A surge in Scottish strandings, a nine-stomached whale, and saving the finless porpoise
Big Blue Bulletin #64
Welcome to the latest edition of the Big Blue Bulletin – things have changed just a little bit around here as featured stories will now focus on whales, dolphins, and porpoises, with a little bit of commentary from me thrown in as well. Still, you can expect good news, bad news, and a cute creature in your inbox every week.
Let’s dive in 🐬
Ocean news
🗞️ Big news of the week -
💔 Dramatic rise in whale and dolphin strandings in Scotland
Strandings of cetaceans on Scottish shores have risen dramatically in the last 30 years, with some species seeing increases of up to 800%, according to new research from the University of Glasgow’s Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (Smass). The study, published in Scientific Reports, follows a summer marked by multiple strandings of deep-diving species across northern Europe. Researchers suspect increasing human-made noise, such as seismic surveys and offshore construction, could be a key factor driving whales into shallow, unfamiliar waters where they eventually get stuck.
🦕 Before whales took to the sea, these ten species walked on land
Over the years fossil discoveries have revealed that whales began as hoofed, semi-aquatic mammals roaming ancient coastlines. Long before they became ocean giants, these ten species show how whales first learned to swim.
☣️ New 'forever chemicals' found in killer whale blubber
Scientists have identified five previously undocumented PFAS compounds in the blubber of killer whales—raising fresh concerns about marine pollution. Unlike well-known PFAS that accumulate in protein-rich organs like the liver, these new “fat-loving” fluorotelomer sulfones build up in blubber, making whales and other marine mammals particularly vulnerable. The study, published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters, found the chemicals made up as much as 75% of total fluorine compounds in blubber samples, but were undetectable in the liver, challenging long-held assumptions about how PFAS behave in wildlife. This unfolds as the Plastic Treaty talks, once again, fail to agree a legally-binding solution to the plastics crisis.
🦷 World's rarest whale has 9 stomachs, "wisdom" teeth, and has never been seen alive
The spade-toothed whale (Mesoplodon traversii) has never been seen alive and is known from just seven confirmed specimens, most found around New Zealand. But when a 5-metre male washed ashore near Taieri Mouth in July 2024, scientists seized the rare chance to study it. Dissected for the first time last December, the whale revealed unique features like nine stomachs and unerupted “wisdom” teeth. The project also marked a first in blending Indigenous knowledge with Western science to better understand this elusive deep-sea species, considered a taoka (treasure) by local Māori.
😳 Brothers rescue 'terrified' swimmers from dolphin
Two women were rescued in separate incidents by kayakers after a bottlenose dolphin, known locally as Reggie, began forcing them underwater off the Dorset coast. The dolphin, a regular visitor to Lyme Bay, has become a tourist favourite but experts warn that repeated human interaction can lead to unpredictable and even dangerous behaviour. The Marine Management Organisation is urging swimmers to keep at least 100m away, reminding the public that dolphins are protected wild animals, not playmates.
🇨🇳 Saving China's finless porpoise from the brink of extinction
With the Yangtze River dolphin (the Baiji) and paddle fish now extinct, scientists in Wuhan are racing to protect the last major species left in the river: the Yangtze finless porpoise. Only around 1,200 remain in the wild, and researchers say its survival is critical to the health of the entire ecosystem. A full fishing ban in the region is already in place, giving conservationists a better chance of saving this rare, freshwater predator before it’s too late.
Have a great weekend! 📸
Cover image by Jeroen Hoekendijk.
When I read about humans interacting with wildlife and getting injured or worse, it reminds me how most of us do not really comprehend animal strength and unpredictable behavior. The alarming incidents of people trying to pet the fuzzy bison in Yellowstone Park come to mind.