DOLPHINS could be wiped out off the Dorset coast unless immediate action is taken, marine experts warned today.

The problem was highlighted during this winter's Napoli container ship disaster, when numerous dead dolphins washed up along the county coast - particularly at Portland, where a number of carcasses were found at Chesil Cove.

Now experts are campaigning to save these popular creatures and ensure they have a safe and healthy future.

Dorset Wildlife Trust's Purbeck marine wildlife reserve warden Emma Rance said: "This winter we had seven dolphins washed up dead on the Purbeck coast, many of which had tell-tale damage signs from commercial fishing.

"These are creatures which are a valuable part of the food chain because they are a top predator as well as being a wonderful attraction for the Dorset coast's tourism industry.

"We need to monitor Dorset dolphin numbers to ensure that we get early warning of any problems and to ensure that adequate legislation can be brought in to protect them."

More than a dozen species of dolphin, whale and porpoise are regularly seen off the coasts of Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with the best time to see them being June-August.

The wildlife trusts and Marine Connection have analysed 14 years of records about these cetaceans and their joint report said there had been 'an alarming decline' in the sighting of some species - particularly bottlenose dolphins - as well as an increase in the number of dead dolphins washed up on beaches.

Marine Connection fisheries and policy officer Lissa Goodwin said: "What is clear from this report is that unless immediate action is taken, we could be seeing the last dolphins to grace the shores of Dorset and other parts of the South West.

"Entanglement in fishing gear is the number one cause of death in stranded dolphins, particularly common dolphins and harbour porpoises.

"If we want to reduce human impacts on dolphins and protect the region's dolphins then we need to take urgent action."

World Heritage Coast Hospitality Association spokesman Alan Davis said: "Dorset is now becoming world renowned for its commitment to conservation and improving the environment.

"We would support and encourage whatever is necessary to ensure that the unique species of wildlife such as dolphins which visit our coast are preserved for children and future generations to enjoy."

Weymouth and Portland council environment spokesman Coun Doug Hollings said: "Dolphins are regularly spotted in the waters around Weymouth and Portland and are an exciting feature of our stunning natural environment.

"Naturally their decline is worrying and something that we would wish to help prevent should the appropriate organisations need our input."

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard said: "We regularly get reports of dolphin sightings and of dead dolphins being washed up along the coast when we notify the relevant local authority for their removal."

The dolphin report recommends an increase in research in specific areas as well as more immediate measures to reduce deaths such as better fisheries management and the deployment of "pingers" which emit a sound every four seconds to alert dolphins to the presence of bottom-set gill and tangle-nets.

The Trusts and Marine Connection want urgent action to identify population trends and get a better understanding of why dolphins and porpoises get caught in fishing nets.

They are also backing a scheme for examinations of washed up dolphins to identify cause of death, a report on the distribution and type of fishing around south west shores including Dorset and more power to close fisheries known to catch dolphins and other creatures until a suitable working mitigation device and-or measure has been identified.

Their report will be launched tonight at a joint Trust-Connection meeting in Plymouth.