WDCS in the North East Atlantic

The North Atlantic is an extremely diverse marine environment, covering an enormous stretch of ocean that extends from the tip of Africa to Iceland, Scandinavia and the frontier of the Arctic Circle.

WDCS has been studying dolphin and porpoise populations off the western coastline of the UK to address chronic problems of cetacean bycatch in European fisheries.

Fisheries bycatch is considered one of the most serious threats to dolphin and porpoise populations in the North East Atlantic area. Marine pollution, noise pollution, habitat destruction, and competition with fisheries are further dangers.

The extent of the threat to dolphins and porpoises in the ASCOBANS area is dramatically illustrated by the decline in the population of harbour porpoises in the Baltic Seas. The harbour porpoise is the most common cetacean species in the North Sea and the only native cetacean inhabiting the Baltic.

In addition to WDCS's significant commitment to ASCOBANS, WDCS's historical contribution to this region has included conservation projects to protect:

• Risso's dolphin and harbour porpoise off west Wales and off the Isle of Mull, west Scotland;
• Orca , Norway;
• Sperm whale, Norway;
• Bottlenose dolphin off the Moray Firth in Scotland, UK, also off Cornwall and West Wales, UK; and
• Harbour porpoise, Cardigan Bay in Wales.

WDCS's current major campaign in the UK is:

Protect Our Dolphins

Current field projects include:

South West England - Various species: Marijke de Boer investigates the cetacean fauna off the south west coast of England.