A humpback whale has been spotted frolicking in the sea off the Kent coast. Footage has been captured and shared by a lucky wildlife watcher who spotted the marine mammal near Deal this week.
The clip, which can be seen above, shows the humpback whale as it partially breaches the water surface just off the seafront. It was then reported to the Kent Dolphin Project, a collaboration between the Sussex Dolphin Project and Adonis Blue Environmental Consultants, which is part of the Kent Wildlife Trust Group.
Max Renton, of Adonis Blue Environmental Consultants, said: “This is a really exciting spot. There have been recent sightings of humpback whales along the south coast, including Sussex and Cornwall.
“While it’s not yet possible to confirm whether these are the same individuals, sightings like these highlight the importance of ongoing efforts to understand and protect our marine life. Through projects like the Kent Dolphin Project, we can better understand the distribution and abundance of cetacean species in our local area and inspire local communities to protect the incredible marine life just off our shores.”
Recognisable thanks to their acrobatic displays and impressive size, reaching up to 18 meters in length, humpbacks are found across the world’s oceans and undertake some of the longest migrations of any animal. The recent sighting has raised environmental concerns from conservationists regarding the proposed National Grid Sea Link project which would see an underwater cable between Kent and Suffolk.
A humpback whale has been filmed off of the Deal coast this week
(Image: Kyle Thacker)
Emma Waller, planning and policy officer for Kent Wildlife Trust, said: “This sighting underscores the need for National Grid to reconsider their plans. Their current approach lacks adequate mitigation for marine mammals.
“Renewable energy is vital, but it must not come at the expense of wildlife when alternative options are available.” The Kent Dolphin Project is encouraging the public to record and submit further sightings of dolphins, whales and other marine mammals. Full details on how to do this can be found here.
Get more news from KentLive straight to your inbox for free HERE.