Wildlife

Common Dolphin Welfare in UK Waters

Common dolphins are frequent visitors to UK waters and face welfare challenges from bycatch in fishing gear, boat disturbance, and disease.

Key Facts

Common dolphins are the most frequently stranded cetacean on UK beaches
A significant proportion of strandings show evidence of fishing gear interaction
Dolphin bycatch in pair trawl fisheries targeting bass has been a particular concern
Boat-based disturbance during dolphin watching can cause chronic stress if unregulated
Morbillivirus outbreaks periodically cause mass dolphin mortality events in European waters

Welfare Considerations

Dolphins entangled in fishing gear experience drowning stress and often severe physical injury. Those that strand alive from bycatch interactions are frequently in poor condition with significant welfare needs. Disease outbreaks cause mass mortality events in which individuals suffer from neurological and respiratory disease. Protecting dolphins requires addressing both incidental capture in fisheries and the disease burden from a degraded marine environment.

What You Can Do

Support BDMLR's marine mammal response capability
Advocate for mandatory bycatch mitigation in fisheries operating in dolphin habitat
Choose dolphin-safe certified tuna and other pelagic fish
Participate in responsible dolphin watching with operators following wildlife watching codes
Support ocean health improvements that reduce disease risk for marine mammals