Whale sightings to become more common off North East coast

Jan 15 2010 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

WHALES will be a more common sight off the North East coast in the future, it is predicted.

Mike Tetley, who grew up near the sea at Seaburn Dene in Sunderland, has been studying minke whales for the last five years.

Minkes – the smallest and most abundant of whales – favour shallow, coastal waters and are seen off the region’s shores, with around half a dozen sightings a year off the Farne Islands.

Mike, who graduated in marine biology from Newcastle University, is studying for a PhD in ocean science.

Tonight he will give a public talk on minke whales at the Great North Museum at 7pm as part of a lecture programme run by the Natural History Society of Northumbria.

The 28-year-old, became interested in whales through growing up so close to the sea and was also inspired by Freddie the dolphin, who was a crowd puller off Tynemouth and Amble piers 20 years ago.

He said that although the minke population off the North East had been hit by whaling in the past, they could return in greater numbers as stocks recovered.

Mike, who was mapped the potential habitat for minkes off northern England, said: “We will maybe see more and more of the whales around in future years if fish stocks recover.

“I can’t see any reason why they wouldn’t return.”

Minkes eat small fish and will come within metres of the shoreline. They are around eight metres in length and can live for 50 to 60 years.

The minke is a main player in the growing whale-watching leisure industry. But it is also a prime target for whale-hunting nations like Norway, Japan and Iceland, with around 700 to 1,000 animals taken annually.

Mike said that one problem was that minkes did not live in social groups and were not as “charismatic” as bigger whales, killer whales and dolphins.

Because there are more of them and they are found in coastal waters, they are easier to find and hunt.

Mike said that a number of countries wanted the moratorium on commercial whaling by the International Whaling Commission lifted.

“This would open up commercial whaling on all species. But I think this is a bad idea because we don’t know enough to be able to adequately manage whale stocks,” he said.

The bodies of five grey seals have been found on the beach at Whitley Bay, three of which had been decapitated.

The seals were juveniles, with the oldest no more than a year old and the youngest just a few weeks.

RSPCA acting chief inspector Mark Gent said: “Clearly they haven’t died of natural causes and we are very concerned. We want to hear from anyone who knows anything that might help us in our investigation.”

Anyone with information on the attacks should call on 0300 123 4999.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Kevin O’Hara said that killer whales, or orcas, may have attacked the seals.

“The young seals are entering the water at this time and orcas visit the Farne Islands to prey on them,” he said.