
A minke whale breaching – they have been sighted in growing numbers in recent years along England’s North Sea coastline. Photo Credit: Tom McDonnell/The Wildlife Trusts/PA
AnimalsEnvironment United KingdomNew Waves of Hope: Depleted Sea Bounces Back
The North Sea is bouncing back after recent decades of significant declines in aquatic populations.
“We know the grey seals are doing well, which is fantastic news, and we know that’s also true of other species in the North Sea. Bottlenose dolphins – which we weren’t seeing off the Yorkshire coast until the last five years – have been recorded in a huge number of sightings. It’s clear they have enough food,” says marine advocacy manager for North Sea Wildlife Trusts, Bex Lynam.
Historically home to a vast array of life, including seals, whales, dolphins, and seabird colonies, the North Sea was particularly pressured due to being surrounded by many industrialized countries. It fell victim to overfishing, pollution, and oil and gas extraction. Growing protections, including new marine protected areas and increased controls on fishing, are aiding in the recovery of myriad species that call the North Sea home. Now, locals are seeing species they haven’t spotted in decades. Hopefully, we will see even more protection and conservation activities soon, fully restoring the North Sea to its former glory.