accumulation since December
Almost 200 dead dolphins washed ashore in France
Almost 200 dead dolphins and porpoises have been stranded on the French Atlantic coast since the end of December. 190 marine mammals have been found off the coasts of southern Brittany since December 23, the marine mammal observatory Pelagis said.
Almost 200 dead dolphins and porpoises have been stranded on the French Atlantic coast since the end of December. 190 marine mammals have been found off the coasts of southern Brittany since December 23, the marine mammal observatory Pelagis said. (icon picture)
Most of the animals are dolphins, and a few are porpoises. The majority of the carcasses therefore showed traces of fishing nets. Dolphins often end up in fishing nets as by-catch and then die because they can no longer come to the surface of the water to breathe. Pelagis estimates that 5,000 dolphins die as bycatch off the French coast each year.
According to the information, many marine mammals are washed ashore every winter, but usually only in February or March. The reason for the earlier time could be stronger westerly winds, it said.
(SDA)