans were also recorded, comprising long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas, n=46), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata, n=18), white beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris, n=15), Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus, n=15), striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba, n=14), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, n=9), Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris, n=6), sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus, n=5), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus, n=4), Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus, n=2), Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens, n=2), killer whale (Orcinus orca, n=2), pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps, n=1) and humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae, n=1). A number of strandings (n=46) were too decomposed, incomplete or inaccessible to enable either accurate identification to species level or retrieval for further investigation at post mortem. The spatial distribution of these strandings (by species) is given in Table 1.

The largest number of cetacean strandings was reported in England (n=253), with a smaller number in Scotland (n=217), Wales (n=91) and Northern Ireland (n=7). In addition, a small number of cetaceans were also reported in the Channel Islands (n=2). Figure 3 shows the inter-annual variation in numbers of all cetaceans, harbour porpoises and common dolphins recorded stranded in the UK between 1990 and 2015 inclusively and Figure 4 shows the number of reported cetacean strandings in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland during 2015. The annual number of reported strandings of most species was broadly comparable to that reported during the previous four years in the UK (Table 2). Figures 5 and 6 show the reported strandings of all cetacean species in the UK during 2015, compared to the mean number of annually reported strandings between 2011 and 2014.



15

Figure 3 Annual numbers of reported strandings of cetaceans (all species), harbour porpoises and common dolphins in the UK (1990-2015)

Figure 4 Reported cetacean strandings in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 2011-2015



16

Table 1 Reported strandings of cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks in the UK during 2015 Species England Scotland Wales Northern

Ireland Isle of

Man Total

Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

149 60 64 1 0 274

Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

58 35 14 2 0 109

Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas)

1 45 0 0 0 46

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

4 13 0 1 0 18

White beaked dolphin

(Lagenorhynchus albirostris) 2 12 0 1 0 15

Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus)

5 7 3 0 0 15

Striped dolphin

(Stenella coeruleoalba) 1 11 2 0 0 14

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

6 1 2 0 0 9

Cuvier’s beaked whale

(Ziphius cavirostris) 0 6 0 0 0 6

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)

0 5 0 0 0 5

Fin whale

(Balaenoptera physalus) 3 0 0 1 0 4

Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus)

0 2 0 0 0 2

Sowerby’s beaked whale

(Mesoplodon bidens) 0 2 0 0 0 2

Killer whale (Orcinus orca)

0 2 0 0 0 2

Pygmy sperm whale

(Kogia breviceps) 1 0 0 0 0 1

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

0 1 0 0 0 1

Cetacean

(indeterminate species) 8 6 3 0 0 17

Dolphin


Short beaked common/striped dolphin

(indeterminate) 3 6 1 0 0 10

Baleen whale


Kemp’s ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)

5 1 2 0 0 8

Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)

3 1 2 0 0 6

Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

0 0 1 0 0 1

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)

0 0 1 0 0 1

Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)

2 3 0 0 0 5

TOTAL 263 222 97 7 0 589

NB One short-beaked common dolphin, one indeterminate identity dolphin and one Kemp’s ridley turtle reported stranded in the Channel Islands during 2015 are not included above



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Table 2 UK strandings of cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks (2011-2015)

Species 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)

322 328 417 336 274

Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

89 81 69 93 110

Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas)

48 51 15 20 46

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

14 12 16 15 18

White beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris)

10 20 19 15 15

Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus)

9 9 6 4 15

Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)

14 11 17 11 14

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

14 9 9 10 9

Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris)

2 1 1 8 6

Sperm whale

(Physeter macrocephalus) 9 4 5 7 5

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)

3 5 2 0 4

Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus)

14 7 3 5 2

Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens)

3 7 5 4 2

Killer whale (Orcinus orca)

1 1 0 1 2

Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps)

1 0 1 2 1

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

0 1 2 1 1

Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus)

1 3 0 2 0

Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)

0 0 0 1 0

Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis)

1 2 1 0 0

Blainville’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon densirostris)

0 0 1 0 0

Dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima)

1 0 0 0 0

Cetacean (indeterminate species)

35 20 18 26 17

Dolphin (indeterminate species)

6 6 4 17 16

Short beaked common/striped dolphin (indeterminate)

10 5 5 7 10

Baleen whale (indeterminate species)

6 6 2 6 3

Odontocete (indeterminate species)

3 3 6 3 0

Lagenorhynchus sp. (indeterminate)

1 2 0 0 0

Kemp’s ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii)

3 1 1 6 9

Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)

0 3 1 1 6

Leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)

4 6 2 9 1

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)

1 0 0 0 1

Marine turtle (indeterminate species)

0 0 1 1 0

Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)

3 6 1 3 5

TOTAL 628 610 631 614 592



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Figure 5 Annual reported strandings of harbour porpoises and short-beaked common dolphins in the UK in 2015 compared to mean number of reported strandings (+/- 1SD) for 2011-2014 period.

Figure 6 Annual reported strandings of other cetacean species in the UK in 2015 compared to mean number of reported strandings (+/- 1SD) for 2011-2014 period.



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The distribution and abundance of the majority of UK cetacean strandings, including harbour porpoise and common dolphins, are largely correlated with the distribution and abundance of these species in UK and adjacent waters (Jepson et al. 2005; Reid et al. 2003). Analysis of the UK strandings dataset between 2011 and 2015 (Table 2 and Figures 7-11), indicates that there was a decrease in recorded strandings of harbour porpoises in most UK regions during 2015, with the exception of the Southwest (Figure 8). This follows on from the decrease in UK harbour porpoise strandings noted in all regions during 2014 (Deaville et al., 2015). There was also an increase in strandings of short-beaked common dolphins in the Southwest and in Scotland (Figure 9) during 2015. Strandings of species other than harbour porpoises and short-beaked common dolphins in Scotland were higher during 2015 (Figure 10). The higher numbers of species other than harbour porpoises and short-beaked common dolphins recorded in Scotland in 2011, 2012 and 2015 were in part due to the mass strandings of long-finned pilot whales that occurred during these years (Brownlow et al. 2014, Brownlow et al. 2015, Brownlow et al. 2016). Finally, strandings of indeterminate identity cetacean species decreased in all regions during 2015. There are numerous potential driver/s for this inter-annual variation and it will be interesting to compare any longer term UK trends, with those observed by stranding networks in adjacent regions, within the final contract report (covering the period 2011-2016).

Figure 7 UK regions used for analysis of data (from Jepson et al 2005)



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Figure 8 Inter annual variation in UK regional reported strandings of harbour porpoises (2011-2015)

Figure 9 Inter annual variation in UK regional reported strandings of common dolphins (2011-2015)



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Figure 10 Inter annual variation in UK regional reported strandings of cetacean species other than harbour porpoises and common dolphins (2011-2015)

NB Strandings of indeterminate identity have been excluded from Figure 8

Figure 11 Inter annual variation in UK regional reported strandings of cetacean species of indeterminate identity (2011-2015)



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4.1 Mass strandings/Unusual Mortality Events Nine stranding events involving two or more animals (mass stranding events or MSEs) occurred in the UK during 2015, six of which took place in Scotland and three in England (Figure 12). Seven MSEs involved a pair of individuals found stranded together (three events involved short-beaked common dolphins, two involved harbour porpoises and one each of striped dolphins and long-finned pilot whales). Two other MSEs involved six short-beaked common dolphins and twenty-one long-finned pilot whales, as described below.

Figure 12 Location of mass strandings during 2015

Long-finned pilot whale mass stranding, Isle of Skye On the morning of 2nd June, a pod of long-finned pilot whales was found stranded at Brogaig beach, Staffin, Isle of Skye in Scotland. Over the course of the next 24 hours, medics and volunteers from British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) managed to refloat 18 individuals of the 21 that had stranded, although 10 of them subsequently restranded on Staffin island a short while later. The restranded individuals were assessed by BDMLR and by a team from the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS), for their condition and likelihood of survival. Two juveniles died on the island, possibly crushed by a larger animal and after assessment it was decided to euthanise two others on welfare grounds. Six animals were however successfully refloated from the rocks by the BDMLR team on the rising tide that evening.



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The SMASS team carried out field necropsies on the seven whales that had died during the MSE, with assistance by CSIP teams from ZSL and MEM. No significant bacterial isolates were found in any of the examined animals and there was no evidence of any infectious process in these animals that would account for the MSE. There was also no pathological indication of an acoustic factor in this MSE and ‘no abnormal intensity, duration or nature’ of anthropogenic noise activity in the region, following requests to the Ministry of Defence and others for information, although as no baseline is available regarding ‘usual’ activity in the region, any potential impact from anthropogenic noise is difficult to assess (Brownlow et al. 2016). Amongst the examined animals was a heavily pregnant adult female with evidence of dystocia. This was considered to be a possible driver for the initial stranding, in the absence of any other significant intrinsic or external factors. This would also support the behavioural observations of the pod by members of the public made prior to the stranding, of an animal in apparent distress being circled by other members of the pod. Further details of the investigation into this mass stranding event are given in the 2015 annual report for Scotland (Brownlow et al. 2016)

Plate 1 Long-finned pilot whale mass stranding at Staffin, Isle of Skye (left hand image) and field necropsies conducted by SMASS and CSIP (right hand image) Images credit BDMLR and CSIP-ZSL

Short-beaked common dolphin mass stranding, Cornwall A mass stranding of short-beaked common dolphins occurred on Friday 17th July at Mylor, near Falmouth in Cornwall. Six common dolphins were involved, with the stranded animals being quickly refloated by members of public and BDMLR. After being refloated, they were sighted near Mylor over the rest of the day and that evening. A short-beaked common dolphin (national reference SW2015/252) was subsequently found live stranded in the Kennall River (also part of the Fal estuary ria) on the morning of Saturday 18th July. This dolphin was attended by BDMLR volunteers and euthanized following veterinary assessment, as a result of the extensive blistering across its back. The blistering was possibly consequential to a prolonged period spent live stranded. The post-mortem examination indicate that it was in moderate nutritional condition, had not fed recently and had a heavy parasite burden with associated ulceration in the cardiac stomach. The heavy gastric parasite burden was a likely significant factor in the live stranding of this dolphin and may also have been a possible factor in this mass stranding event. There were no subsequent re-sightings of the other dolphins and no significant external factors have been found during the investigation to date. In the absence of detailed information from the other



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stranded common dolphins, it’s impossible to draw firm conclusions about any other possible driver/s for this mass stranding event.

Plate 2 Short-beaked common dolphin stranded at Perranarworthal in the Kennal river (SW2015/252). Image credit Annabelle Lowe, BDMLR

Marine turtle strandings A higher than usual number of hard-shell marine turtle species stranded on the UK coast during 2015, primarily due to an increase in strandings of Kemp’s ridley turtles and loggerhead turtles at the end of the year. This was thought to be due to a result of the prolonged intense storm activity and prevailing south-westerly winds during this period (see Section 5.18).

Plate 3 Kemp’s ridley turtle which live stranded at Aberystwyth, Ceredigion on 12th December

(T2015/31). Image taken prior to transportation to Bristol Aquarium for attempted rehabilitation Image credit CSIP-MEM



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5 Summary of UK-stranded cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks in 2015 (by species) 5.1 Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) During 2015, 273 stranded harbour porpoises (50 males, 61 females and 163 of unknown sex) were reported in the UK, a number lower than the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=351, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 5). Of these, 149 stranded in England, 64 stranded in Wales, 60 stranded in Scotland and one stranded in Northern Ireland (Figure 13).

Figure 13 Distribution of harbour porpoise strandings in the UK (2015)

Figure 14 Distribution of short-beaked common dolphin strandings in the UK (2015)

Of the 273 reported harbour porpoise strandings, 53 were investigated at post mortem (27 were conducted in England, 13 in Scotland and 13 in Wales- Tables 3, 4, 5 and 6). A cause of death was found in 51 examined individuals (~96% of examined cases). Of these, 10 died following entanglement in fishing gear (by-catch), nine died as a result of starvation (including seven neonates), eight died as a result of attack from one or more bottlenose dolphins, four died from pneumonia due to parasitic infections, four died from physical trauma of unknown cause, four died as a consequence of live stranding, three from infections of the gastro-intestinal tracts, three died as a result of potential attack by grey seal/s (see below and Plate 5), two from generalised bacterial infections, one as a consequence of dystocia, one from severe hepatic parasitism, one from starvation as a sequel to gastric impaction with bones and one adult male porpoise had a potential lymphoma. A cause of death could not be established in two individuals (Table 8).



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Previous work published by stranding networks in Belgium and the Netherlands (Haelters et al., 2013 and Leopold et al., 2014) has identified the grey seal as a predator of harbour porpoises. During 2015, several UK stranded harbour porpoises have also presented pathology that was potentially consistent with grey seal attack or post-mortem scavenging. Plate 4 shows images of a harbour porpoise that was observed being possibly predated on by a seal at sea at Port Henderson near Gairloch, Highland on 8th May. The carcass drifted ashore and was recovered and secured away from any potential scavengers. The necropsy found that there was extensive evidence of bite marks, puncture wounds and tissue defects, most notably the near complete removal of the longissimus dorsi muscle from both sides of the thoracic vertebrae. Of note were several micro-haemorrhages associated with the puncture marks, which suggest this was an attack on a live animal and not scavenging of a carcase. Given the possible observed attack, seal predation is the most probable cause of death of this otherwise healthy animal.

Plate 4 Harbour porpoise found stranded at Port Henderson in Highland, exhibiting pathology consistent with predation by grey seals (SW2015/145, image credit CSIP-SMASS)

Annual data for several of the main cause of death categories in harbour porpoises over a five-year period (2011-2015 inclusive) are shown in Figure 16. Data is shown for the annual proportions of harbour porpoises that died of by-catch, infectious disease, starvation, as a result of attack from bottlenose dolphins, live stranding, ship-strike and other cause of death categories (including where a cause of death could not be established). There were no consistent trends in any cause of death category for UK-stranded harbour porpoises between 2011 and 2015 (Figure 16).



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Figure 15 Monthly reported strandings of harbour porpoises in the UK in 2015 compared to mean number of reported strandings (+/- 1SD) for 2011-2014 period.

Figure 16 Proportions of major cause of death categories in UK stranded harbour porpoises examined at post mortem 2011-2015



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5.2 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) During 2015, 110 stranded short-beaked common dolphins (27 males, 29 females and 54 of unknown sex) were reported in the UK, a number higher than the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=83, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 5). Of these, 58 stranded in England, 35 in Scotland, 14 in Wales, two in Northern Ireland and one in the Channel Islands (Figure 14). Of the 110 reported strandings in 2015, 25 were investigated at post mortem (15 were conducted in England, six in Scotland, three in Wales and one in Northern Ireland- Tables 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). A cause of death was established in all individuals, with seven diagnosed to have died as a consequence of live-stranding, five following entanglement in fishing gear (by-catch), three from starvation, two from physical trauma of unknown cause, one as a result of trauma resulting from boat/ship strike (Plate 5), one as a result of vegetative endocarditis (associated with Brucella ceti infection), one from a generalised bacterial infection, one from heavy gastric parasitism one from a gastric perforation and associated acute peritonitis, one which had a gastric inversion and potential gastric tumour, one which had extensive pulmonary abscesses and one which had a potential hydrocephalus (Table 8).

Plate 5 Short-beaked common dolphin (SW2015/379) found stranded at Hope Cove, Devon with injuries consistent with trauma consequential to ship-strike (image credit CSIP-ZSL)

As in previous years, strandings of common dolphins were somewhat spatially and temporally explicit, with a majority occurring in south-west England (Figure 14) from December-April (Figure 17). Annual data for several of the main cause of death categories in short-beaked common dolphins over a five-year period (2011-2015 inclusive) are shown in Figure 18. Data is shown for the annual proportions of short-beaked common dolphins that died as a result of by-catch, infectious disease, starvation, live stranding and other categories. There were no consistent trends in any cause of death category for UK-stranded short-beaked common dolphin between 2011 and 2015 (Figure 18).



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Figure 17 Monthly reported strandings of short-beaked common dolphins in the UK in 2015 compared to mean number of reported strandings (+/- 1SD) for 2011-2015 period.

Figure 18 Proportions of major cause of death categories in UK-stranded short-beaked common dolphins examined at post mortem 2011-2015



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5.3 Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) Forty-six stranded long-finned pilot whales (five males, fourteen females and 27 of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2015, a number broadly comparable to the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=34, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). Forty five were found stranded in Scotland and one in England (Figure 19). Of the 46 stranded long-finned pilot whales, 11 from Scotland were investigated at post mortem (Tables 3 and 5). Of these, nine died as a consequence of live stranding (six of which occurred during a mass stranding event), one as a result of live stranding consequential to dystocia (also involved in the mass stranding event) and one as a result of attack from one or more bottlenose dolphins (Table 8). A mass stranding event involving long-finned pilot whales also occurred in Scotland during 2015 (see Section 4.1). 5.4 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) Eighteen stranded minke whales (five males, five females and eight of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2015, a number higher than the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=14, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). Thirteen were found stranded in Scotland, four in England and one in Northern Ireland (Figure 20). Of the 18 stranded minke whales, four from Scotland were investigated at post mortem (Tables 3 and 5). Of these, three died as a consequence of entanglement in fishing gear (one of which was a known entanglement) and one from a parasitic enteritis (Table 8). Plate 6 shows images of a juvenile female minke whale, which was originally found drifting off Inverkip, before subsequently making landfall (SW2015/408). Despite post-mortem decomposition, there was clear evidence of rope entanglement around the tailstock with parallel lesions on the ventral surface of the flukes. The lesions were associated with haemorrhage and bruising indicating it was ante mortem in nature. There was also evidence of recent feeding and good blubber deposits. Entanglement in fisheries gear (thought to be primarily due to entanglement in gear related to creel fisheries) is a significant issue in stranded minke whales in Scotland, with over 50% of baleen whales examined at post-mortem in Scotland between 1990 and 2010 diagnosed as entanglement cases (Northridge et al., 2010). 5.5 White-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) Fifteen stranded white-beaked dolphins (seven males, four females and four of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2015, a number comparable to the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=16, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). Twelve were found stranded in Scotland, two in England and one in Northern Ireland (Figure 19). Of the 15 stranded white-beaked dolphins, four were investigated at post mortem (three in Scotland and one in England- Tables 3, 4 and 5). Of these, two died as a consequence of live stranding, one from meningoencephalitis and one from starvation (Table 8).



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Plate 6 Minke whale stranding near Inverkip (SW2015/408), exhibiting ropemarks around tail flukes Images credit CSIP-SMASS

Plate 7 White-beaked dolphin stranding at Magilligan Point, Londonderry, Northern Ireland (SW2015/12) Images credit DOE Marine Division 5.6 Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) Fifteen stranded Risso’s dolphins (four males, three females and eight of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2015, a number higher than the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=7, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). Seven were found stranded in Scotland, five in England and three in Wales (Figure 19). Of the fifteen stranded Risso’s dolphins, four were investigated at post



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mortem (two in Scotland, one in England and one in Wales- Tables 3, 4, 5 and 6). Of these, one died as a result of trauma resulting from boat/ship strike, one as a consequence of live stranding, one from meningoencephalitis and a cause of death was not established in one individual (Table 8). Plate 8 shows images of a 2.7m adult female Risso’s dolphin (SW2015/419), which was found dead stranded at Freshwater in Pembrokeshire, Wales on 13th December. The field necropsy indicated that the parallel linear incisions and partially excised tail flukes were consistent with ship strike and this represents the first case of ship strike diagnosed in a UK stranded Risso’s dolphin by the CSIP. The cardiac stomach was grossly distended with a large amount of recently ingested squid (provisionally identified as Loligo vulgaris).

Plate 8 Risso’s dolphin stranding (SW2015/419) at Freshwater, Pembrokeshire, exhibiting parallel incisions consistent with ship strike. Large amount of recently ingested squid in cardiac stomach. Images credit CSIP-MEM and CSIP-ZSL

5.7 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) Fourteen stranded striped dolphins (six males, three females and five of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2015, a number comparable to the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=13, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). Eleven were found stranded in Scotland, two in Wales and one in England (Figure 19). Of the fourteen stranded striped dolphins, seven were investigated at post mortem (four in Scotland, two in Wales and one in England- Tables 3, 4, 5 and



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6). Of these, four died from meningoencephalitis (three of which were associated with Brucella ceti infection), one as a consequence of live stranding, one as a result of heavy gastric parasitism and one was a live stranding consequential to a possible hydrocephalus (Table 8). Meningoencephalitis associated with Brucella sp. infection has been previously described in striped dolphins found live stranded in the UK (González et al., 2002; Davison et al., 2009). 5.8 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Nine stranded bottlenose dolphins (two males, one female and six of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2015, a number comparable to the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=11, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). Six were reported in England, two in Wales and one in Scotland (Figure 19). A single stranded bottlenose dolphin from Wales was investigated at post mortem (Tables 3 and 6) and was diagnosed to have died following entanglement in fishing gear (by-catch) (Table 8). Plate 9 shows images of the field necropsy of the bottlenose dolphin (a 2.55m juvenile male, national reference SW2015/322), which had been found dead stranded at Clarach in Ceredigion, Wales on 3rd September. The dolphin appeared to be in good nutritional condition and had no gross evidence of infectious disease. It had traumatic injuries potentially consistent with by-catch (penetrating wound in the ventral abdomen and region of internal haemorrhage). It had also been actively feeding prior to death, with recently ingested flatfish and a number of small (~30cm long) elasmobranchs in the first stomach, provisionally identified as lesser-spotted dogfish.

Plate 9 Bottlenose dolphin field necropsy carried out at a landfill site on 4

th September (SW2015/322).

Right hand image shows stomach contents. Images credit CSIP-ZSL

5.9 Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) Six stranded Cuvier’s beaked whales (three males and three of unknown sex) were reported stranded in Scotland during 2015 (Figure 19), a number broadly comparable to the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=3, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6).



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A single adult male Cuvier’s beaked whale which was found live stranded in shallow water off Harrapool, Skye on 3rd December (SW2015/426, Plate 10) was investigated at post-mortem, following euthanasia by shooting. Access and tide constraints necessitated carrying out the examination whilst the animal was partially submerged (see Plate 16). A severe impaction of plastic debris, mainly bags, was observed in the gastrointestinal tract and the whale was diagnosed to have died as a consequence of gastric plastic impaction (marine debris ingestion) (Tables 3, 5 and 8). See Appendix 3 for more details.

Plate 10 Cuvier’s beaked whale (SW2015/426) found live stranded at Skye on 3

rd December

Image credit Sam Harrild Nicholson

5.10 Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) Five stranded sperm whales (two males and three of unknown sex) were reported stranded in Scotland during 2015 (Figure 19), a number comparable to the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=6, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). None of the stranded sperm whales were investigated at post mortem.

5.11 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Four stranded fin whales (two females and two of unknown sex) were reported in the UK during 2015, a number comparable to the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=3, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). Three were found stranded in England and one in Northern Ireland (Figure 20). Of the four stranded fin whales, two were investigated at post mortem (one in England and one in Northern Ireland- Tables 3, 4 and 7). Of these, one died as a result of trauma resulting from boat/ship strike and one as a consequence of starvation (Table 8).



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Plate 11 shows images of a fin whale (approx. 10.8m long juvenile female, national reference SW2015/359), found dead stranded at Botany Bay in Kent on 14th October. The tail flukes and part of the tail had been excised from the rest of the body and were missing. Several deep, parallel, linear and diagonal incisions were noted on the right and ventral aspect of the remaining portion of the caudal peduncle. The carcass was generally pale and had a ‘bled out’ appearance. The damage to the tail was considered to be consistent with trauma following impact from propeller blades. Although most of the gastrointestinal tract was missing, bile staining in the remaining portion of the intestine might indicate a recent lack of feeding and could be consistent with the whale’s presence in the relatively abnormal habitat for this species of the southern North Sea. Another possible ship-struck fin whale was reported in June, after being brought into Harwich harbor on the front of a vessel, but the body was too decomposed and difficult to access to allow meaningful post-mortem examination and confirmation of a likely cause of death (data CSIP database).

Plate 11 Fin whale stranding (SW2015/359) at Botany Bay, Kent with parallel linear incisions on the caudal peduncle consistent with ship strike Images credit CSIP-ZSL

5.12 Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus) Two stranded Atlantic white-sided dolphins (one female and one of unknown sex) were reported in Scotland during 2015 (Figure 19), a number lower than the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=7, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). Neither was investigated at post mortem. 5.13 Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) Two stranded Sowerby’s beaked whales (one male and one of unknown sex) were reported in Scotland during 2015 (Figure 19), a number lower than the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=5, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). One was investigated at post mortem and died as a consequence of Brucella ceti related meningoencephalitis (neurobrucellosis) (Tables 3, 5 and 8).



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5.14 Killer whale (Orcinus orca)

Two stranded killer whales (one male and one of unknown sex) were reported in Scotland during 2015 (Figure 19), a number broadly comparable to the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=1, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). Neither of the strandings was investigated at post mortem due to the advanced autolysis of the carcasses, but samples were collected for future collaborative analysis.

Plate 12 Killer whale stranding on South Uist (SW2015/34) Image credit CSIP-SMASS

5.15 Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) A single stranded male pygmy sperm whale was reported in England during 2015 (Figure 19), a number comparable to the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=1, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). The pygmy sperm whale was investigated at post mortem and found to have died as a consequence of live stranding (Tables 3, 4 and 8). The 2.96m adult male pygmy sperm whale was reported dead stranded at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset on 16th May (Plate 13). The field necropsy demonstrated that the 2.96m adult male whale was in moderate nutritional condition at death. A copious volume of sediment and muddy water was present throughout the oesophagus and the first two stomachs, consistent with live stranding. Numerous squid beaks were found in the cardiac (first) and fundic (second) stomachs, although there was no evidence of recent feeding. A small shard of plastic was found in the cardiac stomach, although this may have been ingested with the mud at the time of stranding (Appendix 3).



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Plate 13 Pygmy sperm whale (SW2015/150) stranded at Weston-Super-Mare in Somerset Image credit CSIP-ZSL

5.16 Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) A single humpback whale was reported in Scotland during 2015 (Figure 20), a number comparable to the mean figure recorded during the previous four years (n=1, data 2011-2014; Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 6). The 8.9m juvenile female humpback whale was reported as a live entanglement in creel lines off the northeast coast of Scotland on 4th June. The whale died despite efforts by a British Divers Marine Life Rescue team to locate and attempt to disentangle it. The carcass of the whale was brought ashore to nearby Helmsdale and a team from SMASS carried out a field necropsy, with assistance by the CSIP (Tables 3, 5 and 8 and Plate 14).



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Plate 14 Humpback whale found entangled off Helmsdale (SW2015/183), prior to necropsy Image credit CSIP-SMASS

5.17 Indeterminate cetacean species Once decomposition or scavenging has destroyed identifiable external characteristics, distinguishing between morphologically similar species (such as short-beaked common dolphins and striped dolphins) can be difficult. Consequently, during 2015 there were 45 strandings of cetaceans that were too decomposed, incomplete or inaccessible to enable either accurate identification or retrieval for further investigation at post mortem (Tables 1 and 2). These consisted of indeterminate cetaceans (n=17), indeterminate dolphin species (n=15), short beaked common dolphins/striped dolphins (n=10) and indeterminate baleen whale species (n=3).


Figure 19 Distribution of other odontocete strandings in the UK (2015)

Figure 20 Distribution of mysticete strandings in the UK (2015)


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5.18 Marine turtles During 2015, 17 UK stranded marine turtles or marine turtles found dead at sea in UK waters were reported to Marine Environmental Monitoring2, the UK and Republic of Ireland co-ordinator for marine turtle strandings (www.strandings.com). The 17 reports consisted of nine stranded Kemp’s ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii), six stranded loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), one leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and one green turtle (Chelonia mydas) (Tables 1 and 2). An increase in strandings of hardshell species was recorded in 2015 in comparison to the mean number over the preceding four-year period (Figure 21; Penrose and Gander 2016). A larger than normal number of hard-shell species of marine turtles were reported stranded around the Atlantic facing coastline of the UK (Figure 22), primarily during December. This spike in reported strandings continued into January 2016. The relative increase in reported strandings is thought to be primarily due to the intense storm activity and prevailing south-westerly winds during this period. Two loggerhead turtles were found live stranded with large parts of the front flippers cleanly excised (one in Pembrokeshire and one in Dorset, see central image below). Discussion with colleagues in the UK and further afield has indicated that these injuries might be by-catch related, although it is not currently clear where or when they may have occurred.

Plate 15 Panel of selected marine turtle strandings during 2015. Kemp’s ridley turtle stranding at Cape Cornwall, Cornwall on 1

st December (left hand image, T2015/29); loggerhead turtle stranding on

Caldey Island, Pembrokeshire on 18th December (central image, T2015/33); loggerhead turtle

stranding at Irvine, North Ayrshire on 5th December (right hand image, T2015/27)

Images credit various/CSIP-MEM

Five of the Kemp’s ridley turtles were reported in England, two in Wales, one in Scotland and one in the Channel Islands. Three of the loggerhead turtles were reported in England, two in Wales and one in Scotland. The leatherback and green turtles were reported in Wales (Table 1 and Figure 22). Three loggerhead turtles and one Kemp’s ridley turtle were examined at post-mortem during 2015 and were found to have died of cold stunning (all three loggerhead turtles) and bacterial pneumonia (one Kemp’s ridley turtle, potentially novel bacteria species). Further information on

2 Marine turtle stranding information in this report is provided courtesy of Marine Environmental

Monitoring (MEM, www.strandings.com/Wales.html)


http://www.strandings.com/

http://www.strandings.com/Wales.html


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UK stranded marine turtles reported during 2015 is available in the UK and Republic of Ireland annual marine turtle report for 2015 (Penrose and Gander 2016). 5.19 Basking sharks Five basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus) were reported stranded in the UK during 2015 (three in Scotland and two in England), a figure broadly comparable to that reported during the previous four years (Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 23). None of the stranded basking sharks were investigated at post-mortem during 2015. Each year, a small number of basking sharks are recorded stranded in the UK (mean n=4, 2011-2014).

Figure 21 Annual reported strandings of marine turtles in the UK in 2015 compared to mean number of reported strandings (+/- 1SD) for 2011-2014 period.


Figure 22 Distribution of marine turtle strandings in the UK (2015)

Figure 23 Distribution of basking shark strandings in the UK (2015)

5.20 Seals Although seals are no longer a formal part of the UK wide CSIP remit, funding for the investigation of seal mortality in Scotland is provided by Marine Scotland and conducted by the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (www.strandings.org). In addition, data on dead stranded seals are also collected on an ad hoc basis in the rest of the UK by the CSIP and in Cornwall by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network. During 2015, 533 dead stranded seals were reported in the UK, consisting of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus, n=376), common seals (Phoca vitulina, n=50) and seals of indeterminate identity (n=107). The majority were reported in Scotland (n=314), with smaller numbers in England (n=171) and Wales (n=48). No data is available for Northern Ireland. Figure 24 illustrates that there is a good reporting network in Scotland, Wales and Cornwall, but coverage in the rest of England appears patchy. This is possibly consequential to a reduction in effort since the last period of UK wide funding for seal mortality investigation during the phocine distemper virus outbreak in 2002-03 (Lawson and Jepson, 2003). There has been no observable trend in reported dead seal strandings over the last five year period (Figure 25). During 2015, 20 seals were investigated at post-mortem in Scotland under contract to Marine Scotland. A number of opportunistic seal post-mortem examinations were also carried out in England (n=20) under ad hoc funding (e.g. under the AHVLA Diseases of Wildlife Scheme) and under contract to Natural England during a one off period of funding (November 2015-March 2016; Deaville 2016, in prep). Further information on seal mortality investigation in Scotland can be found at www.strandings.org.

http://www.strandings.org/

http://www.strandings.org/


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Figure 24 Distribution of dead seal strandings in the UK (2015)

Figure 25 Annual variation in reported dead seal strandings in the UK (2011-2015) NB no data available for Northern Ireland



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6 Post mortem investigations and causes of death data

Table 3 Post-mortem investigations conducted on UK-stranded cetaceans, marine turtles and basking sharks during 2015

Species Number

Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) 53 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 25 Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) 11 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) 7 White beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) 4 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) 4 Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) 4 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 2 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) 1 Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) 1 Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) 1 Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) 1 Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) 1 Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) 3 Kemp’s ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) 1

Total 119

Table 4 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans and marine turtles in England during 2015

Species Number

Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) 27 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 15 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) 1 Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) 1 White beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) 1 Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) 1 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 1 Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) 2

Total 49



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Table 5 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans and marine turtles in Scotland during 2015

Species Number

Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) 13 Long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) 11 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 6 Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) 4 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) 4 White beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) 3 Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) 2 Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens) 1 Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris) 1 Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) 1 Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) 1

Total 47

Table 6 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded cetaceans and marine turtles in Wales during 2015

Species Number

Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) 13 Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 3 Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) 2 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) 1 Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus) 1 Kemp’s ridley turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) 1

Total 21

Table 7 Post-mortem investigations conducted on stranded basking sharks in Northern Ireland during 2015

Species Number

Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) 1 Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) 1

Total 2

NB Post-mortem examinations in Northern Ireland are carried out by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, under contract to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, which kindly provided NI data for Tables 7 and 8



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Table 8 Causes of death of cetaceans and marine turtles examined at post mortem in the UK in 2015

Species Cause of death category No.

Harbour porpoise By-catch 10 (Phocoena phocoena, n=53) Bottlenose Dolphin Attack 8 Starvation (neonate) 7 Pneumonia, Parasitic 4 Physical trauma (unidentified cause) 4 Live Stranding 4 Gastritis and/or Enteritis 3 Grey Seal Attack 3 Starvation 2 Generalised Bacterial Infection 2 Others 2 Dystocia and Stillborn 1 Neoplasia 1 Not Established 2 Short-beaked common dolphin Live Stranding 7 (Delphinus delphis, n=25) By-catch 5 Others 5 Starvation 3 Physical trauma (unidentified cause) 2 Physical trauma, Boat/Ship Strike 1 Generalised Bacterial Infection 1 Gastritis and/or Enteritis 1 Long-finned pilot whale Live Stranding 9 (Globicephala melas, n=11) Dystocia and Stillborn 1 Bottlenose Dolphin Attack 1 Striped dolphin (Meningo)encephalitis 4 (Stenella coeruleoalba, n=7) Live Stranding 1 Gastritis and/or Enteritis 1 Others 1 White-beaked dolphin Live Stranding 1 (Lagenorhynchus albirostris, n=4) (Meningo)encephalitis 1 Starvation 1

Minke whale Entanglement 2 (Balaenoptera acutorostrata, n=4) Entanglement (known) 1 Gastritis and/or Enteritis 1

Risso’s dolphin Physical trauma, Boat/Ship Strike 1 (Grampus griseus, n=4) (Meningo)encephalitis 1 Live Stranding 1 Not Established 1

Fin whale Physical trauma, Boat/Ship Strike 1 (Balaenoptera physalus, n=2) Starvation 1

Bottlenose dolphin By-catch 1

(Tursiops truncatus, n=1) Sowerby’s beaked whale (Meningo)encephalitis 1 (Mesoplodon bidens, n=1)

Cuvier’s beaked whale Others 1 (Ziphius cavirostris, n=1)

Humpback whale Entanglement (known) 1 (Megaptera novaeangliae, n=1)



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Species Cause of death category No. Pygmy sperm whale Live Stranding 1 (Kogia breviceps, n=1)

Loggerhead turtle Cold stunned 3 (Caretta caretta, n=3)

Kemp’s ridley turtle Pneumonia, Bacterial 1 (Lepidochelys kempii, n=1)

Plate 16 Field necropsy of a Cuvier’s beaked whale in which stranded at Broadford, Highland. Because of the inaccessible location and the constraints of the tide, the necropsy had to be conducted whilst the whale was partly submerged. Image credit CSIP-SMASS



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7 Spatial distribution of cause of death categories

NB Figure legend given overleaf


Figure 26 Spatial distribution of cetacean strandings examined at post-mortem in 2015 and diagnosed to have died as a result of; a) live stranding (n=26); b) infectious disease (n=20); c) by-catch and entanglement (n=16); d) starvation (n=14, includes seven neonates); e) interspecific aggression- violent interactions with bottlenose dolphins (n=9) and grey seal predation (n=3, crossed circles); f) boat/ship strike (n=3)

Spatial distributions of the six main cause of death categories (live-stranding, infectious disease, by-catch/entanglement, starvation, interspecific aggression, and boat/ship strike) for 2015 are given in the preceding figures (Figures 26a-26f).

8 Collaborations and outputs

As well as delivering the core objectives required under this contract, the CSIP is also involved in a large amount of interdisciplinary collaborative science, in an effort to gain a better understanding of the conservation threats to cetaceans, as well as learning more about their biology, life history etc. As part of these national and international collaborations (see 8.2), numerous peer reviewed publications are produced each year in the scientific literature, with over 215 now published where there was direct involvement and/or co-authorship of the CSIP (see Section 8.3 for those published during 2015). 8.1 Investigations of relationships between environmental contaminants and health status As a result of the on-going collaboration between the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and the CSIP, along with additional collaborations with a number of European partner organisations, the Institute of Zoology lead a large pan-European study of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in over 1,000 cetaceans of four species that was submitted for publication in 2015 (Jepson et al. 2016). The study included PCB data (as the sum of 25 individual chlorobiphenyl congeners) on harbour porpoises (HPs) (n=706), bottlenose dolphins (BNDs) (n=138), striped dolphins (SDs) (n=220) and killer whales (KWs) (n=24) sampled across Europe between 1990 and 2012. PCBs concentrations in all 4 species were moderately high (porpoises) (mean = 10-20 mg/kg lipid) or excessively high (dolphins) (mean = 50-350 mg/kg lipid). The sampled SDs, BNDs and KWs had mean and median PCB levels that significantly exceeded all previously recorded marine mammal PCB toxicity thresholds. The most widely used PCB toxicity threshold for marine mammals is based on Kannan et al. (2000) and is equivalent to only 9 mg/kg lipid (Jepson et al. 2016). Time trend analyses also showed that PCBs stopped declining in 1998 (UK HPs) and around 2002 for SDs in the Mediterranean Sea. The Iberian Peninsula was a global marine mammal “PCB hotspot” in both North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea regions. Despite regulations and mitigation measures to reduce PCB pollution, their bioaccumulation in marine food webs continues to cause population-level impacts. Excessively high PCBs were considered to be the predominant driver of ongoing population declines in KW and BNDs across Europe (Jepson et al. 2016). The few remaining coastal KW populations appear close to extinction within the industrialized regions of Europe, because they have very low or zero reproductive rates for the species. High PCBs with low calf recruitment, consistent with PCB-induced reproductive toxicity, were also found in the small and still declining resident BND group in the Sado Estuary, Portugal (Jepson et al. 2016).

Two other toxicological studies on UK-stranded HPs were published in 2015. The first showed PCB exposure in blubber of 329 UK-stranded female HPs (1990-2012) (Murphy et al. 2015). In sexually mature females, 25/127 (19.7%) showed direct evidence of reproductive failure (foetal death, aborting, dystocia or stillbirth). A further 21/127 (16.5%) had infections of the reproductive tract or tumours of reproductive tract tissues that could contribute to reproductive failure. Resting mature females (non-lactating or non-pregnant) had significantly higher mean ∑PCBs (18.5 mg/kg) than both lactating (7.5 mg/kg) and pregnant females (6 mg/kg), though not significantly different to sexually immature females (14.0 mg/kg). Blubber ΣPCBs were found to be a


51

significant predictor of mature female reproductive status, with resting (non-pregnant) females more likely to have a higher PCB burden. HPs that died of infectious disease were significantly less likely to be pregnant that “healthy” trauma cases. Lactating females were also more likely to be in good health status compared to other individuals. Based on PCBs (>11 mg/kg lipid), at least 29/60 (48%) of resting females had not fully offloaded their PCB burden via gestation/lactation - consistent with foetal or newborn mortality. A much lower pregnancy rate of 50% was estimated for “healthy” females that died of traumatic causes of death, compared to other HP populations in more pristine environments that calve annually (e.g. Iceland; Greenland).

The second HP toxicology study published in 2015 analysed a suite of 20 organophosphorus flame retardant compounds in blubber and liver tissue of 20 UK-stranded HPs during 2012 (Papachlimitzou et al. 2015). Fourteen of the twenty compounds were below the limits of quantification in all samples. Six could be quantified at maximum concentrations (in blubber) between 6.7 and 246 μg kg-1 wet weight. These levels do not suggest a high level of concern regarding potential impacts. Finally, during 2015, twenty additional harbour porpoise blubber and liver samples were sent to CEFAS by the CSIP for PCB and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) analyses. Results of these analyses are expected during 2016. 8.2 Additional collaborative research activity In addition to the collection, analysis and reporting for the purposes of MB0111, samples and data collected by the CSIP since 1990 continue to be used in a number of research collaborations. These currently include; Dr. Simon Northridge, Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Teeth and

stomach contents from cetaceans stranded in England and Wales are routinely sent for teeth ageing and stomach content analysis respectively. This biological data from UK stranded cetaceans forms an integral part of additional Defra-funded research on cetacean by-catch co-ordinated by the Sea Mammal Research Unit. Stomach contents analysis of Scottish stranded white-beaked dolphins is also undertaken.

Robin Law, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory, Suffolk, England. Marine contaminant studies on UK stranded cetaceans.

Dr. Ailsa Hall, Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Blubber and lung samples from UK-stranded seal and cetacean species are being analysed as part of a bioinformatics study of leptin (a multifunctional hormone involved in body fat regulation and respiratory function). The investigation is trying to determine how leptin structure has evolved in species with very different diving capabilities and physiologies. Marine mammal immune function studies- liver samples from a range of UK-stranded marine mammal species are being used for exploratory studies of innate immunity, particularly the expression of antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidins and definsins. Domoic acid assays (from mass strandings etc).

Dr. Mark Dagleish, Moredun, Research Institute, Midlothian, Scotland. Histopathological studies on cetacean tissues from Scottish cetaceans.

Dr. Graham Pierce, University of Aberdeen, Oceanlab, Main Street, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Collaboration on life history, dietary and toxicological studies of Scottish stranded harbour porpoises and other cetaceans.

Professor Antonio Fernandez, Dr Manolo Arbelo and Dr Eva Sierra, Facultad de Veterinaria Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Pathological investigations into gas and fat embolism in



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cetaceans. Immunohistochemical investigations of intracytoplasmic inclusions in cetacean hepatocytes. Immunohistochemical studies of muscle fibre types and interstitial skeletal muscle fat globules in shallow and deep-diving cetaceans.

Dr. Sinead Murphy, Institute of Zoology and Massey University, New Zealand. EU-funded CETACEAN STRESSORS Marie Curie Fellowship investigating biological and environmental factors influencing reproductive success in short beaked common dolphins in Europe and New Zealand.

Lorraine Perrett, Department of Bacteriology and TB, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, Surrey, England. Serological studies to assess exposure to Brucella spp. and typing of Brucella isolates.

Professor Robbie McDonald, Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, UK. Collaborations on Cornwall strandings and necropsies.

Dr. Per Berggren, Newcastle University, Newcastle, England. Strandings in the north-east of England.

Professor Richard Thompson and Dr. Kimberley Bennett, Plymouth University, Devon, England. Analysis of stranded animals for microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract

Brendan Godley, University of Exeter, Cornwall- microplastics in marine mammal gastrointestinal tracts

Dr. Hélène Peltier and Professor Vincent Ridoux, CRMM, Université de La Rochelle, La Rochelle, France. Drift modelling of European stranded cetaceans.

Dr. Sami Hassani, Oceanopolis, Brest, France. Population structure of harbour porpoises and grey seals.

Dr. Duncan Odom, Cambridge Research Institute, Cambridge, England. Liver samples from stranded cetaceans for a large-scale comparative genomics project.

Marie Louis, Université de La Rochelle, La Rochelle, France. Population structure of European stranded bottlenose dolphins.

Prof. A.R. Hoelzel, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, England. Population structure of European populations of white-beaked dolphins and Atlantic white-sided dolphins.

Dr. Andy Foote, Centre for GeoGenetics, The Natural History Museum of Denmark, Denmark. Population structure of European stranded cetaceans.

Dr. Gabrielle Stalder, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Vienna, Austria. Faecal material from stranded cetaceans, to conduct comparative analyses of microorganisms.

Dr. Andrew Kitchener, Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland. Recording all marine mammal stranding events in Scotland. Marine mammal skulls and scapulae are sent to Dr. Kitchener for marine mammal morphometric studies.

Prof. Paul Thompson, School of Biological Science, Lighthouse Field Station, University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Collaboration on biological and genetic studies of harbour porpoises and bottlenose dolphins.

Gilles Vergnaud, University of South Paris, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, France. Molecular typing of Brucella isolates.

Dr. Peter Ditchfield, Department of Archaeology, University of Oxford, England. Marine mammal samples are supplied for studies of stable isotopes.

Dr. Gareth Pearce, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK and Dr. Marie-Françoise Van Bressem, Cetacean Conservation Medicine Group, Starnberg, Germany. Analysis of morphology and molecular characterisation of poxvirus lesions in free-ranging cetaceans.

Dr. Eva Krupp, Aberdeen University. King's College, Aberdeen, Scotland. Metals analysis of pilot whale MSE

Maria Morell, University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada. Analysis of ears from mass stranded animals.

Dr. Kevin Robinson, CRRU Gardenston, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Bottlenose dolphin kills on harbour porpoises in Scotland.

Joanna Kershaw, Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Harbour porpoise and large cetacean blubber samples.

Dr. Tom Brown, Biogeochemistry Research Centre, Plymouth University, Devon, England. Liver samples to test for regional variation in marine mammal diet determined using IP25 and related highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) diatom biomarkers



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Paolo Cipriani Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Section of Parasitology, University of Rome, Italy. Characterisation of parasites of the genus Anisakis from Physeter macrocephalus (and other pelagic cetaceans)

Christina Fossi, University of Siena, Via Banchi di Sotto, Siena, Italy. Microplastics in baleen whales.

Roger Ayling, Mycoplasma dept, Department of Bacteriology and TB, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Addlestone, England. Identification of Mycoplasma sp. isolates from marine mammals

Michael Bedington, SAMS. Strandings location details for tidal drift modelling.

Dr Barbara Cheney, Aberdeen University. Bottlenose dolphin necropsy details for comparison with photo-id catalogue.

Lesley Hoyles, Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading. Sequencing of bacterial isolates.

Lilian Lieber University of Aberdeen. Skin & muscle from Basking sharks for DNA analysis.

Norbert Van De Velde University of Ghent. Toxoplasma studies.

Milaja Nykanen, PhD Candidate School of BEES University College Cork Ireland. Bottlenose dolphin mitogenome work.

Dr Conor Ryan Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. Ghost gear study.

Chiara Giulia Bertulli, PhD student, University of Iceland. Body colouration patterns and vertebral abnormalities in white-beaked dolphins.

Kieran Tierney, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC) & the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS). Transportation and Bioaccumulation of Sellafield-derived radiocarbon (14C) in the Marine Environment: Analysing 14C in marine mammals.

Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Bacteriological culture of samples from marine mammals.

Scottish Salmonella Reference Laboratory. Typing of Salmonella sp. isolates

Eileen Harris, Senior Curator Parasites & Vectors Division Department of Life Sciences Natural History Museum Cromwell Road London. Parasite identification.

Rob Harris, SMRU. Analysis stomach contents seal management cases.

Lonneke L. Ijsseldijk, Project coordinator Cetaceans, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. Bacteriology and North Sea strandings collaborations.

Rachel Ball, University of Chester. Analysis of long-finned pilot whale mitochondrial DNA to determine the maternal haplotypes present in three Scottish mass strandings.

Silvia Monteiro, CESAM, University of Aveiro, Portugal. UK and Europe long-finned pilot whale population genetic analysis.

Alex Papachlimitzou, CEFAS, Lowestoft, UK. Organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) and plasticiser analyses in UK stranded harbour porpoises

Michael Fontaine and Simon Goodman, GELIFES, University of Groningen and University of Leeds. UK and Europe harbour porpoise population genetic structure

8.3 Peer reviewed publications (2015)

Barnett, J., Dastjerdi, A., Davison, N., Deaville, R., Everest, D., Peake, J., Finnegan, C., Jepson, P., Steinbach, F. (2015) Identification of Novel Cetacean Poxviruses in Cetaceans Stranded in South West England. PLoS ONE 10(6): e0124315.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0124315

Bertulli, C.G., Galatius, A., Kinze, C.C., Rasmussen, M.H., Deaville, R., Jepson, P., Vedder, E.J., Sánchez Contreras, G.J., Sabin, R.C. and Watson, W. (2015) Vertebral column deformities in white-beaked dolphins from the eastern North Atlantic. Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 116: 59–67

Davison, N.J., Brownlow, A.,, McGovern, B, Dagleish, M.P., Perrett L.L,, Dale E-J.,, Koylass, M, Foster, G. (2015) First report of Brucella ceti associated meningoencephalitis in a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas). Diseases of Aquatic Organisms 116;237-241 doi:10.3354/dao02926 27/10/15

Fernández, R., Schubert, M., Vargas-Velázquez, A.M., Brownlow, A., Vikingsson, G.A., Siebert, U., Jensen, L.F., Øien, N., Wall, D., Rogan, E., Mikkelsen, B., Dabin, W., Alfarhan, A.H., Alquraishi, S.A., Al-Rasheid, A.S., Guillot, G., Orlando, L. (2015). A genomewide catalogue of



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single nucleotide polymorphisms in white-beaked and Atlantic white-sided dolphins. Molecular Ecology Resources, doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.12427.

Foster, G., Whatmore, A.M., Dagleish, M.P., Baily, J.L. Deaville, R., Davison, N.J., Koylass, M.S., Perrett, L.L., Stubberfield, E.J., Reid, R.J. and Brownlow, A.C. (2015) Isolation of Brucella ceti from a long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas) and a Sowerby’s beaked whale (Mesoploden bidens) Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 51(4). DOI: 10.7589/2014-04-112

IJsseldijk, L.L., Leopold. M.F., Rebolledo, R.B., Deaville, R., Haelters, J., IJzer, J., Jepson, P.D., Gröne, A. (2015) Fatal Asphyxiation in Two Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas) Caused by Common Soles (Solea solea) PLoS One, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141951

Jensen, S-K., Lacaze, J.P., Hermann, G., Kershaw, J., Brownlow, A., Turner, A. and Hall, A. (2015) Detection and effects of harmful algal toxins in Scottish harbour seals and potential links to population decline. Toxicon 97: 1–14

Monteiro, S.S., Méndez-Fernandez, P., Piertney, S., Moffat, C.F., Ferreira, M., Vingada, J.V., López, A., Brownlow, A., Jepson, P., Mikkelsen, B., Niemeyer, M., Carvalho, J.C. and Pierce, G.J. (2015) Long-finned pilot whale population diversity and structure in Atlantic waters assessed through biogeochemical and genetic markers. Marine Ecology Progress Series 536: 243–257 DOI: 10.3354/meps11455

Monteiro, S,S., Ferreira, M, Vingada J.V., López, A., Brownlow A. and Méndez-Fernandez P. (2015). Application of Stable Isotopes to Assess the Feeding Ecology of Long-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala Melas) in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 465: 56–63.

Murphy, S., Barber, J.L. Learmonth, J.A., Read, F.L., Deaville, R., Perkins, M.W., Brownlow, A., Davison, N., Penrose, R., Pierce, G.J., Law, R.J. and Jepson, P.D. (2015) Reproductive Failure in UK Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoenaI): Legacy of Pollutant Exposure? PLoS ONE, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0131085

Papachlimitzou A., Losada S., Barber J.L., Bersuder P., Deaville R., Brownlow A, Penrose R., Jepson P.D. and Law R.J. (2015) Organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) and plasticisers in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded or bycaught in the UK during 2012. Marine Pollution Bulletin 98:1-2, pp. 328-334 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.06.034.

Register, K.B., Ivanov, Y., Harvill, E.T., Davison, N. and Foster G. (2015) Novel, host-restricted genotypes of Bordetella bronchiseptica associated with respiratory tract isolates. Microbiology 161, 580-592

Villar, D., Berthelot, C., Aldridge, S., Rayner, T., Lukk, M., Muffato, M., Park, T., Deaville, R., Erichsen, J., Murchison, E.P., Jasinska, A.J., Turner, J.M.A., Limb, A., Flicek, P. and Odom, D.T. (2015) Enhancer evolution across twenty mammals. Cell. 160, 554-566

Figure 27 shows the annual number of peer-reviewed publications produced over the length of the project (direct involvement of the CSIP only), illustrating that an increasing number are produced each year. This is in large part due to the longevity of the research programme and the increasing sizes of the strandings dataset and national tissue archive in the UK.


http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.06.034.


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Figure 27 Annual publications produced by the CSIP and through collaborations (1990-2015)

8.4 Reports (2015) Brownlow, A., Davison, N.J. and ten Doeschate, M. (2016) Scottish Marine Animal Strandings

Scheme Annual Report 2015 (in press)

Brownlow, A., Baily, J., Dagleish, M., Deaville, R., Foster, G., Jensen, S-K., Krupp, E., Law, R., Penrose, R., Perkins, M., Read, F. and Jepson, P. (2015) Investigation into the long-finned pilot whale mass stranding event, Kyle of Durness, 22

nd July 2011. Report to Defra and Marine Scotland.

http://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=12547_KyleofDurnessmassstrandingeventreport.pdf

Deaville, R. (compiler) (2015) UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme annual report, 2014 (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=12562_Final_UK_CSIP_Annual_Report_2014.pdf)

Penrose, R.S. (2016). Marine Mammal & Marine Turtle Strandings (Welsh Coast) Annual Report 2015 (in press)

Penrose, R.S. and Gander, L.R. (2016). UK & Republic of Ireland Marine Turtle Strandings & Sightings Annual Report 2015 (http://www.strandings.com/Graphics%20active/2015%20Turtle%20Annual%20Strandings%20Report.pdf)

Thompson, D., Onoufriou,J., Brownlow, A. and Bishop, A. (2015). Preliminary report on predation by adult grey seals on grey seal pups as a possible explanation of corkscrew injury patterns seen in the unexplained seal deaths. Report to Scottish government. http://www.smru.st-and.ac.uk/documents/2162.pdf

UK CSIP contributions provided for the 2014 UK National Reports to ASCOBANS and the IWC




http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=12562_Final_UK_CSIP_Annual_Report_2014.pdf


http://www.smru.st-and.ac.uk/documents/2162.pdf


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8.5 Conference abstracts (2015) Brownlow, A.B., ten Doeschate, M., Davison, N., Deaville, R., Jepson, P. and Thompson, P. (2015)

Dead useful? Methods to improve the ecological value of the strandings record as a monitoring tool. Proceedings of the 29

th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, St. Julians, Malta,

21st-25

th March 2015.

Brownlow, A.B., Onoufriou, J. Davison, N., ten Doeschate, M., Bexton, S. amd Thompson, D. (2015) Emergence of the grey seal as a potentially significant predator of marine mammals. Proceedings of the 21

st biennial conference of the Society for Marine Mammology, San Francisco, USA, 14

th-18

th

December 2015.

Davison, N.D., Perrett, L., Dawson, C., Koylass, M., Dagleish, M., Haskins, G., Hannigan, K., Brownlow, A., Foster, G. (2015) Malta fever in a minke whale: the first confirmed report of the isolation of Brucella ceti in a minke whale with associated pathologyProceedings of the 29

th annual

conference of the European Cetacean Society, St. Julians, Malta, 21st-25

th March 2015.

Deaville, R., Barnett, J., Brownlow, A., Clery, M., Davison, NJ., Lyal, R., Penrose, P., Perkins M. Smith, B., Williams, R. and Jepson, P.D. (2015) 100 not out- a century of strandings monitoring in the UK. Proceedings of the 29


21st-25

th March 2015.

Deaville, R., Barnett, J., Brownlow, A., Clery, M., Davison, NJ., Lyal, R., Penrose, P., Perkins M. Smith, B., Williams, R. and Jepson, P.D. (2015) 100 not out- a century of strandings monitoring in the UK. Proceedings of the 21

st biennial conference of the Society for Marine Mammology, San

Francisco, USA, 14th-18

th December 2015.

ten Doeschate, M., Brownlow, A., Davison, N., Deaville, R., Jepson, P., Pierce, G.J., Read, F. and Thompson, P. (2015) The pathology of strandings data: Methods to improve the ecological value of the strandings record as a monitoring tool Proceedings of the ICES Annual Science Conference, Copenhagen, December 2015

Jepson, P.D., Deaville, R., Barber, J. L., Aguilar, À., Borrell, A., Murphy, S., Barry, J., Brownlow, A., Barnett, J., Berrow, S., Cunningham, A. A., Davison, N., Esteban, R., Ferreira, M., Foote, A. D., Genov, T., Giménez, J., Loveridge, J., Llavona, Á., Martin, V., Maxwell, D. L., Papachlimitzou, A., Penrose, R., Perkins, M. W., Smith, B., de Stephanis, R., Tregenza, N., Verborgh, P., Fernandez, A. & Law, R. J. (2015) Global pollution (PCB) hotspots and European dolphin declines. Proceedings of the 29

th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society, St. Julians, Malta, 21

st-25

th March

2015.

Jepson, P.D., Deaville, R., Barber, J. L., Aguilar, À., Borrell, A., Murphy, S., Barry, J., Brownlow, A., Barnett, J., Berrow, S., Cunningham, A. A., Davison, N., Esteban, R., Ferreira, M., Foote, A. D., Genov, T., Giménez, J., Loveridge, J., Llavona, Á., Martin, V., Maxwell, D. L., Papachlimitzou, A., Penrose, R., Perkins, M. W., Smith, B., de Stephanis, R., Tregenza, N., Verborgh, P., Fernandez, A. & Law, R. J. Toxic legacy- severe PCB pollution in European dolphins. Proceedings of the 21

st

biennial conference of the Society for Marine Mammology, San Francisco, USA, 14th-18

th December

2015.

Murphy, S. Barber, J.L., Learmonth, J.A., Read, F., Deaville, R., Perkins, M., Brownlow, A., Davison, N., Pierce, G.J., Law, R. and Jepson, P.D. (2015) Reproductive failure in UK harbour porpoises: legacy of pollutant exposure? Proceedings of the 29

th annual conference of the European Cetacean

Society, St. Julians, Malta, 21st-25

th March 2015.

Perkins, M., Deaville, R., Penrose, R. and Jepson, P. (2015) Gluttony, the deadliest of all the sins. Proceedings of the 29


21st-25

th March 2015.

Pierce, G.J., Read, F., Brownlow, A., Davison, N., ten Doeschate, M., Anderson, N., Skinner, M., Santos, M.B., Llavona, A., Saavedra, C., Murphy, S., Jepson, P.D., Deaville, R. and Ridoux, V. (2015) Can we obtain MSFD indicators from cetacean strandings data? Proceedings of the ICES Annual Science Conference, Copenhagen, December 2015



57

Plate 17 Screengrab from a CSIP/Natural Resources Wales video (left hand image) and a mass stranding of long-finned pilot whales in Penzance, Cornwall in 1911 (right hand image) used during presentations at the European Cetacean Society annual conference in Malta Images credit CSIP/NRW and Natural History Museum

8.6 Demonstration necropsies/training (2015)

During 2015, the CSIP carried out numerous demonstration necropsies for a wide variety of audiences. These included various policy officials, CSIP collaborating institutions, ZSL MSc students, Aberdeen University MSc students and biology undergraduate students at Exeter University (Penryn campus) and Newcastle University (Plate 18). The CSIP has an ongoing collaboration with Exeter University- necropsies on suitable strandings in Cornwall are now carried out at the Penryn campus near Falmouth, by CSIP pathologist James Barnett and volunteers from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network. The CSIP also has an ongoing collaboration with Newcastle University (headed up by Dr Per Berggren), which helps facilitate strandings coordination and retrieval in northeast England.

Plate 18 Demonstration necropsies carried out by the CSIP at Exeter University (left hand image) and Newcastle University (middle and right image) Images credit CSIP-ZSL

SRUC carried out a large number of necropsy demonstrations during 2015, including several aimed at training volunteers to assist with strandings investigation and post-mortem sampling around the Scottish coast (Plate 19; Brownlow et al. 2016).



58

Plate 19 Orkney Stranding Volunteers training (left image); necropsy demonstration for Aberdeen University Masters students at Inverness (middle image); necropsy demonstration for veterinary students at Glasgow Vet School (right image). Images credit CSIP-SMASS

8.7 Outreach and education (2015)

The CSIP carried out a wide range of outreach activities during 2015, including participation in Sunset Safari at ZSL in June/July (www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/sunset-safari) and at Science Uncovered at the Natural History Museum in September (http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/science-uncovered-2015.html). During these events, they presented data, images and videos of UK strandings and strandings, along with a variety of specimens collected during cetacean necropsies, including skeletal material, baleen, teeth and fixed tissue and parasites (Plate 20).

Plate 20 CSIP stall and talks at Sunset Safari events in ZSL over summer 2015 (top panel). CSIP staff from ZSL and NHM at Science Uncovered 25

th September (bottom panel).

Images credit CSIP-ZSL.


http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/sunset-safari

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/sunset-safari

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/science-uncovered-2015.html


59

9 References

Brownlow, A., Davison, N.J. and ten Doeschate, M. (2016) Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme Annual Report 2015 (in press)

Brownlow, A., Baily, J., Dagleish, M., Deaville, R., Foster, G., Jensen, S-K., Krupp, E., Law, R., Penrose, R., Perkins, M., Read, F. and Jepson, P. (2015) Investigation into the long-finned pilot whale mass stranding event, Kyle of Durness, 22

nd July 2011. Report to Defra and Marine

Scotland. (http://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=12547_KyleofDurnessmassstran

dingeventreport.pdf)

Brownlow, A., Baily, J., Dagleish, M., Davison, N., Deaville, R., Foster, G., Silje-Kirstin, J., Jepson, P., Krupp, E., Law, R., McGovern, B., Morell, M., Penrose, R., Perkins, M. and Read, F. (2014) Investigation into the long-finned pilot whale mass stranding event, Pittenweem, Fife, 2012, Report to Marine Scotland.

Davison, N.J., Cranwell, M.P., Perrett, L.L., Dawson, C.E., Deaville, R., Stubberfield, E.J., Jarvis, D.S. and Jepson, P.D. (2009) Meningoencephalitis associated with Brucella species in a live-stranded striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) in south-west England. Veterinary Record 165, 86-89.

Deaville, R. (compiler) (2015) UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme annual report, 2014 (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=12562_Final_UK_CSIP_Annual_Report_2014.pdf)

Deaville, R. and Jepson, P.D. (compilers) (2011) UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme Final report for the period 1

st January 2005-31

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(http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=FinalCSIPReport2005-

2010_finalversion061211released[1].pdf)

González, L., Patterson, I.A., Reid, R.J., Foster, G., Barberán, M., Blasco, J.M., Kennedy, S., Howie, F.E., Godfroid, J., MacMillan, A.P., Schock, A., Buxton, D.. (2002) Chronic meningoencephalitis associated with Brucella sp. infection in live-stranded striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). Journal of Comparative Pathology 126(2-3):147-52.

Haelters, J., Kerckhof, F., Jauniaux, T. and Degraer, S. (2013) The grey seal as a predator of harbour porpoises. Aquatic Mammals, 38(4), 343-353

Jepson, P.D., Deaville, R., Barber, J.L., Aguilar, À., Borrell, A., Murphy, S., Barry, J., Brownlow,

A., Barnett, J., Berrow, S., Cunningham, A.A., Davison, N.J., ten Doeschate, M., Esteban, R., Ferreira, M., Foote, A.D., Genov, T., Giménez, J., Loveridge, J., Llavona,

Á., Martin, V., Maxwell,

D.L., Papachlimitzou, A., Penrose, R., Perkins, M.W., Smith, B., de Stephanis, R., Tregenza, N., Verborgh, P., Fernandez, A. and Law, R.J. (2016) PCB pollution continues to impact populations of orcas and other dolphins in European waters. Scientific Reports 6: 18573 doi:10.1038/srep18573

Jepson, P.D. (editor (2005) Cetacean Strandings Investigation and Co-ordination in the UK 2000-2004. Final report to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. 79pp. (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=WP01011_8244_FRP.pdf)

Jepson, P.D., Bennett, P.M., Deaville, R., Allchin, C.R., Baker, J.R., Law, R.J. (2005a) Relationships between polychlorinated biphenyls and health status in harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded in the United Kingdom. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 24, 238-248.

Jepson, P.D., Deaville, R., Patterson, I.A.R., Pocknell, Ross, H.M., Baker, J.R., Howie, F.E., Reid, R.J., Colloff, A. and Cunningham, A.A. (2005b) Acute and chronic gas bubble lesions in cetaceans stranded in the United Kingdom. Veterinary Pathology 42: 291-305

Jepson, P.D., Arbelo, M., Deaville, R., Patterson, I.A.R., Castro, P., Baker, J.R., Degollada, E., Ross, H.M., Herráez, P., Pocknell, A.M., Rodriguez, E., Howie, F.E., Espinosa, A., Reid, R.J., Jaber, J.R., Martin, V., Cunningham, A.A., and Fernandez, A. (2003) Gas-bubble lesions in stranded cetaceans. Nature, 425, 575-576

Jepson, P.D. and Baker, J.R. (1998) Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) as a possible cause of acute traumatic injuries in porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Veterinary Record 143:614-615.

Kannan, K., Blankenship, A.L., Jones, P.D., and Giesy, J.P. 2000. Toxicity reference values for the toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls to aquatic mammals. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment 6 (1): 181-201.





http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=FinalCSIPReport2005-2010_finalversion061211released%5b1%5d.pdf


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Kuiken, T. (Editor) (1996) Diagnosis of By-catch in cetaceans. Proceedings of the Second ECS Workshop on cetacean pathology, Montpelier, France, 2 March 1994.

Kuiken, T., Simpson, V.R., Allchin, C.R., Bennett, P.M., Codd, G.A., Harris, E.A., Howes, G.J., Kennedy, S., Kirkwood, J.K., Merrett, N.R. and Phillips, S. (1994) Mass-mortality of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in south west England due to incidental capture in fishing gear. Veterinary Record 134:81-89.

Kuiken, T. and Garcia Hartmann, M. (eds.) (1991) Proceedings of the first European Cetacean Society workshop on cetacean pathology: dissection techniques and tissue sampling. ECS newsletter 17, Special issue: 39pp

Law, R.J. (1994). (Compiler). Collaborative UK marine mammal project: summary of data produced 1988-1992. Fisheries Research Technical Report, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Directorate of Fisheries Research, Lowestoft, (97), 42 pp.

Lawson, B. and Jepson, P.D. (2003) The investigation of a PDVV epizootic in the UK during 2002/03 (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=WM0301_5242_FRP.pdf)

Leopold, M.F., Begeman, L., van Bleijswijk, J.D.L., IJsseldijk, L.L., Witte, H.J.,Grojne, A. (2014) Exposing the grey seal as a major predator of harbour porpoises. Proc. R. Soc. B 282: 20142429. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.2429

Murphy, S., Barber, J.L. Learmonth, J.A., Read, F.L., Deaville, R., Perkins, M.W., Brownlow, A., Davison, N., Penrose, R., Pierce, G.J., Law, R.J. and Jepson, P.D. (2015) Reproductive Failure in UK Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoenaI): Legacy of Pollutant Exposure? PLoS ONE, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0131085

Papachlimitzou A., Losada S., Barber J.L., Bersuder P., Deaville R., Brownlow A, Penrose R., Jepson P.D. and Law R.J. (2015) Organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) and plasticisers in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded or bycaught in the UK during 2012. Marine Pollution Bulletin Available online 19 June 2015, ISSN 0025-326X (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.06.034)

Penrose, R.S. and Gander, L.R. (2016). UK & Republic of Ireland Marine Turtle Strandings & Sightings Annual Report 2015 (http://www.strandings.com/Graphics%20active/2015%20Turtle%20Annual%20Strandings%20Report.pdf)

Reid, J.B., Evans, P.G.H., and Northridge, S.P. (2003) Atlas of Cetacean distribution in north-west European waters. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough. (http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2713)

Ross, H.M. and Wilson, B. (1996) Violent interactions between bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences 263:283-286.

Simmonds, M. (2012) Cetaceans and Marine Debris: The Great Unknown. Journal of Marine Biology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/684279

Work, T.M. (2000) Sea turtle necropsy manual for biologist in remote refuges. USGS national Wildlife Health Centre Necropsy manuals. (www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/necropsy_manuals/Sea_Turtle_Necropsy_Manual-English.pdf)

Wyneken, J. (2001) The Anatomy of Sea Turtles. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-SEFSC-470 (http://courses.science.fau.edu/~jwyneken/sta/SeaTurtleAnatomy.pdf)


http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=WM0301_5242_FRP.pdf

http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.2429

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.06.034

http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2713

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/684279

http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/necropsy_manuals/Sea_Turtle_Necropsy_Manual-English.pdf

http://courses.science.fau.edu/~jwyneken/sta/SeaTurtleAnatomy.pdf


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10 Glossary of Terms and Acronyms Acute Rapid onset Aetiology The cause of the disease AHVLA Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency BDMLR British Divers Marine Life Rescue By-catch Incidental catch of non-target species during fishing activity Chronic Refers to a persistent, lasting or slow developing disease. CCW Countryside Council for Wales Cold stunned When marine turtles (hard shell species only) become lethargic or comatose following exposure to a drop in temperature CSIP UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme CWTMSN Cornish Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network Defra The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Devolved Administrations The devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales (Scottish Government and Welsh Government) Dystocia Difficulty encountered during the act or process of giving birth Encephalitis Inflammation of the brain. Often viral in origin Enteropathy Disease or abnormality of the intestinal tract Epizootic A rapidly spreading disease which affects a large number of animals in a particular region at the same time Gastropathy Disease or abnormality of the stomach/s Histology The study of tissue sectioned as a thin slice IoZ Institute of Zoology JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee Mass stranding When two or more cetaceans (excluding mother-calf pairs) of the same species strand at the same time and location MEM Marine Environmental Monitoring Meningitis Inflammation of the meninges, the three membranes covering the brain and spinal cord Meningoencephalitis Infection/inflammation of the meninges and/or brain Morphometric The measurement of shapes or forms MSE Mass stranding event Neoplasia The formation of a tumour NHM Natural History Museum OCs Organochlorine pesticides (e.g. DDT’s, dieldrin etc) Pathology The science/study of the origin, nature and course of disease PBDEs Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, a class of compounds used predominantly as flame retardants PCBs Polychlorinated biphenyls (organochlorine pollutants) PMEs Post-mortem examinations PSG CSIP Project Steering Group SG Scottish Government SMASS Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme SMRU Sea Mammal Research Unit SRUC Scottish Rural College (Inverness) Sympatric Occupying the same/overlapping regions without interbreeding Toxicology The science or study of poisons UME Unusual Mortality Event. Defined within the US MMPA as “A stranding that is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate response”. WG Welsh Government Zoonosis Infectious disease of animals that can be transmitted to humans



62

11 Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the continued support and funding of the CSIP by Defra, Welsh Government and Scottish Government. We would also like to thank the members of the CSIP Steering Group, particularly the contract manager and policy officials within Defra (Rebecca Lowe, Jamie Rendell and Emma Rundall), Scottish Government (Elaine Tait, Oanu Racu and Ian Walker) and Welsh Government (Richard Lowcock James) and the contract managers in Joint Nature Conservation Committee (Mark Tasker, Eunice Pinn, Kelly Macleod, Nikki Taylor and Lindis Bergland) for their comments, advice and support during the period of this report. The success of the CSIP relies heavily upon the efforts of a countless number of individuals and organisations. We would like to acknowledge and thank the Receiver of Wreck, Alison Kentuck and her deputies Rebecca Austin and Heloise Warner, along with staff of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for their continued help and assistance with strandings over the last year. Within England, members of the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network (CWTMSN) have given endless and unstinting help with the coordination and reporting of cetacean strandings in Cornwall for many years- we would like to thank Dr. Nick Tregenza, Ruth Williams, Abby Crosby, Carolyn Waddell, Niki Clear and all the fantastic volunteers of the CWTMSN for their ongoing help and support. In addition, we would also like to thank Professor Robbie McDonald and Amy Campbell at University of Exeter, Tremough campus for their help and assistance in facilitating necropsies of Cornish stranded animals. Finally in Cornwall, we would like to particularly thank and acknowledge the dedication and hard work of CSIP pathologist James Barnett (University of Exeter) who conducts necropsies at frequently inhospitable hours. We would like to thank Dr. Per Berggren and the staff at the University of Newcastle/Dove Marine Labs for all their much appreciated assistance and collaboration on strandings and post-mortems in the northeast of England. In Devon, the staff of Devon Wildlife Trust and Lindy Hingley, have been equally helpful in the reporting of a large number of strandings and the collection of carcasses for post-mortem examination. In Wales Paul Newman, Lin Gander, Nia Jones, Sal Shipley, Fiona Read, Judith Oakley, Sarah Perry, Dan Worth, Terry Leadbetter, Rebecca Boys, Ceri Morris, Tom Stringall, Charles Lindenbaum, Gemma Veneruso, Barry Davies, Phil Lewis and Steve Hartley have all given enormous support to strandings research. The successful operation of a strandings project over a coastline the length of Scotland’s is only possible with assistance from a large number of individuals and organisations in the identification, recovery, storage and transport of stranded animals. We are immensely grateful to all who helped us out in 2015, however particular thanks are due to the staff and students of the Sea Mammal Research Unit, Karen Hall and the Scottish Natural Heritage team on Shetland, the National Museum of Scotland, the SSPCA, British Divers Marine Life Rescue medics, staff at the CRRU in Gardenstown, Ross Flett, Chris Booth, Jenni Kakkonen, Penny Martin of the Orkney Field club, the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC). We are also grateful to all our trained stranding volunteers and others who have ventured out in all weathers to collect photographs, data and samples from some fairly decomposed animals. Particular



63

thanks to), Corinne Gordon (BDMLR), Donald Mitchell (Highland Ranger), Janie Steele, Ross Flett, Sorcha Cantwell (BDMLR), Jane Liptrot, Karl Hurd (BDMLR), Tasha McVarish, John Chester (Eigg), Conor Ryan (HWDT), Matt Barnes (MCS), and Ian Thompson and Bill Neil on South Uist. Also in Scotland; Geoff Foster has given invaluable support to the CSIP at SRUC Inverness; Dr. Mark Dagleish at the Moredun Research Institute conducted histopathological studies on cetacean tissues from Scottish cetaceans. Professor Graham Pierce at Aberdeen University continues to support research on Scottish stranded cetaceans by conducting examination of stomach contents, teeth (for ageing) and gonads. National Museums of Scotland staff also provide assistance with identification of species using skeletal material. We would also like to thank and acknowledge; Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group for providing information on strandings in Northern Ireland; Laura Hanley and Fiona Gell from the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture (Isle of Man Government) for providing information on strandings in the Isle of Man; and Environment Department (States of Jersey) for strandings in the Channel Islands. Within IoZ, Professor Andrew Cunningham, Shaheed Macgregor, Shinto John have given considerable support to the development of research on UK strandings. Robin Law and colleagues at the CEFAS Lowestoft Laboratory have conducted extensive toxicological analyses of UK strandings, leading to the production of one of the world’s largest datasets on contaminants in cetaceans. We would also like to acknowledge the following colleagues for their ongoing collaboration on research into cetacean gas embolism: Professor Antonio Fernandez (University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain), Dr. Dorian Houser (National Marine Mammal Foundation, USA), Professor Sam Ridgway (National Marine Mammal Foundation, USA), Michael Moore (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, USA) and Peter Tyack (SMRU). Many individuals and organisations have assisted with the reporting and collection of stranded carcasses for post-mortem examination during 2015, including staff of coastal local government authorities as well as members of the public and our grateful thanks go to them all. A number of non-Governmental organisations including British Diver’s Marine Life Rescue, RSPCA, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Sea Watch Foundation, Humane Society International, Environmental Investigation Agency, National Trust, WWF-UK, WSPA and Marine Connection are also acknowledged and thanked for their continued support of the research conducted by the CSIP.



64

12 Appendix 1 CSIP leaflet



65

Report strandings in the UK on 0800 652 0333

Additional information on the CSIP can be found at www.ukstrandings.org







66

13 Appendix 2 Carcass selection criteria for post-mortem examination of UK stranded cetaceans This appendix relates to UK stranded cetaceans only and does not analyse UK stranded marine turtles or basking sharks, of which a relatively small number of annual examinations take place. The figures presented here are intended to act as guidelines only and should in no way be viewed as exact requirements. Introduction Following external review of the CSIP in 2005 by Crane and Shepherd3, a number of recommendations were made, including that the number of cetacean post-mortem examinations (PME’s) conducted in any one year should be capped at 100 per year and that a limit should be set on the annual number of PME’s that might be carried out on any one species (see below). Because of this cap, a means of selecting carcasses for PME needed to be implemented, that would take into account both spatial and temporal variation in annual strandings. Following discussion within the CSIP steering group, the following additional recommendations were also made;

Post-mortems should be undertaken annually on 55-65 harbour porpoise, 15-20 common dolphins and 10-25 other species, with a maximum of 100 post-mortems in any one year

Annual post-mortem examination limits should be set to 55 in England, 25

in Scotland and 20 in Wales

Indeterminate strandings should not be counted when any allocation of regional post-mortem examinations is made

Any carcass sampling rationale should be subject to review annually

including an analysis by species, area and month using a rolling 5 year mean and included as an appendix in the annual report

To that end, this appendix analyses aggregated cetacean stranding data for the UK (England, Scotland and Wales) for the calendar years 2010-2014 inclusively. The five regions corresponding with previous Defra reports (e.g. Deaville and Jepson 20114 and Figure 5 of this report) were used to calculate the range of regional PME’s that should be undertaken on harbour porpoises, common dolphins and other species. These ranges were then related to aggregated monthly stranding data over the last five-year period to arrive at a range of recommended PME’s of each group that could be carried out in each area in each month of 2015.

3 www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/resprog/findings/cetaceanstrand-review/index.htm

4 http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=FinalCSIPReport2005-

2010_finalversion061211released[1].pdf


http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/resprog/findings/cetaceanstrand-review/index.htm




67

Strandings data analysis 2011-2015 During the five-year period between 2011 and 2015, the CSIP received reports of 3014 cetaceans. Of these, 64 were excluded from this analysis as they had either stranded in Northern Ireland (n=38), the Isle of Man (n=20) or the Channel Islands (n=8). In addition reports were also excluded of cetaceans that had live stranded and subsequently refloated (n=101) or that had been found floating at sea (n=95) or had been retrieved directly from fishing gear (n=12). Of the remaining 2740 stranding reports, 1319 were found in England, 925 in Scotland and 487 in Wales. Table 9 shows the number of reported strandings in each country together with the number of strandings where the species was identified and the number of strandings where the species could not be determined. Table 9 Reported strandings in England, Scotland and Wales 2011-2015 (aggregated data) Country Total strandings Strandings of

indeterminate species

Strandings of known species

Proportion of known species stranding

England 1319 118 1201 0.48

Scotland 925 64 861 0.34

Wales 496 32 464 0.18

Total 2740 214 2526

Consequently, the current broad allocation of PME’s of 55 to England, 25 to Scotland and 20 to Wales are not generally supported by the aggregated data over the last five year period and could potentially be revised during any future period of funding. Regional distribution of post-mortem examinations The following three sections describe how the spatial/temporal allocation of post-mortem examinations of UK stranded harbour porpoises, common dolphins and other cetacean species for 2016 have been arrived at and may aid more effective decision making on where and when to retrieve a stranding for post-mortem examination. It should be stressed again that the data presented in Tables 10-15 are intended to act as guidelines only and should in no way be viewed as exact requirements. NB As in the above section, data presented in the following sections exclude reports of animals floating at sea, those retrieved directly from fishing vessels, live stranded animals that were subsequently refloated and strandings from Northern Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man.



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Harbour porpoises Table 10 Regional harbour porpoise stranding data (2011-2015) in relation to the current limits of 55-65 annual PME’s West

coast Southwest Channel East

coast Scotland TOTAL

2011 107 53 23 76 52 311

2012 84 75 15 75 68 317

2013 103 56 21 97 128 405

2014 102 35 18 71 100 326

2015 89 56 17 51 60 273

Total 485 275 94 370 408 1632

Annual mean (+/-1SD)

97 (9.9)

55 (14.2)

19 (3.2)

74 (16.4)

82 (31.7)

326 (48.4)

Lower limit (55) 16 9 3 12 14 55

Upper limit (65) 19 11 4 15 16 65

I.e. the following range of PME’s may be carried out on harbour porpoises that strand in each region of the UK during 2016

Wales and English west coast: 16-19;

Southwest England: 9-11;

English Channel: 3-4;

English east coast: 12-15; and

Scotland: 14-16. Table 11 Recommended 2016 allocation of harbour porpoise PME’s by area and month, based on 2011-2015 reported stranding data Month West Coast,

Wales and England

Southwest England

English Channel

East coast, England

Scotland

January 0-1 2-3 0-1 0-1 0-1 February 0-1 1-2 0-1 0-1 0-1 March 0-1 0-1 0-1 2-3 2-3 April 0-1 0-1 0-1 2-3 2-3 May 2-3 0-1 0-1 0-1 1-2 June 3-4 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 July 2-3 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 August 2-3 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 September 1-2 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 October 1-2 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 November 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 December 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1

Area allocation

16-19 9-11 3-4 12-15 14-16



69

Common dolphins Table 12 Regional common dolphin stranding data (2011-2015) in relation to the current limits of 15-20 annual PME’s West



2011 11 56 4 0 13 84

2012 7 64 3 0 7 81

2013 7 50 1 0 9 67

2014 14 36 9 0 31 90

2015 14 46 6 0 35 101

Total 53 252 23 0 95 423

Annual mean (+/- 1SD)

11 (3.5)

50 (10.5)

5 (3.0)

0 (0.0)

19 (13.0)

85 (12.5)

Lower limit (15) 2 9 0 0 3 15

Upper limit (20) 3 12 1 1 4 20

I.e. the following range of PME’s may be carried out on common dolphins that strand in each region of the UK during 2016


Southwest England: 9-12;



Scotland: 3-4. Table 13 Recommended 2016 allocation of common dolphin PME’s by area and month, based on 2011-2015 reported stranding data Month West Coast,

Wales and England

Southwest England

English Channel

East coast, England

Scotland


Area allocation

2-3 9-12 0-1 0-1 3-4



70

Other species

Table 14 Regional stranding data for other cetacean species, excluding harbour porpoises, common dolphins and strandings of indeterminate identity (2011-2015) in relation to the current limits of 10-25 annual PME’s West



2011 7 10 1 13 87 118

2012 8 13 3 15 103 142

2013 10 10 0 15 64 99

2014 7 16 2 4 72 101

2015 9 8 3 10 107 137

Total 41 57 9 57 433 597

Annual mean (+/- 1SD)

8 (1.3)

11 (3.1)

2 (1.3)

11 (4.6)

87 (18.8)

119 (19.9)

Lower limit (10) 1 1 0 1 7 10

Upper limit (25) 2 2 1 2 18 25

NB long-finned pilot whales that died during the mass stranding events (MSE’s) in Scotland in 2011, 2012 and 2015 have been included in this analysis

I.e. the following range of PME’s may be carried out on other cetacean species that strand in each region of the UK during 2016


southwest England: 1-2;



Scotland: 7-18. Table 15 Recommended 2016 allocation of other cetacean species PME’s by area and month, based on 2011-2015 reported stranding data Month West Coast,

Wales and England

Southwest England

English Channel

East coast, England

Scotland


Area allocation

1-2 1-2 0-1 1-2 7-18



71

14 Appendix 3 Marine debris ingestion and/or entanglement Implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive in the UK (http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine/msfd/) has led to much recent attention on the issue of debris in the marine environment (indicator 10). Consequently, the CSIP project steering group requested that the CSIP summarise findings of marine debris ingestion and/or entanglement in UK stranded animals, which were subjected to post-mortem examination, to determine whether this may be an issue of concern. Table 16 summarises evidence of marine debris ingestion or entanglement in 115 cetaceans and four marine turtles, which were examined at post-mortem in the UK during 2015. Table 16 Marine debris ingestion or entanglement in cetacean and marine turtle strandings examined at post-mortem in the UK during 2015

Species PMEs Marine debris ingestion

Marine debris entanglement

Harbour porpoise 53 0 0 Short-beaked common dolphin 251 0 0 Long-finned pilot whale 11 0 0 Striped dolphin 7 0 0 White beaked dolphin 4 1 0 Minke whale 4 0 0 Risso’s dolphin 4 0 0 Fin whale 21 0 0 Bottlenose dolphin 1 0 0 Sowerby’s beaked whale 1 0 0 Cuvier’s beaked whale 1 1 0 Humpback whale 1 0 0 Pygmy sperm whale 1 1 0 Loggerhead turtle 3 0 0 Kemp’s ridley turtle 1 0 0

Total 118 3 0 NB PMEs- post-mortem examinations 1- Stomach content data not examined/available in one short-beaked common dolphin and one fin whale A small shard of plastic was found in the cardiac stomach of a pygmy sperm whale, which stranded near Weston Super Mare, England (SW2015/150, Section 5.15 and Plate 21). An adult male Cuvier’s beaked whale was examined following live stranding and euthanasia at Harrapool, near Broadford, Skye (SW2015/426, Section 5.9 and Plate 22). A severe impaction of plastic debris, mainly bags, was observed in all stomach compartments and significantly, through the pyloric sphincter and into the proximal


http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/marine/msfd/


72

duodenum. This showed significant associated mucosal pressure necrosis and approximately 4.25kg of plastic material was found within the gastrointestinal tract. Although there was evidence of some underlying disease processes in this animal (most notably, severe, sub-acute, generalised gastritis/enteritis and severe, chronic-active, focally extensive necro-suppurative nephritis), the ingestion of a large quantity of marine debris is considered to be a significant causal factor in the animal’s death. This is the first UK stranded cetacean examined by the CSIP since its inception in 1990 where ingestion of marine debris has been implicated in the cause of death (n=3586, 1990-2015, data CSIP database).

No other evidence of marine litter ingestion was found in any of the other examined individuals and with the exception of the Cuvier’s beaked whale, no pathological change was associated with the foreign bodies in the other cases and they were considered to be of minor significance. As in previous years and as documented elsewhere (e.g. Simmonds 2012), a higher prevalence of debris ingestion was found in deep water species such as beaked whales. It is possible that these species may be more prone to ingestion of debris due to their feeding ecology.

Plate 21 Small plastic fragment found in cardiac stomach of pygmy sperm whale (SW2015/150). Image credit CSIP-ZSL

Plate 22 Large amount of plastic in the stomach of a Cuvier’s beaked whale (SW2015/426). Image credit CSIP-SMASS


15 APPENDIX 4 Summary of causes of death of UK-stranded cetaceans and marine turtles examined at post-mortem during 2015

National Ref. PM No. Species Sex Length Date Location Local Authority Region Cause of Death

SW2015/6 XT139/15 Phocoena phocoena F 163 06/01/15 Rhyl Denbighshire West coast parasitism, gastric (heavy) SW2015/11 M20/15 Phocoena phocoena F 160 10/01/15 Pollin beach Highland Scotland parasitism, hepatic (severe) SW2015/10 XT083/15 Delphinus delphis F 138 12/01/15 South Milton Sands Devon South-west starvation/hypothermia SW2015/16 XT053/15 Phocoena phocoena M 141 13/01/15 near Dymchurch Kent East coast physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/18 M30/15 Phocoena phocoena F 155 15/01/15 Carnoustie Angus Scotland starvation/hypothermia SW2015/22 XT060/15 Delphinus delphis F 173 16/01/15 Freshwater West Pembrokeshire West coast vegetative endocarditis (Brucella ceti) SW2015/23.1 M32.1/15 Delphinus delphis F 194 17/01/15 Grimsay North Uist Western Isles Scotland live stranding (part of mother-calf pair?) SW2015/23.2 M32.2/15 Delphinus delphis M 151 17/01/15 Grimsay North Uist Western Isles Scotland live stranding (part of mother-calf pair?) SW2015/24 M33/15 Stenella coeruleoalba F 189 17/01/15 Bornish South Uist Western Isles Scotland meningoencephalitis (Brucella ceti)

SW2015/33 XT074/15 Delphinus delphis M 168 27/01/15 Dinas Dinlle Gwynedd West coast possible hydrocephalus SW2015/37 M58/15 Delphinus delphis M 182 31/01/15 Traigh Dhail Western Isles Scotland physical trauma, acute (storm related) SW2015/42 M61/15 Phocoena phocoena F 131 03/02/15 Inverboyndie Beach Aberdeenshire Scotland pneumonia, parasitic SW2015/44 M64/15 Grampus griseus M 292 04/02/15 The Mound Highland Scotland live stranding SW2015/41 XT098/15 Phocoena phocoena F 152 07/02/15 Deal Kent East coast gastritis, haemorrhagic (polymicrobial?) SW2015/51 XT149/15 Phocoena phocoena F 156 15/02/15 Seaton Front County Durham East coast verminous thrombovasculitis SW2015/55 M82/15 Grampus griseus F 255 16/02/15 East Voe Shetland Scotland meningoencephalitis SW2015/62 XT814/15 Phocoena phocoena F 124 22/02/15 Aberaeron Ceredigion West coast physical trauma, acute SW2015/74 XT200/15 Delphinus delphis F 169 03/03/15 Burnham-on-Sea Somerset South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/85 M101/15 Stenella coeruleoalba M 175 08/03/15 Glen Brittle beach Highland Scotland meningoencephalitis (Brucella ceti) SW2015/79 EX/C03/15 Phocoena phocoena F 119 08/03/15 St Ives Cornwall South-west gastric parasitism (heavy) SW2015/107 XT261/15 Phocoena phocoena F 109 26/03/15 Sutton - on - Sea Lincolnshire East coast not established SW2015/112 XT842/16 Phocoena phocoena M 122 01/04/15 Port Dinorwic Gwynedd West coast physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin attack SW2015/117 XT290/15 Phocoena phocoena M 112 06/04/15 Mablethorpe Lincolnshire East coast live stranding (suspected grey seal attack) SW2015/123 XT307/15 Phocoena phocoena F 155 08/04/15 near Carnforth Lancashire West coast live stranding SW2015/124 EX/C04/15 Phocoena phocoena F 158 10/04/15 Porthcurno Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/129 M131/15 Phocoena phocoena M 140 23/04/15 Scotstown Aberdeenshire Scotland physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin attack SW2015/163 XT1382/15 Phocoena phocoena M 106 25/04/15 Aberystwyth Ceredigion West coast physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin attack SW2015/130 M134/15 Delphinus delphis F 171 26/04/15 Coll beach Western Isles Scotland live stranding SW2015/135 EX/C05/15 Delphinus delphis M 192 30/04/15 Praa Sands Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/137 EX/C06/15 Delphinus delphis M 203.5 02/05/15 Pentewan Sands Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/141 XT427/15 Phocoena phocoena M 126 03/05/15 Burnham-on-Sea Somerset South-west live stranding SW2015/142 EX/C07/15 Delphinus delphis M N/A 06/05/15 Portwrinkle beach Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/145 M144/15 Phocoena phocoena F 122 07/05/15 Port Henderson Highland Scotland physical trauma, grey seal attack SW2015/143 EX/C08/15 Phocoena phocoena F 73 09/05/15 Whitesands Bay Cornwall South-west starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2015/146 XT481/15 Delphinus delphis F 179 11/05/15 Sandy Bay Devon South-west possible generalised bacterial infection

(Clostridium sordelli) SW2015/150 EXTERNAL Kogia breviceps M 296 16/05/15 Weston-super-Mare Somerset South-west live stranding SW2015/155 EX/C09/15 Delphinus delphis M 144 21/05/15 Mawgan porth Cornwall South-west starvation/hypothermia SW2015/181.5 M161.5/15 Globicephala melas F 250 02/06/15 Staffin Island Highland Scotland live stranding


74


SW2015/181.1 M161.1/15 Globicephala melas F 414 02/06/15 Brogaig Highland Scotland live stranding SW2015/181.7 M161.7/15 Globicephala melas F 350 02/06/15 Brogaig Highland Scotland live stranding SW2015/181.2 M161.2/15 Globicephala melas F 388 02/06/15 Staffin Island Highland Scotland live stranding SW2015/181.3 M161.3/15 Globicephala melas F 424 02/06/15 Staffin Island Highland Scotland live stranding SW2015/181.4 M161.4/15 Globicephala melas F 302 02/06/15 Staffin Island Highland Scotland live stranding SW2015/181.6 M161.6/15 Globicephala melas F 418 02/06/15 Brogaig Highland Scotland live stranding consequential to physical

trauma, dystocia SW2015/183 M163/15 Megaptera novaeangliae F 895 04/06/15 Off Helmsdale Highland Scotland physical trauma, entanglement SW2015/182 M162/15 Globicephala melas F 365 04/06/15 Kyle of Lochalsh Highland Scotland live stranding SW2015/179 XT569/15 Phocoena phocoena M 105 05/06/15 Southend-on-Sea Essex East coast physical trauma, acute SW2015/190 XT1285/15 Lagenorhynchus albirostris F 233 15/06/15 Tunstall Sand E. Riding of Yorkshire East coast live stranding SW2015/199 M180/15 Balaenoptera acutorostrata M 453 16/06/15 Boirseam Western Isles Scotland physical trauma, entanglement (chronic) SW2015/224 XT1317/15 Phocoena phocoena F 79 19/06/15 Abergele Conwy West coast physical trauma, dystocia SW2015/200 XT698/15 Phocoena phocoena M 74 20/06/15 Dovercourt Bay Essex East coast starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2015/206 M186/15 Phocoena phocoena F 81.5 21/06/15 Bernera Highland Scotland starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2015/201 XT774/15 Delphinus delphis F 157 21/06/15 Burnham-on-Sea Somerset South-west live stranding SW2015/207 M187/15 Mesoplodon bidens M 345 22/06/15 Port of Ness Western Isles Scotland meningoencephalitis (Brucella ceti) SW2015/240 XT1183/15 Phocoena phocoena F 139 12/07/15 Clarach Ceredigion West coast physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin attack SW2015/241 EX/C10/15 Phocoena phocoena F 89 12/07/15 Mawgan Porth Cornwall South-west physical trauma, acute (neonate) SW2015/252 EX/C11/15 Delphinus delphis F 161 17/07/15 Devoran Creek Cornwall South-west gastric parasitism, heavy (euthanized) SW2015/293 EXTERNAL Phocoena phocoena M 151 31/07/15 Newport Pembrokeshire West coast physical trauma SW2015/270 EX/C12/15 Stenella coeruleoalba F 135 01/08/15 Little Petherick Cornwall South-west gastric parasitism, heavy (euthanized) SW2015/272 M257/15 Phocoena phocoena M 140 01/08/15 Fraserburgh Aberdeenshire Scotland tumour (lymphoma?) SW2015/271 EX/C13/15 Grampus griseus M 220 03/08/15 Lamorna Harbour Cornwall South-west not established (possible physical trauma) SW2015/277 M262/15 Globicephala melas M 446 05/08/15 Loch Na Daal Highland Scotland live stranding SW2015/275 XT1408/15 Phocoena phocoena M 107 06/08/15 Whitby beach North Yorkshire East coast physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/279.2 M267.2/15 Delphinus delphis F 167 08/08/15 Burntisland Fife Scotland live stranding SW2015/280 M269/15 Phocoena phocoena F 129 11/08/15 Culbin point Moray Scotland physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin attack SW2015/298 XT1383/15 Phocoena phocoena F 83 11/08/15 Aberavon Neath Port Talbot West coast starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2015/299 XT1424/15 Phocoena phocoena M 102 15/08/15 Dinas Dinlle Gwynedd West coast starvation/hypothermia SW2015/286 XT1062/15 Phocoena phocoena F 82 16/08/15 Westbrook Beach Kent East coast starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2015/287 EX/C14/15 Phocoena phocoena M 120 17/08/15 Fishing cove Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/302 XT1138/15 Delphinus delphis F 109 21/08/15 Amroth Pembrokeshire West coast live stranding SW2015/303 EX/C15/15 Phocoena phocoena F 175 22/08/15 Porthleven Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/310 XT849/16 Stenella coeruleoalba F 181 25/08/15 West Angle Bay Pembrokeshire West coast live stranding (possible) SW2015/320 M285/15 Balaenoptera acutorostrata F 674 26/08/15 Glenuig Highland Scotland physical trauma, entanglement (acute) SW2015/327 XT1128/15 Phocoena phocoena F 81 28/08/15 Fleetwood Blackpool West coast starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2015/312 EX/C16/15 Delphinus delphis M 218 30/08/15 St. Ives Cornwall South-west gastric perforation (fundic) and acute

peritonitis (Actinobacillus delphinicola)



75


SW2015/322 EXTERNAL Tursiops truncatus M 255 03/09/15 Clarach Ceredigion West coast physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/325 XT1124/15 Phocoena phocoena M 98 06/09/15 Egypt Bay Kent East coast live stranding (pending histopathology) SW2015/324 EX/C17/15 Delphinus delphis F 196.5 09/09/15 Maenporth Cornwall South-west gastric inversion (potential gastric

tumour) SW2015/328 XT1191/15 Phocoena phocoena F 132 13/09/15 Torbay Torbay South-west starvation, sequel to gastric impaction

(bones) SW2015/341 XT844/15 Phocoena phocoena F 104 19/09/15 Cwm Soden Ceredigion West coast physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin

attack SW2015/336 XT1272/15 Phocoena phocoena F 104 27/09/15 Walton on the Naze Essex East coast physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/335 EX/C18/15 Delphinus delphis F 196 27/09/15 Swanpool beach Cornwall South-west pulmonary abscesses, extensive SW2015/338 M308/15 Phocoena phocoena F 102 29/09/15 Ardesier Highland Scotland live stranding SW2015/470 15-018697 Balaenoptera physalus F 1290 05/10/15 Portstewart Derry Northern Ireland starvation/hypothermia SW2015/358 M319/15 Balaenoptera acutorostrata M 355 10/10/15 Clashach Quarry Moray Scotland enteritis, parasitic (severe) SW2015/353 EX/C19/15 Phocoena phocoena M 143.5 11/10/15 Penzance Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/359 EXTERNAL Balaenoptera physalus F N/A 14/10/15 Botany Bay Kent East coast physical trauma, ship-strike (probable) SW2015/369 M325/15 Globicephala melas M 180 16/10/15 Garry beach Western Isles Scotland live stranding SW2015/368 EXTERNAL Phocoena phocoena F 126 19/10/15 Dulas Bay Anglesey West coast physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin

attack SW2015/371 M329/15 Phocoena phocoena M 112 21/10/15 West Kilbride North Ayrshire Scotland physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/372 M333/15 Phocoena phocoena M 85 24/10/15 Fairlie North Ayrshire Scotland starvation/hypothermia (neonate) SW2015/373 M338/15 Stenella coeruleoalba M 154 25/10/15 Brough of Birsay Orkney Scotland meningoencephalitis (Brucella ceti) SW2015/374 M374/15 Globicephala melas F 240 27/10/15 Dunvegan Highland Scotland physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin

attack SW2015/384.1 M360.1/15 Delphinus delphis F 208 08/11/15 Redcastle Highland Scotland live stranding SW2015/379 XT1375/15 Delphinus delphis F 134 12/11/15 Mouthwell Bay Devon South-west physical trauma, ship-strike (probable) SW2015/388 M365/15 Phocoena phocoena M 149 13/11/15 Near Whiteness Shetland Scotland live stranding consequential to physical

trauma, grey seal attack SW2015/390 XT1390/15 Phocoena phocoena F 162 19/11/15 Kew Richmond East coast endometritis and possible generalised

bacterial infection SW2015/391 EX/C20/15 Delphinus delphis M 170 21/11/15 Porthtowan Cornwall South-west physical trauma, acute (euthanized) SW2015/396 15-022184 Delphinus delphis F 130 23/11/15 Portrush Antrim Northern Ireland starvation/hypothermia SW2015/402 XT192/16 Phocoena phocoena F 109 24/11/15 Dinas Dinlle Gwynedd West coast physical trauma, by-catch (possible) SW2015/403 M388/15 Stenella coeruleoalba M 186 24/11/15 Hillswick Ness Shetland Scotland meningoencephalitis (suspected) SW2015/405 M393/15 Lagenorhynchus albirostris F 165 25/11/15 Balnakeil Highland Scotland meningoencephalitis (suspected) SW2015/404 M392/15 Phocoena phocoena F 120 25/11/15 White Ness Shetland Scotland generalised bacterial infection SW2015/408 M396/15 Balaenoptera acutorostrata F 476 27/11/15 off Inverkip marina Inverclyde Scotland physical trauma, entanglement SW2015/412 XT733/16 Phocoena phocoena F 128 01/12/15 Aberystwyth Ceredigion West coast physical trauma, bottlenose dolphin

attack



76


SW2015/426 M407/15 Ziphius cavirostris M 605 03/12/15 Broadford Highland Scotland marine debris ingestion (gastric plastic impaction)

SW2015/413 EX/C21/15 Phocoena phocoena F 165 06/12/15 Maenporth Cornwall South-west parasitism, heavy (multiple sites); aged SW2015/414 XT1422/15 Delphinus delphis M 185 06/12/15 South Milton Sands Devon South-west physical trauma, bycatch (possible) SW2015/417 EX/C10/16 Phocoena phocoena F 122 08/12/15 Polkerris Beach Cornwall South-west parasitism, pulmonary (heavy) SW2015/423.1 XT096/16 Phocoena phocoena M 146 13/12/15 Near Flat Cliffs North Yorkshire East coast not established SW2015/419 EXTERNAL Grampus griseus F 270 13/12/15 Freshwater West Pembrokeshire West coast physical trauma, ship-strike (probable) SW2015/422 XT732/16 Stenella coeruleoalba M 180 14/12/15 Newgale Pembrokeshire West coast live stranding (possible hydrocephalus) SW2015/424 EX/C11/16 Phocoena phocoena M 121.5 15/12/15 Par Cornwall South-west physical trauma, by-catch SW2015/434 M449/15 Lagenorhynchus albirostris M 159 17/12/15 Bernera Highland Scotland starvation/hypothermia SW2015/465 M497/15 Lagenorhynchus albirostris F 209 29/12/15 Bayble Western Isles Scotland live stranding T2015/5 EXTERNAL Caretta caretta F 30 06/12/15 Abbotsham Devon South-west cold stunned T2015/27 M408/15 Caretta caretta F 72 05/12/15 Irvine North Ayrshire Scotland cold stunned T2015/31 XT324/16 Lepidochelys kempii F 35 12/12/15 Aberystwyth Ceredigion West coast pneumonia, bacterial T2015/40 EX/T1/16 Caretta caretta F 28.5 27/12/15 Kennack Sands Cornwall South-west cold stunned

NB Data in this appendix is subject to revision and possible change, pending the results of follow up investigations. Regions used in the production of this appendix are shown in Figure 5 of the main report.


Documents

st January st (Contract number MB0111) - GOV.UKrandd.defra.gov.uk/...Document=14001_FINALUKCSIPAnnualReport2… · Annual Report for the period 1st January – 31st December 2015