Animal welfare charity calls for investigation into whale strandings

An animal welfare charity is calling for the government to investigate recent whale strandings on the east coast of Scotland.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society say there needs to be clarity on whether underwater work, linked to wind farm construction or the oil and gas industry, may have been a factor.

On Friday a 40ft Sei whale was found at Arbroath beach.

Although this species can be seen in Scottish waters, sightings are infrequent.

The previous week more than 20 pilot whales were stranded at Anstruther. It is thought that, eventually, only eight surivived.

Prior to this incident, another large whale, a minke, was washed ashore also near Arbroath.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society's head of policy in Scotland wants to know if the underwater noise created by surveys for the building of giant windfarms off the east coast or oil and gas seismic surveys could be affecting whales.

Sarah Dolman, head of policy at the society, said: "Noise has been linked to whale strandings in the past. That hasn't been demonstrated in this case yet. What WDCS is requesting is that the government undertakes a full investigation and that the post mortem results are used as a basis for that investigation and a full understanding of all industrial activities so we can get to the bottom of the cause if, indeed, there is one cause for these events."

Scottish Renewables, the umbrella body for the country's green energy companies, said they were unaware of any industry activity impacting on whale populations.

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