MB0111-CSIP Cetacean Strandings around the UK coast

The project objectives of CSIP are to: • collate, analyse and report data for all cetacean strandings around the coast of the UK. determine the major causes of death in stranded cetaceans, including by-catch and physical trauma, in order to identify any substantial new threats to their conservation status. • undertake surveillance on the incidence of disease in stranded cetaceans in order to identify any substantial new threats to their conservation status. • investigate the potential interaction between feeding behaviour, fisheries and stranded cetaceans through examination of the contents of the stomach; to also record any evidence of 'litter'. • maintain the CSIP database which brings together accurate and geo-reference data on both strandings and post mortem data, which then allows end users to interrogate this data using the Internet. • make information on strandings and post-mortems results available to the Department and Devolved Administrations quarterly and publicly available by annual reports. • improve and maintain relationships with existing regional volunteer networks and local authorities.