Common dolphin stranded on the beach of Oostende
22/12/2023
This morning, a dead common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) washed ashore on the beach of Oostende, near the western harbour wall. It is a female measuring 2.07 meters in length.
The common dolphin is a rare species in our region but is the most common species in the Bay of Biscay and the adjacent Atlantic Ocean. In the Bay of Biscay, thousands of them die in fishing nets every year. This marks the third time this year that we have found this species on our beaches, which is highly unusual. However, it is by far the freshest of the three, and as such, it will be taken for further examination.
