The rescue & release of 'Marra' the Merryport dolphin

Marine Connection Fisheries/Policy Officer, Lissa Goodwin reports on her involvement with the eventual release of Marra the Maryport, bottlenose dolphin.

It was late one Saturday evening, (January 28, 2006) and whilst I was visiting a friend, just sat catching up over a cup of tea - my mobile went. Not an unusual occurrence, however this time it was Dave Jarvis, the South East Co-ordinator for British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) informing me that we were going for the full rescue attempt on Marra - the bottlenose dolphin which had entered a Cumbrian harbour and then been unable to leave - I was placed on 30 minutes notice to leave for Maryport.

I was no stranger to Maryport or Marra for that matter, having accompanied BDMLR vet, James Barnett a week previous to assess the health and status of Marra. At the same time we had made numerous attempts to encourage Marra out of the harbour and into open water, the boat enticement, sound and human encouragement however elicited no more than a couple of minutes interest before Marra would return to foraging at the bottom or swimming up and down the harbour wall - much to the fascination of the many onlookers who had flocked to Maryport to see the dolphin.

During high tide the lock gates across the entrance to the marina remained open, yet Marra refused to leave. All our attempts to encourage him out led us to believe that Marra was actually scarred of crossing the lock gate sill. What we do not know is whether this was an acoustic anomaly of the gates themselves, giving Marra a false reading or whether reports of killer whales offshore, held the explanation for Marra's appearance in the safety of the marina.

At the initial point of assessment we were not overly concerned about Marra's condition but as the week went on Marra began to noticeably lose weight, with a deep depression appearing along his flank. We also became increasingly concerned as January temperatures and the freshwater input into the harbour meant that at night ice was forming on the surface of the harbour. This highlighted major concerns; that Marra may have to break through the ice to reach the surface to breathe; that the cold temperatures would be below what Marra was used to and the freshwater may affect Marra's skin, with lesions beginning to form. All of this meant that experts within BDMLR decided to launch a full rescue operation to return Marra to the wild.

After numerous telephone calls it was Sunday lunchtime before I got the call informing me to pack, we were leaving for Maryport, eight hours of driving accompanied by some of the most experienced medics from the South West. Early Monday morning we pulled alongside the harbour, having finished the last leg of the journey that morning from Lancaster. As the whole rescue team were beginning to arrive, we congregated in the Coastguards Hut to finalise our plans and ensure everyone knew what their role was. The majority of the rescue procedure had already been planned - the final arrangements just needed putting into place with times and tides.

In order to maximise both the safety of Marra and the rescue team we had decided to drain the harbour permitting the rescue of the dolphin in a controlled manner, in shallow water. A net and team were placed across the entrance to prevent Marra panicking and rushing into the mud on the already dry outer harbour on the other side of the lock gates. It was then that the waiting game commenced. As the water drained, the mud rescue team, fire brigade, police, crane operators, Maryport inshore lifeboat, and others got into place in preparation for the transport and release of Marra.

Fortunately, everything went to plan, including Marra, who, as the harbour drained positioned himself in the deepest part of the harbour - right in front of the rescue team! Once shallow enough, medics entered the water in readiness to capture Marra - everything then happened very quickly - once captured Marra was held at the surface alongside our boat, where he was put into a specially designed sling. Once in this he appeared to calm, as he was hoisted by the crane out of the harbour and onto the boat awaiting him, on a trailer, beside the harbour.

Having been stationed on the BDMLR vessel in the water and assisted with placing Marra in the sling my part in the rescue operation was over. I watched as he disappeared above me to the placed on the boat. I did head down to the beach afterwards to watch the release; however I got there just as the team were coming back up the beach - looking jubilant!

The vets had made a quick assessment of Marra and approved his health for release before he had been taken down to the sea, where the boat was launched. He was taken about 1 nautical mile offshore before being lowered into the cold Atlantic water. I was told that he was joined by another bottlenose dolphin, before swimming out into the blue - where he belongs!

Whilst the whole situation was an unusual one and a learning experience for all involved, it was fantastic to have been at the forefront of such a well organised and efficient operation. To know that Marra is free, swimming amongst others of his species is enough reward for any marine mammal medic.

** Please Note **
Since this report the dolphin has returned to Maryport and is being closely monitored to ensure his safety and welfare.

** Update ** - December 2006
The body of a bottlenose dolphin has been found by a member of the public on a Cumbrian beach. The carcass had been chopped into three pieces and was held in two sacks. This find raises many questions and also fears for the safety of Marra, the dolphin which has frequented the area and has not been seen for some time. The body is being sent to London where a post mortem will be conducted by Paul Jepson, Project Co-ordinator of the UK Cetacean Strandings Project (UKCSP) who has been supplied with photographs of Marra to compare with any relevant markings found on the body of the dead dolphin and the results will be made available as soon as possible.

21 December 2006 :
Dead dolphin confirmed as Marra and cause of death confirmed
Read full report

images: Ray Wilkinson/Nick Duthie