Thames marine mammal survey

Marine mammals are known to visit the Thames estuary but, until now, sightings have not been formally recorded. This survey is ongoing (since 2004) and will address this information gap.

Data collected will help to develop patterns and trends in species distribution, behaviour and habitat use. Findings will also be fed into national databases.

Our survey is operating in the tidal Thames area, between Teddington upriver to Shoeburyness and Sheerness in the outer estuary.

Take part by completing a questionnaire about your sighting

Marine Mammals in the Thames

The Thames Marine Mammal Sightings Survey, initiated in June 2004, has been running continuously over the last four years. The survey is supported from a range of sectors including people who work on and around the Thames, visitors enjoying the sights in central London, anglers and bird watchers on the estuary to organisations such as the Port of London Authority (PLA), Environment Agency (EA), Thames River Police and Port of London Health Authority – all of whom send in sightings and images. The survey is reliant on input from all these areas and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) would like to acknowledge everyone's support.

Thames Marine Mammal Sightings 2004-2007

ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey Report 2004-2007 (1.1 MB)
ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Survey Report Appendices 2004-2007 Part 1/2 (1.6 MB)
ZSL Thames Marine Mammal Report Appendices 2004-2007 Part 2/2 (3.8 MB)

Thames Marine Mammal Sightings Update 2008

• January: 13 sightings in total were sent in, all of which were common and grey seals. Sightings ranged between Putney and Hammersmith Bridges, Chiswick, Westminster Bridge and West India Docks.

• February: Eight sightings in total this month again all common and grey seals. Sightings ranged between Chiswick Pier, Battersea Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and Canary Wharf.

• March: Four sightings were received this month, all of which were common and grey seals. All sightings were made in the Canary Wharf and Isle of Dogs area.

• April: 14 sightings were made this month, all of which were common and grey seals. Sightings ranged between Westminster Bridge and Canary Wharf.

• May: Excitement abounded this month as we received our first Bottlenose dolphin sighting this year. He/she was spotted from Tower Hamlets on the Westferry Road. We also had four more common and grey seal sightings all spotted around the Isle of Dogs and within the docks themselves.

• June: Nine common and grey seals were spotted individually this month ranging between Waterloo Bridge, Canary Wharf and Dartford Bridge. Also, a bottlenose dolphin was spotted by Heron Quays and a harbour porpoise was seen in the Outer Estuary near Shoeburyness heading upriver into the Thames with the incoming tide.

• July: Six seal sightings were sent in this month. Most were spotted in the Canary Wharf area and one was seen at the mouth of Dartford Creek.

• August: West India Docks was visited by a seal and a porpoise this month, while a bottlenose dolphin swam beneath Waterloo Bridge and another seal was spotted swimming slowly past Millwall Inner Dock.

• September: Four seals were spotted separately ranging between Dartford Bridge, Millwall Docks and West India Docks, while a pod of four porpoise were spotted out by RSPB Rainham Marshes in Purfleet.

• October: Two seal were spotted out and about in Canary Wharf while a pod of six were spotted resting on the banks in Blythe Sands.

Links to other recording schemes:

Sealife Signpost is initiative of the MarLIN programme, providing guidance on marine life recording schemes that you can join, and on where to send your sightings of marine species. Sightings can also be reported via their message service. A full list of recording schemes is given at Sealife Signpost