Bottlenose dolphin sighting

I have recently received a dolphin sighting from the Sussex Sea Fisheries. A school of 8-10 large bottlenose dolphins were seen during a routine patrol on the 3rd September at 9.00am. The vessels position 50.44.30N 000.37.02W is approximately 3 miles offshore between Bognor Regis and Littlehampton. The dolphins stayed with the boat for about 2 minutes riding the bow wave.

Compared to sightings when I first started monitoring local sea mammals as regional coordinator for the Sea Watch Foundation, in recent years the number of sightings have been much less. We have had very few bottlenose dolphin sightings off Sussex the last couple of years. Sea Watch Foundation have voiced concern that this species is declining around the UK so the lack of Sussex sightings is worrying. However, me may just be unlucky and not have anyone watching when they pass.