| Contributors: |
Observatoire pour la Conservation de la Mégafaune Marine (PELAGIS); LIttoral ENvironnement et Sociétés (LIENSs); Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS); Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé - UMR 7372 (CEBC); La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE); Centre de Recherche sur les Mammifères Marins (CRMM); La Rochelle Université (ULR); ADERA Pessac, France; ADERA; Patrimoine naturel (PatriNat); Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-OFB Direction surveillance, évaluation,données (OFB - DSUED); Office français de la biodiversité (OFB)-Office français de la biodiversité (OFB); Office français de la biodiversité (OFB); Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN); Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-La Rochelle Université (ULR)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS); Pelagis (UAR 3462), 5 allée de l’Océan, 17000 La Rochelle |
| Description: |
STRANDINGS OF MARINE MAMMALS ON THE FRENCH COASTLINE IN 2023France, Mainland and CorsicaThis report, for 2023, compiles all the reports received by the National Stranding Network (RNE), with a total of 3,005 marine mammals recorded. Previously, only animals found dead on the coast or taken in, as well as a few rare cases of erratic animals, were included in the reports; this year, animals considered in distress for which RNE intervention could not be performed, are also included. Among the 3,005 recorded cases, 2,681 dead animals were found stranded on the coasts, and 40 were found drifting at sea. Regarding live animals, 266 were reported in distress after stranding, and 18 were in difficulty in the water.The total number of animals observed in 2023 is significantly higher than in previous years, reaching a record high. This increase mainly affects the Atlantic coast, while reports remained relatively stable in the Channel-North Sea and the Mediterranean.Among the recorded species, 2,449 cetaceans (81%, with 15 different species) and 556 pinnipeds (18%, with 2 different species) were observed. The dominant species vary by region: the common dolphin contributed most to the rise in strandings in the Atlantic, the harbor porpoise remained predominant in the Channel-North Sea, and the striped dolphin in the Mediterranean. Notably, the bottlenose dolphin became the third most reported species in 2023, with a record number across all three coasts.A wide diversity of rarer species was also noted, including 2 pygmy sperm whales, a dwarf sperm whale, a Sowerby’s beaked whale, a Gervais’ beaked whale, and 5 Cuvier’s beaked whales. Several large cetaceans were also observed this year, including 3 fin whales, 3 minke whales, 4 humpback whales, and a sperm whale.The year 2023 was also marked by 9 mass stranding events, involving four species: the common dolphin (4 events, 18 individuals), the bottlenose dolphin (3 events, 24 individuals), the striped dolphin (1 event, 3 individuals), and Risso’s dolphin (1 event, 2 ... |