The report by the UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) found that 3,400 whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans), marine turtles and basking sharks were stranded around the UK coast between 2005 and 2010.

The report found that infectious disease, starvation, getting caught up in fishing gear and bottlenose dolphin attacks on porpoises were amongst the most common causes of death. 

The Minister for Environment and Fisheries Richard Benyon said: "Whale and dolphin strandings are distressing and we need to understand why they happen and what can be done to prevent them."