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Updated February 15, 2023 .
This winter, a new intense episode of cetacean mortality affected the Atlantic seaboard, and more particularly the coasts of Vendée and Charente-Maritime (60% of seashore strandings). Maximum numbers were observed between 5 and 20 January.
As of February 15, 2023, 395 dead stranded small cetaceans have been recorded on the Atlantic coast and nearly 40 others on the Channel coast. Most of the animals stranded in the Atlantic are common dolphins (90%) and they have been examined by correspondents from the RNE and the Pelagis Observatory. In the great majority, the state of the carcasses allowed an external examination and the animals presented traces of capture in fishing gear.
Similarly, about thirty stranded animals were kept for veterinary autopsies.
Monday January 16: 4 common dolphins recovered on the beaches of Vendée and Charente-Maritime awaiting autopsy.
Since the end of January, this new episode of excess mortality has been much less visible through strandings. Indeed, the drift of the carcasses towards the coast is almost zero due to the weather (wind from the east which carries the carcasses offshore). Nevertheless, the overflights carried out as part of the CAPECET-DELMOGES campaign (see following news) made it possible to identify several carcasses of dolphins adrift off the coasts of Vendée and Charente-Maritime in mid-February.
For several years, such phenomena of excess mortality linked to catches in fishing gear have been regularly observed in winter, mainly in February and March. The current phenomenon therefore seems particularly early. These episodes of excess mortality linked to catches in fishing gear have intensified since 2016, and today peaks in strandings are also observed in summer and early autumn, mainly in Brittany.
For what ? Probably due to a combination of factors between behavioral change and spatial distribution of common dolphins that we are trying to demonstrate with sea campaigns and by studying the link with the distribution of their prey that these are small pelagic fish (like sardine, anchovy, sprat or horse mackerel). And also probably due to changes in fishing practices, but which we are unable to assess with the current state of available data.
Number of strandings per department and per day between December 1, 2022 and February 15, 2023
https://www.observatoire-pelagis.cn...de-dauphins-communs-sur-la-facade-atlantique/
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Wednesday, March 15, 2023
This winter, a first intense episode of mortality of small cetaceans had already affected the Atlantic coast at the start of the year, with more than 360 strandings recorded from mid-December 2022 to the end of January 2023.
In February and until March 10, although the conditions for drifting carcasses towards the coast were less favorable (dominant easterly wind), around 130 strandings of small cetaceans were recorded. At the same time, the overflights carried out as part of the CAPECET-DELMOGES campaign have made it possible to identify several carcasses of dolphins adrift off the coasts of Vendée and Charente-Maritime, between the beginning of February and the beginning of March, indicating that despite the decline strandings mortality at sea seemed to be continuing well.
The weekend of March 11-12, with the change in direction of the prevailing winds favoring drift towards the coast, saw an unprecedented number of cetacean strandings on our coasts. The figures are not yet consolidated but at least 120 strandings have been reported in just two days to the Pelagis Observatory, coordinator of the RNE (National Network for Monitoring Strandings).
Since then, the reports have continued, and this Wednesday March 15 at 12:00 p.m. there have been approximately 300 strandings of small cetaceans on the Atlantic coast since Saturday March 11. The departments most affected are Charente-Maritime (35%), Landes (30%), Vendée (15%) and Gironde (15%). Strandings are also reported in southern Brittany.
Most of the stranded animals are common dolphins (92%) and they are currently being examined by RNE correspondents and the Pelagis Observatory. It will take at least a week before we can give a more precise figure on the number of individuals and more detailed information on the causes.
We can nevertheless say that the state of the carcasses seems to be very varied, indicating that this gale brought back to the coast dolphins that had been dead for only a few days to several weeks. Similarly, the few carcasses examined mostly reveal traces of capture in fishing gear.
For several years, such phenomena of excess mortality linked to catches in fishing gear have been regularly observed in winter, mainly between January and March. These episodes of excess mortality linked to catches in fishing gear are recurrent and have intensified since 2016.
https://www.observatoire-pelagis.cn...te-de-dauphins-communs-au-cours-de-cet-hiver/
New episode of excess mortality of common dolphins on the Atlantic coast
This winter, a new intense episode of cetacean mortality affected the Atlantic seaboard, and more particularly the coasts of Vendée and Charente-Maritime (60% of seashore strandings). Maximum numbers were observed between 5 and 20 January.
As of February 15, 2023, 395 dead stranded small cetaceans have been recorded on the Atlantic coast and nearly 40 others on the Channel coast. Most of the animals stranded in the Atlantic are common dolphins (90%) and they have been examined by correspondents from the RNE and the Pelagis Observatory. In the great majority, the state of the carcasses allowed an external examination and the animals presented traces of capture in fishing gear.
Similarly, about thirty stranded animals were kept for veterinary autopsies.
Monday January 16: 4 common dolphins recovered on the beaches of Vendée and Charente-Maritime awaiting autopsy.
Since the end of January, this new episode of excess mortality has been much less visible through strandings. Indeed, the drift of the carcasses towards the coast is almost zero due to the weather (wind from the east which carries the carcasses offshore). Nevertheless, the overflights carried out as part of the CAPECET-DELMOGES campaign (see following news) made it possible to identify several carcasses of dolphins adrift off the coasts of Vendée and Charente-Maritime in mid-February.
For several years, such phenomena of excess mortality linked to catches in fishing gear have been regularly observed in winter, mainly in February and March. The current phenomenon therefore seems particularly early. These episodes of excess mortality linked to catches in fishing gear have intensified since 2016, and today peaks in strandings are also observed in summer and early autumn, mainly in Brittany.
For what ? Probably due to a combination of factors between behavioral change and spatial distribution of common dolphins that we are trying to demonstrate with sea campaigns and by studying the link with the distribution of their prey that these are small pelagic fish (like sardine, anchovy, sprat or horse mackerel). And also probably due to changes in fishing practices, but which we are unable to assess with the current state of available data.
Number of strandings per department and per day between December 1, 2022 and February 15, 2023
https://www.observatoire-pelagis.cn...de-dauphins-communs-sur-la-facade-atlantique/
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Second intense episode of common dolphin mortality this winter
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
This winter, a first intense episode of mortality of small cetaceans had already affected the Atlantic coast at the start of the year, with more than 360 strandings recorded from mid-December 2022 to the end of January 2023.
In February and until March 10, although the conditions for drifting carcasses towards the coast were less favorable (dominant easterly wind), around 130 strandings of small cetaceans were recorded. At the same time, the overflights carried out as part of the CAPECET-DELMOGES campaign have made it possible to identify several carcasses of dolphins adrift off the coasts of Vendée and Charente-Maritime, between the beginning of February and the beginning of March, indicating that despite the decline strandings mortality at sea seemed to be continuing well.
The weekend of March 11-12, with the change in direction of the prevailing winds favoring drift towards the coast, saw an unprecedented number of cetacean strandings on our coasts. The figures are not yet consolidated but at least 120 strandings have been reported in just two days to the Pelagis Observatory, coordinator of the RNE (National Network for Monitoring Strandings).
Since then, the reports have continued, and this Wednesday March 15 at 12:00 p.m. there have been approximately 300 strandings of small cetaceans on the Atlantic coast since Saturday March 11. The departments most affected are Charente-Maritime (35%), Landes (30%), Vendée (15%) and Gironde (15%). Strandings are also reported in southern Brittany.
Most of the stranded animals are common dolphins (92%) and they are currently being examined by RNE correspondents and the Pelagis Observatory. It will take at least a week before we can give a more precise figure on the number of individuals and more detailed information on the causes.
We can nevertheless say that the state of the carcasses seems to be very varied, indicating that this gale brought back to the coast dolphins that had been dead for only a few days to several weeks. Similarly, the few carcasses examined mostly reveal traces of capture in fishing gear.
For several years, such phenomena of excess mortality linked to catches in fishing gear have been regularly observed in winter, mainly between January and March. These episodes of excess mortality linked to catches in fishing gear are recurrent and have intensified since 2016.
https://www.observatoire-pelagis.cn...te-de-dauphins-communs-au-cours-de-cet-hiver/