Stranding update: 20250810

This is the last update on single strandings. In the future, I will focus on mass strandings/clusters. Once the data is collected, I will issue MAD's or give a report on events as they unfolded. 

2025, August 8? (week prior). South Africa, near Struisbaai. A newborn Southern right whale calf stranded and died. No clear cause of death was found.

2025, August 7. Scotland, Orkney Westray, at Pierowell. Lone Pilot whale calf in trouble. Still maternally dependent. Outcome unknown.

2025, August 7. Scotland, Calgary, Mull, Argyll And Bute. Harbour Porpoise in an moderate to advanced state of decomposition.

2025, August 7. Scotland, Liniclate, Benbecula, Western Isles. Striped Dolphin. In a state of moderate to advanced decomposition.

2025, August 7. Ireland, Blacksod Bay, Tarmon Beach. Common dolphin rescued. This was the 19th live-stranded dolphin in the bay so far this year.

2025, August 7. Ireland, Helvic, Co. Waterford. Two juvenile Sowerby’s beaked whales live stranded – one male and one female. Both whales did not survive.

2025, August 8. Philippines, Mindanao, Purok 3B, San Vicente Village, Casinglot, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. A dead dolphin was found in fishing net.

2025, August 08. Scotland, Kames Bay, Millport, Cumbrae, North Ayrshire. A Short-Beaked Common Dolphin in a state of light decomposition.

2025, August 9. Philippines, Romblon, Agmanic, Santa Fe, Tablas Island. A young pilot whale, around 3–4 meters long, was found washed ashore in early morning. Local authorities are now investigating.

2025, August 9. Philippines, Magallanes. A young pilot whale stranded and died.

Third airburst in Mexico region Updated 20250604

An airburst over land in Mexico brings the tally to three in just over 6 months. The cumulative energy released is 6.8 kt or 6,800,000 kg/TNT. The other two occurred over the Pacific Ocean. This meteor activity has profoundly affected cetacean activity in the region, with its ramifications felt north along the USA west coast. 

2025, May 31. Mexico, Hidalgo State, Xiliapa. Airburst. Coordinates: (98.8 W, 21.1 N). Time: 23:06. Energy: e = 38.6, -e = 1 or 1,000,000 kg/TNT. Altitude: 47.3 km. Velocity: 17.8 km/sec.  

Also: 

2025, May 29. USA, Oregon, Cachalot (sperm whale). Adult male, measured approximately 53 ft long. Cause of death: It appears to have been due to a pre-mortem vessel strike interaction.

2025, June 1. UK, Cleethorpes. Dead dolphin.

2025, June 1. UK, Cleveleys beach. A dead porpoise. It’s the latest porpoise to wash up on a Fylde coast beach in recent months, with others discovered on beaches in Fleetwood and Blackpool.

2025, June 2. USA, Massachusetts, Cape Cod Bay. Fireball. Time: 20:07EDT Seen in Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Rhode Island. A Marine Animal Disturbance Alert should be noted for this region due to historical data showing it as a cetacean stranding hotspot. Update: Cancel Alert due to information suggesting this event was above the inland coast, not water. 

Cetacean strandings and meteor events since the 22nd of March

2025, March 22. UK, North East and Cumbria, Redcar beach, Teesside. Dead Porpoise.

2025, March 21. UK, Sandwich Bay, 15km north of Dover. Dead Porpoise.

2025, March 23. North Sea. Fireball. Time: 21:40 UT. Seen traveling from Calais in France moving NNE across the North Sea for approximately 250 km.

2025, March 24. South Africa, Hartenbos, Mossel Bay. A stranded beaked whale euthanized after attempts to refloat.

2205, March 24. Canada, Haida Gwaii, Graham Island, Rose Spit. A large whale found in advanced state of decomposition.

2025, March 25. Scotland, Fife, Torryburn Beach. Dead porpoise.

2025, March 25. Ireland, Waterford Estuary. Sperm whale in estuary. Unusual.

2025, March 27. Pacific Ocean, 920km WSW of Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico. Large Airburst. Coordinates: (14.3N, 111.5W). e = 104.5, -e = 2.4 or 2,400,000 kg/TNT. Altitude: 38.1km. Vel: 21.3km/s. Marine Animal Disturbance Alert. This comes after the December 20 airburst at the same latitude, 1443 km to the east. Two very significant events. Due to this event, cetaceans such as Humpback and Risso's dolphins could be vulnerable. Gray, for this event, is not as much due to its location. This brings the 2024-2025 airburst ratio to 3:13. A comet not seen in 160,000 years is entering the inner solar system, so it will be interesting to see what it brings with it. The MAD'S for Brazil and the central Indian Ocean are still in effect to this date.

2025, March 29. USA, San Fransisco Bay, Alcatraz Dock. Dead Gray whale.

2025, March 29. British Virgin Islands, Caribbean Sea. Dead humpback whale floating at sea.

2025, March 29. Wales, Treathgwyn Beach. Dead dolphin.

Marine life deaths continue in Goa and fish deaths in Maharashtra

2024, May. India, Goa. Large numbers of marine life continue to die on Goa's coastline. Dolphins, porpoises, turtles, birds and even snakes have washed up on beaches. Many are endangered species. To the north in Maharashtra there has been mass fish deaths in the Panje-Dongri wetlands.

Herald: Dwindling marine species are falling dead on Goa’s coastline (heraldgoa.in)

Maharashtra: Fish deaths in Raigad wetlands raise alarm (mid-day.com)

Update 20240531. 2024, May 31. India, Velsao, west coast. A large number of dead fish, including pufferfish, carp, crabs, and eel, continuously washing ashore with the tide.

Herald: Mass fish deaths at Velsao: Livelihoods of 400 fisherfolk at risk, says NGO (heraldgoa.in)

Report: Rising slaughter of small whales and dolphins threatens ocean balance

A must-read report by Elizabeth Fitt on 6 March 2024 on the killings of small whales, porpoises and dolphins globally. With more than 100,000 of these marine mammals slaughtered each year. A very good read!

Mongabay Series:

Report: Rising slaughter of small whales and dolphins threatens ocean balance (mongabay.com)

Doomed to Extinction, deaths of marine species rising around the world.

In Bangladesh 3 dolphins, 1 porpoise and 1 turtle were found dead in three days. Two more dolphins were found dead on Inani sea beach of Cox’s Bazar on Friday. One of them is a Irrawaddy dolphin and another is Indo Pacific Humpback. Scientists are at a loss to explain these deaths?