A 'sad weekend for everyone concerned' as seals, dolphins and porpoises wash ashore
Volunteers from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust's marine strandings network, which is the official recorder for all marine strandings in the county, were out in force responding to reports sent in by the public.
Marine conservation officer Tom Hardy said: "It was a sad but not abnormal weekend for everyone concerned, mainly due to the change in the weather.
"We always get an increase in the number of marine deaths in the stormy winter months, but this seemed more dramatic because we have had a relatively long period of calm."
The greatest number of bodies reported was at Porthluney Cove at Caerhays, off Veryan Bay, where an adult and younger male common dolphin were washed up on Sunday, and the body of another adult dolphin was washed up earlier in the week.
In addition dead harbour porpoises were washed up between Friday and Sunday at Summerleaze Beach near Bude, Holywell Bay near Newquay, and Praa Sands near Porthleven.
In the same period the bodies of two adult grey seals were found off Daymer Bay near Rock and near Padstow, and another was found off Holywell Bay.
There is also a report of another death in Fowey.
Some of the dead mammals were thought to have died at sea and been washed ashore during the weekend's storms.
But experts say it is hard to be certain, not least because some of the bodies were partly decomposed.
One of the two dolphins found on Sunday at Porthluney Cove had net or rope markings on its nose, which suggests that it may have been caught up in fishing tackle.
The marine strandings network's co-ordinator Jan Loveridge said: "It is unusual for two dolphins to come in and strand together at the same place. I'm not suggesting that they swam in together, we just don't know what has happened.
"With the high tides and stormy weather they could have died anywhere and been washed in.
"They die for all sorts of reasons but one of the dolphins has neck marks possibly from a net, but we can't be absolutely certain without having a proper look at it."
Cornwall has the highest rate of deaths of dolphins, whales and porpoises - collectively known as cetaceans - in the country.
The trust's 120 volunteers also record the deaths or strandings of seals, basking sharks and turtles.
Anyone wishing to report a stranding should call the 24-hour marine strandings network hotline on 0845 201 2626.
Jan said: "If you come across anything please report it immediately, because we can get someone out there and carry out a post mortem, or stop it from being washed out again."
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