Puffins are still the main draw at the Farne Islands, but visitors off Northumberland are now spotting something much bigger close to shore: orcas.
Over the past two years, people along the Northumberland coast have reported more encounters with orcas and dolphins, including sightings much nearer the shore than residents had typically seen before. The Guardian reported that boat crews, wildlife watchers and marine researchers all said the recent wave of sightings stands out.
Andrew Douglas, owner of Serenity Boat Tours, told the publication that when he first saw the orcas last year, he “was like a little child … excited as hell.” He said people on the tours were thrilled to witness the animals, adding: “Having the orca, it doesn’t half boost things.”
Douglas had seen orcas only once before, when he was 20. Since then, he and his crew have spotted pods several times, while crewman Aaron Fordy has now seen them four times.
Researchers in Shetland who reviewed footage from the sightings said the encounters appear to involve several different pods rather than one group returning repeatedly.
Scientists said there is no single confirmed explanation for the increase in sightings. University of St Andrews researcher Dr Julia Sutherland told The Guardian that orcas are “highly mobile animals,” and said the rise could reflect a mix of increased presence, improved reporting and greater visibility through social media.
Some researchers and people in the area think the sightings may point to positive changes in the local marine environment. Douglas said the government’s sandeel fishing ban may be helping that recovery.
Sandeels are eaten by larger animals, and protecting them can benefit seabirds, fish, dolphins and whales higher up the food chain. Douglas suggested that with the sandeel population at less risk, more mackerel and herring are in the area, attracting orcas to places where prey is more plentiful.
The Guardian quoted honorary research fellow Dr Conor Ryan of the Scottish Association for Marine Science, who called the sandeel ban “a very logical place to look for an explanation.” He also said, “if you’re getting big predators returning to an area, that’s a good sign of a healthy ecosystem.”
Fordy said of the sightings: “We’re just jumping about, really excited to see them, because of course it’s a first experience for us too.”
Douglas said, “The big dorsal fins on the males are just absolutely huge, it just makes you smile, it’s really cool.” He also said the Farne Islands have been “getting a lot busier” since the uncommon sightings.
Researchers have urged caution. The Guardian reported that University of St Andrews researcher Dr Luke Rendell said orcas are “exploratory and curious animals,” while Sutherland said scientists are still “lacking so much knowledge” about killer whales in UK waters to draw firm conclusions for now.
Researchers also said orcas in UK waters still face serious threats from pollution, and the population along the country’s west coast is nearing local extinction.
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