Dolphin Strandings Rise on France’s Atlantic Coast Amid Winter Mortality Surge
Since the start of winter, at least 910 dolphins have washed up along France’s Atlantic shoreline. This figure comes from data compiled by the La Rochelle Institute of Oceanography and reported by France 24.
In the most recent week alone, more than 400 marine mammal carcasses were found on the coast, according to the institute’s release. Investigations of the carcasses show a mix of recent and older deaths, with some animals having died only a few days prior and others having perished over several weeks.
Initial examinations indicate many dolphins suffered injuries consistent with collisions with boat engines and entanglement in nets and other gear used by fishing operations. Marine researchers emphasize that the numbers are still unfolding and could climb as winter continues to unfold along the shore.
Experts note that the winter death toll for dolphins tends to peak in February and March, when these social marine mammals push closer to land in search of food and encounter fishing activity. Historical winter averages in the period from 2017 to 2020 hovered around 850 strandings, underscoring a pattern that has repeated itself in recent years. The current uptick has sparked concern among scientists and policymakers about measures that could protect dolphins as rough weather and busy fishing seasons intersect on the coast.
In February a ruling by France’s highest administrative court, the Council of State, urged a temporary fishing halt in certain regions to mitigate impacts on marine life. While experts say fishing restrictions may help reduce mortality, they also stress the importance of continuous monitoring and adaptive management across various sectors to safeguard the coastal ecosystem and its inhabitants.
Earlier and parallel observations have noted that large marine mammals sometimes strand in groups when unusual environmental conditions align with shifts in prey distributions, a phenomenon observed in other regions as well, such as a separate report of whales inadvertently beaching themselves in Tasmania. These cases highlight the broader global challenge of safeguarding marine life amid human activity and climate-related changes in ocean conditions.