CORNISH
MARINE WILDLIFE REPORTS 1990
Reports received of Marine Creatures sighted, stranded or landed during
1990
A list compiled by Raymond Dennis
12/1/90 A Sturgeon, 8 ft long, weight 174
lb was landed at Newlyn market. Caught by skipper John Wright on
MFV Evert Marjte, a Jersey beam trawler working out of Plymouth sold for
£480 to Newlyn fish merchant J.H.Turner, later went to Manchester
wholesaler. ( Price was low. A similar Sturgeon sold a few years
ago for £2000 )
18/1/90 (From Western News) A Plymouth angler caught a Cod of
35½ lb from the shore in North Devon.
9/2/90 A male Sperm Whale 47 ft long (11'3" across tail flukes)
was stranded dead at Long Rock . There were 36 teeth in lower jaw. It was
eventually torn apart by J.C.B. loaded onto trucks and taken away for burial
elsewhere.
17/3/90 2 Killer Whales were seen feeding off St.Clements Island from
Mousehole.
5/4/90 Between 10a.m. & 11a.m. 50+ dolphins swimming around a divers
boat. (Exeter B.S.A.C.) Sizes from 6 to 4 ft (one observer said swimming
in pairs) Described as:- dark or black back, whitish underneath, grey pattern
on sides with long beak. They were seen about 1 mile S.E. of the Runnelstone
SW370201. A smaller pod of similar dolphins were seen 2hrs later near Penberth
SW403226. These were probably Common Dolphins.
10/4/90 Fishermen at St.Ives are irate. Nets are coming up full of
Jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo)
and Octopus during early April.
3/5/90 A Basking Shark about 10ft long was seen approximately 1½
miles SSW of St. Michael's Mount A dolphins was seen in the area a few
days before.
6/5/90 10 to 12 dolphins were seen near the Runnelstone SW370201 at
1600. Olive colour on back whitish underneath. Most about 6ft long.
From photos taken, identified as Common Dolphins.
26/5/90 Two adult Pomeraine Skuas (Light Phase) were seen flying
around Newlyn Beam Trawler MFV Filadelfia PZ542 , position 48º 15'N
07º 00'W
28/5/90 One dolphin, not identified, seen half way to Isles of Scilly .
9/6/90 Two small whales seen, species not identified, from MFV Filadelfia
PZ542 Position 48º 00'N 07º 00'W.
26/6/90 A Leatherback Turtle seen from MFV ABS (Antony B. Stevenson)
PZ203 was 2 Metres long over carapace. Position 48º 58'
N 06º 07' W
June Throughout month, schools of Porpoises have been seen 12
to 20 miles of south coast of Ireland from MFV Dierdrie Mariored WD110.
Numbers in pods varied from 12 to 50.
3/7/90 A pod of 12 to 15 Risso's Dolphins were seen near Low Lee Reef,
Mounts Bay, SW481273. Large ones were leaping and back flopping.
Some were almost totally white.
6/7/90 2 Dolphins were seen skirting Mounts Bay from a dive boat anchored
at Low Lee SW481273. They were moving rapidly close to shore from Penzance
to Mousehole. Not positively identified but thought to be Risso's.
(See entry July 15th)
15/7/90 2 Dolphins seen off Porthminster St. Ives. Moving rapidly
as a pair. Light Grey in colour, high pointed dorsal, one damaged. Thought
to be Risso's. (May be same pair seen Mounts Bay July 6th.)
15/7/90 12 to 15 Porpoises were alongside MFV Algrie PZ199 Position
48º 30N
07º 30'W. (Shamrock Knoll)
17/7/90 A 3ft long Sunfish lying on its side at the surface at Low
Lee SW481273 turned over from time to time.
19/7/90 A pod of 20 to 30 Porpoises were alongside MFV Liza Jaqueline
Stevenson PZ 476 25 miles SSE of the Lizard.
22/7/90 A school of over 100 Porpoises were seen from MFV Liza Jaqueline
Stevenson Pz476 in position 49º 40'N
05º 00'W.
23/7/90 4 Pilot Whales were seen near Porthminster Point St. Ives Sizes
12 to 15ft.
29/7/90 12 Common Dolphins were seen from MFV Liza Jaqueline Stevenson
Pz476 at 4p.m. in position 48º 26'N 06º 19'W. ( See
Lat. & Long. Pz542 6/8/90)
31/7/90 2 dolphins were seen together just south of the Runnelstone
SW369200. One believed to be Bottlenose the other Risso's. Bottlenose about
6 - 8ft , and the Risso's 8 to 10ft.
31/7/90 A 15 to 20ft Pilot Whale was seen mid way between Wolf Rock
and Scillies. Two more were seen at a distance nearer to the Isles of Scilly ,
also a 3ft long Turtle seen between Wolf and Isles of Scilly .
July Late in month. 3 unidentified dolphins were seen near the Gear
Pole, Mounts Bay. SW479293.
August First Week of month. A seahorse caught off St. Clements Island
Mousehole was taken to Harveys Fish Tanks but the building was closed so
the seahorse was released into Newlyn Harbour.
3/8/90 2 Sunfish seen swimming together with dorsal fins out of the
water, separated when the boat came close. Also seen when travelling from
the Isles of Scilly to Penzance from the Runnelstone SW369200 and even into
Mounts Bay were many clusters of Buoy-Making Barnacles (Dosima fascicularis)
6/8/90 6 Common Dolphins were seen from MFV Filadelfia Pz542 at 4 a.m.
position 48º 30'N 06º 30'W. and 12 Common Dolphins
were seen from the same boat at 11 p.m. in the same position.
7/8/90 12 Common Dolphins were seen from MFV Filadelfia Pz542 at 1
p.m. in position 48º 30' 06º 30'W
7/8/90 Two Whales of over 40ft were sighted from MFV ABS (Antony B.
Stevenson) PZ203 at 4 p.m. in position 49º 50' N
06º 47'W.
8/8/90 A pod of about 20 unidentified dolphins were seen at a range
of 1 to 2 miles from MFV Filadelfia Pz542 at 8. p.m.in position 48º
43'N 06º 47'W.
9/8/90 A pod of about 40 Common Dolphins were around MFV Filadelfia
Pz542 all day in position 48º 53'N 06º 14'W. Also
seen were 15 or 16 Sunfish Mola mola and 4 or 5 Blue Sharks Prionace
glauca
12/8/90 A Killer Whale, Orcinus orca , was caught by its fin in a net
in Mounts Bay and was drowned, fell out of the net as it was being brought
aboard a fishing vessel. It was approximately 12 ft long.
15/8/00 4 Whales were seen at a range of about 80 to 100 yds. From
Brixham Trawler Carhelmar BM23. Two adults and two juvenile. The
adults were about 20ft long. Described as Black topside ,White underside
with narrow snout almost crocodile like, possibly Sowerbys Whales Mesoplodon
bidens .in position 48º 20'N 06º 38'W.
17/8/90 A Trigger Fish ,Balistes capriscus, found in a loose and abandoned
crab pot off Roskilly Beach SW472272 by Penzance B.S.A.C. divers at a depth
of 14M was brought ashore and taken to Penzance Aquarium.
19/8/90 A Sunfish, Mola mola, seen off Low Lee SW481272
Mounts Bay was approximately 3ft across.
21/8/90 2 dolphins seen too far off for identification from MFV Filadelfia
Pz542 at 6 p.m. were in position 48º 40' 06º
10'
22/8/90 A pod of between 6 and 12 dolphins were around MFV Filadelfia
Pz542 all day. A bit far off for identification but thought to be Commons.
Position 48º 40'N 06º 10'W. Three Sunfish, Mola mola,
were seen in the same position and there were other reports on ships radio
of Sunfish seen widespread.
2/9/90 A Sunfish 2'6" to 3' long seen off Tater du SW440230 at 11 a.m.
was flat on the surface when first seen but dived slowly when approached
and then jumped clear of the water several times landing each time with
a big splash. This behaviour has been seen once before by the observer
Bill Bowen.
12/9/90 Three Killer Whales, Orcinus orca , were seen
4 to 5 miles off The Longships Light SW320253 heading westward
24/9/90 4 Ocean Sunfish Mola mola were seen together on the surface
approximately 30 miles NW of the Isles of Scilly . They were all about 3ft
tip to tip of Dorsal and Anal fins.
27/9/90 3 Ocean Sunfish Mola mola were seen together on the surface
near the Runnelstone SW369200 at noon. All about 4ft across.
September Throughout the month. Report from MFV Filadelfia Pz542. Seeing
numerous Common Dolphins almost every day all over southern area
005º to 007º W and 48º 30'N to 50º
00'N
12/10/90 A 6ft Leatherback Turtle which had been caught up in a Fishermans
Pot Gear 3 miles off Mullion for a week or more was released by divers
from Penzance British Sub-Aqua Club in response to a request from the C.T.N.C.
16/10/90 A Carcass of a Common Dolphin was found on the beach at Newlyn.
17/10/90 4 Risso's Dolphins were observed from Cape Cornwall SW3431
from 1005 to 1040hrs heading north in pairs. Also two larger unidentified
whales further out.
5/11/90 A 100 or more dolphins were seen off St. Clements Island Mousehole
SW474261. These were observed from the mainland and also confirmed by the
skipper of MV. Scillonian III
5/11/90 At least two and possibly as many as five dolphin fins were
seen to break water 2 miles off the Cape Cornwall hut at 1020hrs.
12/11/90 MFV Filadelfia Pz542 reported sightings of Common Dolphins
from 2 miles south of Newlyn to 40 miles south of Newlyn between
2 p.m. and 6 p.m.. Dozens of dolphins were playing in the bow wave of vessel
and racing alongside.
13/11/90 MFV Filadelfia Pz542 reported Common Dolphins around all day
in groups of 4 to 8, sightings practically all day in position 05º
40'W to 06º 20'W and 40 to 50 miles south of Newlyn.
14/11/90 MFV Filadelfia Pz542 05º 40'W
to 06º 20'W, 45 to 60 miles south of Newlyn
15/11/90 MFV Filadelfia Pz542 05º 40'W to 06º
20'W 80 to 85 miles south of Newlyn.
Past two days there seem to be a spread of Common Dolphins all
over this area. Every time we haul there are invariably sightings alongside
boat, no difference day or night, dolphins are easily seen by lights of
boat. Mixed sizes. At 7.30 a.m. on Nov 15th a juvenile was seen no more
than 3 to 4ft long at 49º 00' 06º 30'W also at 1030hrs
a Leatherback Turtle 5 ft long in position 48º 54'N 06º 43'W.
21/11/90 3 Common Dolphins 4ft long were seen from MFV Filadelfia Pz542
at 4 p.m. 115 miles WSW of Newlyn 48º 30'N 07º 20'W.
27/11/90 4 Common Dolphins were seen from MFV Filadelfia Pz542 in the
afternoon 15 to 20 miles south of Falmouth.
28/11/90 2 Adult Common Dolphins were seen from MFV Filadelfia Pz542
in the morning and afternoon 15 to 20 miles south of Falmouth.
Late November Large numbers of Common Dolphins seen off
Falmouth from other boats.
2/12/90 7 or 8 Common Dolphins, 50% juvenile, were seen from
MFV Filadelfia Pz542 at 11.30a.m. 70 miles SSW of Newlyn. 49º
00'N 06º 30'W.
6/12/90 2 Common Dolphins were bow riding MFV Filadelfia Pz542
at 9.30p.m.
20 miles SW of Newlyn.
Cornish
Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 1989
Cornish
Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 1991
Cornish
Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 1992
Cornish
Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 1993
Cornish
Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 1994
Cornish
Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 1995
Cornish
Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 1996
Cornish
Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 1997
Cornish
Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 1998
Cornish
Marine Life Records (Ray Dennis) 1999
Vince
Smith's One-List/Cornish Wildlife
Seaquest
SW (Cornwall Wildlife Trust web pages)
BMLSS Pages: