MARINE MAMMALS & CETACEANS IN RAMSEY SOUND, PEMBROKESHIRE

Marine mammals are essentially the big animals that everyone wants to see. This area has a variety of species – including Orca “Killer Whales” – but the following ones are more likely to be seen in and around Ramsey Sound.

Please make sure you read the Pembrokeshire Marine Code so you know what agreements are in place before you paddle through Ramsey Sound.

Atlantic Grey Seal
Latin name: Halichoerus grypus
All of the seals in Ramsey Sound are Atlantic Grey Seals and are some of the largest in the UK. This area is also a significant breeding area and there are restrictions in place throughout the breeding season.

More facts about the Grey Seal.

Harbour Porpoise
Latin name: Phocoena phocoena
A pod of porpoises are commonly sighted in Ramsey Sound as they feed moving with the tide. Often seen throughout the sound, especially near the southern end. Watch out for flocks of birds feeding. If there is obvious feeding activity do not enter the area and make sure you follow the advice given in the marine code of conduct.

If you see a porpoise you can expect to only see their dorsal fin and blow hole emerge from the water. If it starts leaping into the air you’ve got something much bigger! On a calm, windless day you may hear them clearing their blowholes before you see them. Length 1.5 – 2 metres.

Fascinating facts from the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society.

Dolphin
Latin names, Bottlenose: Tursiops truncatus; White-sided: Lagenorhynchus acutus; Common: Delphinus delphis; Risso’s: Grampus griseus
Dolphins are rarely seen in Ramsey Sound but there are occasionally sightings of Common, White Sided, Bottlenose and Rissos Dolphin. Some of the world's largest dolphins live around the United Kingdom. Their size will also depend on the temperature of the water they live in - the colder it is, the more blubber they need!

The easiest way of recognising a bottlenose is to look out for an obvious dark and curved-back dorsal fin on a lively grey dolphin! If all you see is a flattened fin and small section of back, you are probably looking at a porpoise. If they are leaping from the water then it is definitely a dolphin. 2 – 4 metres long.

Fascinating facts from the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society.

Sunfish
Latin name: Mola Mola
Sunfish are not mammals at all, but fish. They are instantly recogniseable as the flollop around on the surface, peering at you with one eye and a vacant expression. They feed off jellyfish (pysgod wibbly wobbly) and have suffered from mistakenly ingesting plastic carrier bags.

More facts from fishbase.org.

There are a lot of other species, including Minke Whale, Pilot Whale & Orca. in the area which have been known to come close inland but on the whole you need to go beyond the Bishops and Clerks rocks to see them. Local boat operators (see St Davids' links) run trips and can give further advice.

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