The estuary, being relatively confined and shallow for Dolphins etc. places greater demands on their sonar navigation and movements underwater and extra care should be taken by vessels if they are seen. Basking sharks are particularly vulnerable to injury as they may be oblivious to your presence during their feeding forays at the surface. Basking sharks do occasionally breach (leap out of the water) and for your and their safety you are strongly advised to keep your distance - three people have been killed!

Watching these animals is exciting but please, if calling friends about their presence, encourage them to watch only from the coastal footpath and to bring binoculars. (The Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary is a very busy Harbour and this is for your and their health and safety!)

Some groups of these animals do appear to be showing changes in their normal behaviour and it is believed that this is due to the stress of increasingly large numbers and speeds of boats in their natural environment.

The average swimming speed of adult male dolphins is suggested as 4 knots, but remember that mothers and calves are likely to be even slower - any approach faster than this is more likely to hit and even kill them or maybe taken as a threat. Despite their agility dolphins are struck by boats, even sailing boats and their propellers - if they join you, where it is safe to do so, please maintain your speed and course.

Whales and dolphins are air breathing mammals that must come up for air, meaning that they cannot simply dive and disappear from unwanted attention - they may dive for longer periods or swim under water faster with rapid changes of direction when distressed, using up vital energy reserves and making injury more likely. Many large marine animals are declining and your active co-operation in conserving these animals is requested. Most of these animals are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, amended by the new Countryside & Rights of Way Act, 2000, making it an offence to deliberately or recklessly disturb, harass or endanger these animals.

Please report all incident details to the Police (tel 08452 777444) or RSPCA (tel 0300 1234999) stating boat details (type, colour, name, small ship register number, etc.) or car registration. Thank you.