According to Wildlife Trusts, there were also “surprising sightings of dolphins and orcas” in 2021.
The charity however warned that humans were threatening marine life.
The report stated that more than 170 cetaceans had been stranded in Cornwall in the past 12 months, along with 247 seals, many of whom were injured by fishing activities.
Nick, the bottlenose dolphin, was loved by swimmers from Cornwall. He suffered injuries consistent with propeller damage. A minke whale appeared in Thames, but it had to be killed after its condition worsened.
Daniele Clifford is a marine conservation officer at The Wildlife Trusts. She said that wind farms’ noise can cause some species to become confused.
She said, “We must think carefully about all future marine development.”
“Unsustainable fishing practices are causing too many marine animals to be killed, especially seals, dolphins, and other marine mammals.”
Humpback whales spotted off Cornwall and Scotland
According to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, 17 sightings were made of humpbacks by its staff. This was once an uncommon sight in UK waters.
This brings the total number of sightings to 75 since 2019, with the species believed to be chasing sardines currently present in the area’s waters.
According to the charity, numbers are recovering following bans on commercial whaling.
Also, humpbacks were seen off Shetland, the Firth of Forth, and the Isles of Scilly.
Two Hebridean orcas were seen near Cornwall’s Minnack Theatre, making it the most southerly sighting of the west-coast community in over 50 years.
They also made an appearance off Dover’s coast, in Kent.
The first sightings of white-beaked dolphins off Essex were far away from their usual subarctic waters. However, the first record of Moray Firth bottlenoses was made on the south coast.
According to the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, it witnessed a seal pup being abandoned at home by its mother after several people took selfies with him.
As he traveled around the UK, an Arctic walrus named Wally was followed.
Lissa Batey is the head of marine conservation at The Wildlife Trusts. She said that it has been a great year for megafauna sightings in the south west. However, it is clear that oceans are under tremendous pressure from development, fishing, pollution, climate change, and recreation.
“All of these issues have a tremendous impact on the life at sea.”
