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Freedom251 › Blog › 112 emergency

How to Report a Dead or Stranded Marine Mammal in Spain

By Freedom251 Team · · 9 min read

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If you find a dead or stranded whale, dolphin or porpoise in Spain, call 112 first. The European emergency number routes a cetacean-stranding alert to the relevant regional network coordinator. Give your callback number, the exact location, whether the animal is alive or dead, what you can see from a safe distance, and any danger to people or navigation.

Do not touch, move, tow, cover, sample or dispose of the animal. MITECO’s national protocol is written for cetaceans; arrangements for seals and other non-cetacean marine mammals vary by territory. Use 112 for an urgent animal or public-safety situation and follow the operator’s instructions rather than assuming that every autonomous community uses the same specialist route.

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Who to call first

Whale, dolphin or porpoise: call 112

MITECO’s Protocolo Nacional de actuación ante varamientos de cetáceos recommends using 112 as the first reporting channel. The emergency call centre passes the alert to the mobile coordinator for the appropriate stranding network. This applies whether the cetacean is on a beach, rocks, another part of the coast, or floating within Spanish state waters.

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“Debido a esto se recomienda utilizar, en primer lugar, los servicios del teléfono de emergencias europeo (112), desde el cual trasladarán el aviso al teléfono móvil de coordinación de la red de varamientos.”

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Protocolo Nacional de actuación ante varamientos de cetáceos, section 1.4.1

You do not need to identify the species before calling. “A dolphin-sized animal,” “a large whale,” or “a small cetacean” is enough for the initial alert. A precise position and a reliable callback number are more useful than a delayed or uncertain identification.

Seal or another marine mammal: do not assume the cetacean procedure applies

The national document reviewed here is cetacean-specific. It does not establish one detailed, nationwide telephone route for seals or every other marine mammal in every autonomous community. If a non-cetacean is injured, trapped, being harassed, creating a danger, or otherwise needs urgent intervention, call 112 and explain what you have found. Follow the operator’s instructions and ask where the alert has been referred. Local wildlife, maritime or environmental authorities may have different arrangements.

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If the situation is not urgent, avoid approaching while you seek local instructions through the relevant regional authority. Do not substitute an unverified regional number for 112 when there is an immediate risk to the animal, people or navigation.

Information to give the operator

The call centre needs enough information to dispatch or advise the correct team. Prepare these details without moving closer to the animal.

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  • Your identity and callback: give your name and a phone number on which the coordinator can reach you.
  • Exact location: state the beach or site, municipality, and a nearby landmark. Give coordinates if your phone can display them. Say whether the animal is on sand, rocks, a harbour structure or another surface.
  • Animal type or approximate size: identify it as a dolphin, porpoise, whale, seal or unknown marine mammal if you can do so safely. Estimate length or compare it with a familiar object; do not delay the call to inspect it.
  • Condition: say whether it appears alive or dead. For a carcass, describe visible decomposition, swelling, bleeding or serious damage without touching it.
  • Position in the water: if it is floating, report its approximate distance from shore and whether currents or waves are moving it.
  • Sea conditions: mention tide, surf, strong waves, wind or other conditions that could affect access.
  • Immediate hazard: state whether the animal, a boat response or the sea state presents a danger to swimmers, rescuers or navigation.

Remain in the area if it is safe to do so. The national cetacean protocol asks the observer to wait for the coordinator’s callback, but you should move to a safer position if waves, cliffs, traffic or another hazard makes staying dangerous.

What the protocol means by “stranded”

The national definition is specific to cetaceans and is broader than “lying on a beach.”

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Situation How the cetacean protocol treats it What the public should report
Dead cetacean on land A dead animal grounded anywhere on the coast is a stranding. Give the location, position, apparent decomposition and access hazards.
Dead cetacean offshore A dead cetacean floating within state waters is also treated as stranded. Give coordinates or a landmark, distance from shore, drift direction if visible and any navigation threat.
Living cetacean grounded and unable to return It is stranded because it cannot get back to the sea unaided. Report its position, breathing or movement and whether waves are rolling it or obstructing it.
Living cetacean that can return but appears to need veterinary care It can still qualify as a stranding when medical assistance appears necessary. Describe obvious injury, abnormal breathing, entanglement or difficulty swimming from a distance.
Living cetacean unable to return to its natural habitat without help The protocol includes this condition even if the animal is not simply lying on shore. Explain what prevents normal movement and wait for trained guidance.

A cetacean briefly seen close to shore is not automatically stranded. Some nearshore behaviour can be normal for the species. The public should observe from a safe distance and report when there is serious injury, clear swimming difficulty or another abnormal sign, rather than entering the water or trying to herd the animal.

Stay clear: why handling is unsafe

Physical dangers

A large animal can strike, roll or crush someone without intending to. A person attempting to turn, tow or push it may be trapped between the body and rocks, a seawall, a boat or the seabed. Surf, surge, slippery rocks and changing tides add hazards even when the animal appears still. The protocol assigns field assessment and primary assistance to trained personnel for this reason.

Health dangers

Excretions, wounds and breathing close to the animal can expose people to infectious agents. A carcass can also contain sharp structures or release fluids when moved. Gloves, ropes or improvised lifting equipment do not make an untrained intervention safe, and the official guidance does not ask members of the public to collect samples.

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Actions not to take

  • Do not touch, ride, feed, pour water over or cover the animal.
  • Do not drag it above the tide line, roll it, tow it or push it back into the sea.
  • Do not cut fishing line, remove tags or disentangle gear unless a trained responder specifically directs you.
  • Do not collect tissue, teeth, photographs at close range or other material.
  • Do not attempt to transport, bury, burn or dispose of a carcass.
  • Keep children, pets, swimmers and curious bystanders away from the animal and the immediate waterline.

Photographs taken from a safe distance may help the coordinator, but they are optional. Never enter surf or climb an unstable structure to obtain a better image.

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Step-by-step reporting procedure

  1. Move to a safe observation point. Stay clear of the animal, breaking waves, cliffs, rocks, traffic and any entangling ropes or fishing gear. If you are already in danger, call 112 immediately and prioritise your own evacuation.
  2. Call 112. Say that you are reporting a marine mammal and identify a whale, dolphin, porpoise, seal or unknown animal if possible. For cetaceans, state that it is dead or stranded so the alert can be routed through the stranding network.
  3. Give your callback number and location. Provide the beach or site, municipality, nearby landmark and coordinates when available. Keep the phone available for a return call.
  4. Describe what is visible. Report approximate size or type, alive/dead status, position on sand, rocks or in water, and visible condition. Use observations rather than diagnoses; for example, say “not moving and bloated” instead of assigning a cause of death.
  5. Describe water conditions and distance. For a floating carcass, estimate the distance to shore and state whether it is drifting. Mention tide, waves and access limitations.
  6. Report risks separately. Tell the operator if people are approaching, if the carcass is in a swimming area, or if it could collide with boats or obstruct a channel.
  7. Wait for instructions. Stay nearby only if safe, answer the coordinator’s callback and follow directions. Do not begin a rescue or recovery operation while waiting.

What to report in common situations

What you see Information that matters most Public response
Dead dolphin or porpoise on a beach Beach and municipality, landmark or coordinates, apparent decomposition, tide and access hazards. Call 112, keep people away and wait for the stranding coordinator.
Large whale on rocks or sand Approximate length, exact position, whether waves can move it, and risks from surf or cliffs. Call 112; do not attempt to refloat or reposition it.
Dead cetacean floating offshore Coordinates or bearing from a landmark, distance to shore, drift, sea state and navigation danger. Call 112 and report the maritime hazard clearly.
Live cetacean lying on shore Breathing and movement, injuries or entanglement visible from a distance, wave action and whether it can reach water. Call 112; keep the public back and do not pour water on or push the animal.
Cetacean swimming near shore without obvious distress Duration and location, plus any clear injury, abnormal breathing or inability to swim. Observe without intervening. Call 112 if serious abnormal signs appear or people are at risk.
Seal or another non-cetacean marine mammal Species if known, exact location, alive/dead status, visible injury and immediate safety concerns. Use 112 for an urgent animal or safety situation and follow the operator’s territorial referral.

The table distinguishes reporting priorities; it does not create a separate public rescue method. In every case, the finder’s role is observation, accurate communication and keeping people clear.

What happens after the call

For a cetacean, the 112 centre transfers the alert to the relevant stranding-network coordinator. Trained primary-assistance personnel and specialist teams decide whether an animal needs examination, veterinary support, recovery, transport or another response. A carcass may be examined for scientific or management purposes, or authorities may determine that it remains where it is.

Recovery and carcass management are coordinated by the competent authorities. Decisions can depend on the territory, access, sea conditions, protected-area rules, public-health considerations and the animal’s condition. The finder should not promise beach users that a carcass will be removed at a particular time, nor should anyone arrange private disposal.

For a floating carcass, authorities coordinate with the relevant maritime and coastal bodies when recovery is needed. A report of location, drift and navigation risk can be more urgent than a detailed description of the animal itself.

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Territorial limits and local variation

Spain’s autonomous communities and coastal authorities may organise stranding response, wildlife care and carcass management differently. The national protocol provides a common cetacean reporting framework, but it does not prove that every local team, protected area or non-cetacean case uses identical contacts or procedures.

This is especially important for seals and other marine mammals. Do not infer that a regional cetacean network is automatically responsible for every species. Calling 112 in an urgent case lets the operator identify the appropriate route; give the animal’s species or uncertainty plainly and ask what to do next.

Protected beaches, ports and marine reserves may impose additional access or handling rules. Even if a local employee, lifeguard or harbour worker is present, report the animal through the emergency route when there is immediate danger and do not bypass safety instructions to reach it.

Common mistakes that delay or endanger a response

Waiting for a species identification

People often spend time comparing photographs before calling. A broad description and location are sufficient for the initial alert. If the species is uncertain, say so.

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Giving only a beach name

Long beaches, coves and multiple sites can share a name. Add the municipality, landmark, access point or coordinates so the team can find the animal without searching the entire coast.

Leaving no callback contact

Coordinators may need clarification about tides, access or movement. A working callback number and a person who can safely answer make the report actionable.

Treating every nearshore sighting as a stranding

Nearshore swimming alone is not proof of distress. Report clear injury, abnormal breathing, difficulty swimming or inability to return, and keep observing from a safe distance.

Trying to help before professionals arrive

Refloating, towing or touching can injure both the animal and the rescuer and can destroy information needed for assessment. Keep the area clear and let trained teams decide what intervention is appropriate.

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Quick call checklist

Before ending the call, check that you have supplied:

  • Your name and a callback number.
  • Beach or site, municipality, coordinates if available and a nearby landmark.
  • Animal type or approximate size, without delaying the report for identification.
  • Alive or dead status and visible condition.
  • Sand, rocks or water position; if floating, estimated distance from shore.
  • Tide, waves and other sea or access conditions.
  • Any immediate danger to people, responders or navigation.

For cetaceans, this information gives the 112 centre and the stranding coordinator the minimum practical picture needed to route the alert. For other marine mammals, it helps the operator determine which territorial service should respond.

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112 emergencycetacean strandingsmarine wildlifeSpainwildlife safety

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