HC Deb 18 March 2003 vol 401 cc638-9W
Adam Price

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dolphin bodies have been washed up on UK beaches(a) since the beginning of January and (b) in the last five years. [102760]

Mr. Morley

Since the beginning of January to 12 March 2003, 168 dolphins (out of a total of 265 cetaceans) have been reported as having stranded in the UK. In the last five years, the numbers of reported stranded dolphins are as follows:

Dolphins Total number of cetaceans
2002 199 649
2001 155 549
2000 88 421

Dolphins Total number of cetaceans
1999 57 386
1998 59 369

It should be noted that these figures include stranded, dead cetaceans, live strandings, carcases seen floating at sea, reported cetacean bycatch and cases of unconfirmed or suspected cetacean bycatch. The data was obtained under the Defra-funded Cetacean and Turtle Strandings Scheme, carried out by the Natural History Museum in partnership with the Institute of Zoology and Scottish Agricultural College.