
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 21, 1995                   TAG: 9502210089
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                 LENGTH: Short

VA. SEA-MAMMAL BEACHINGS DOUBLE

Strandings and deaths of dolphins, whales and seals have nearly doubled over the past year in Virginia, which recorded more beachings of harbor porpoises than any other oceanfront state.

Overall, scientists logged 110 beachings in 1994, nearly double the 59 the previous year in Virginia. Of the 110, 47 were harbor porpoises - also more than any other coastal state, according to statistics released last week by the Virginia Marine Science Museum in Virginia Beach.

Forty-two bottlenose dolphins washed ashore in 1994, the largest number since an extensive wave of dolphin deaths struck the Atlantic coast in 1987.

``This, unfortunately, has been our busiest year by far,'' said Mark Swingle, state strandings coordinator and a biologist at the museum.

- Associated Press

by CNB