Dolphins found in UK and Irish waters

While 42 species of dolphins exist worldwide, only a few are regularly seen in UK and Irish waters, with other species occasionally visiting our shores. Discover the magnificent types of dolphins you might encounter along our coastline and learn about the best places to spot them.

The bottlenose dolphin is an iconic dolphin species, renowned for its intelligence. While these dolphins are found globally, they’re often seen in UK waters, particularly around Cardigan Bay in Wales, Penzance in England, the English Channel, and the Irish Sea. The largest population of bottlenose dolphins in the UK can be found in the Moray Firth in Scotland, where as many as 150 individuals live.

As well as being clever, bottlenose dolphins are social creatures, living in pods of up to hundreds of individuals. England only has one resident bottlenose dolphin pod, called the South Coast pod, which consists of as little as 40 individuals. Based around the English Channel, this population is under threat from ocean pollution and fishing pressure.

True to its name, the short-beaked common dolphin is one of the most widespread dolphin species worldwide. Though they prefer warmer, deeper waters, they’re often found in the Atlantic Ocean off the UK and Ireland’s coasts, especially in regions with plentiful food supplies. Notable sighting areas include the Irish Sea, Land’s End in Cornwall, the Pembrokeshire coast near St David’s Head, the Isle of Mull, and the Sound of Barra in Scotland.

Named after French-Italian naturalist Antoine Risso, the Risso’s dolphin is easily identified by its heavily scarred body and blunt, rounded head. These dolphins prefer areas with steep underwater drop-offs, where their primary prey, squid, is abundant.

In the UK, Risso’s dolphins are often spotted around the Hebrides, Ramsey Island in Wales, and Cornwall. In Ireland, they favour inshore waters and offshore islands and can be found off the Saltee Islands in Wexford, the Cork coast and the Blasket Islands in Kerry during the summer. Although they tend to hunt at night, Risso’s dolphins can be seen during the day engaging in behaviours like spy-hopping (raising their heads above water) or leaping from the sea.

The white-beaked dolphin is a social and playful species that favours colder waters. It inhabits only the North Atlantic Ocean, with a year-round presence around the UK, Iceland, Norway, and Canada. They’re often seen around the Scottish Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland Islands, Northwest Ireland, and occasionally as far south as the southwest coast of England.

White-beaked dolphins are known for their distinctive short white beak and robust build, and they often form pods with other dolphin species, except for orcas, which they tend to avoid or even confront to avoid being preyed upon.

The orca, or ‘killer whale’, is the largest member of the dolphin family, with adult males reaching up to eight metres in length. Despite their size, they’re among the fastest marine mammals, capable of swimming up to 35 miles per hour.

As top predators, orcas have a diverse diet that varies by location, from fish and sharks to seals, penguins, and even other cetaceans – a population in Scotland called the ‘West Coast Community’ are known to feed on marine mammals.

Although not frequent visitors to our waters, sightings of North Atlantic and Offshore Orcas occur occasionally around Scotland and Ireland, often when fish or shark prey is more abundant. However, the UK orca population is at risk of collapsing, with no new calves have been born in over two decades. This may be partly due to specific chemicals that are thought to interfere with orca fertility.

This species can be identified by a distinctive white stripe running from the tail towards the middle of the body and a pale yellow or tan streak below the dorsal fin. Preferring colder waters, the Atlantic white-sided dolphin is found off the coasts of Greenland, Iceland, and New England. In UK and Irish waters, they’re mainly seen around the west coast of Scotland, particularly the Hebrides, the west and northwest of Ireland, and occasionally the Irish Sea.

The striped dolphin is known for its vivid blue or light grey stripes that run from its eyes to its tail. This energetic species is famous for its acrobatic displays, such as leaping, spinning, and ‘roto-tailing’, where they twist their tails mid-air. Although common globally, they’re only occasionally spotted in UK waters; usually around the southwest coast, including Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Although it’s not a dolphin, the harbour porpoise is often mistaken for one because of its similar shape. However, they’re less streamlined than dolphins, have a snout rather than a beak, and possess a smaller, triangular dorsal fin. The harbour porpoise is the most common cetacean found around the UK but tends to be elusive, avoiding human contact. They’re typically found in shallow coastal waters with strong tidal currents, particularly in Cardigan Bay, off the west coast of Wales, and around Scotland’s Moray Firth and the Western Isles.

While it’s a joy to see dolphins frolicking along our shores, their presence is at risk due to threats like chemical pollution, overfishing, plastic pollution, and climate change. Protecting our marine environment is essential to ensure that future generations can continue to experience the thrill of watching dolphins ride the bow waves of ships, leap in Cardigan Bay, or spy-hop in the Moray Firth.

By becoming a Marine Conservation Society member, you can help fund our critical work. Your membership means we can work to restore and preserve ocean health ands ensure our British coasts remain full of life such as these dolphins.