2017 had an unusually high number of strandings in Ireland with 263 recorded, way up on previous years. However, as we come to the end of February, a quick look at the records shows a huge increase already this year. In last years 'record' year, 67 strandings were recorded in the first two months of the year. In 2018, that figure rose by 30% up to 86!!! Most of the increase is due to the deaths of common dolphins, up by a massive 63% compared to last years record high numbers – rising from 35 in Jan/Feb 2017 to 57 in Jan/Feb 2018. To put this in some perspective, 10 years ago, it would have been normal to have c.25 strandings by the end of February, of which 3 would have been common dolphins. So what has happened to explain why we are finding TWENTY TIMES MORE dead common dolphins on our beaches compared to ten years ago??
