2025, Kent Wildlife Trust, Marine Internships, Historical Dolphin Sightings Data Review series https://portal.medin.org.uk/portal/start.php?tpc=015_28b7987e-3aff-4ff9-8f73-7098fa952d1b The Kent Dolphin Project is a collaborative effort between Sussex Dolphin Project and Adonis Blue Environmental Consultants, part of the Kent Wildlife Trust Group. As part of the Kent Dolphin Project, this report reviews historical cetacean and pinniped sightings in Kent’s coastal waters, an area of high anthropogenic activity within the Greater Thames Estuary. Cetaceans play vital roles in marine ecosystems but face pressures such as bycatch, vessel strikes, and underwater noise. Research along the Kent coastline has been limited, a gap the Kent Dolphin Project aims to address through citizen science initiatives including landwatch sessions and opportunistic sightings. Data from multiple sources spanning 120 years recorded 18 cetacean species, with harbour porpoise most frequently observed and Dungeness identified as a potential hotspot. These findings provide a baseline but highlight gaps for species such as white-beaked dolphin. Preliminary project data show promise, with over 30 volunteers trained and sightings of humpback whale, bottlenose dolphin, and harbour porpoise. Recommendations include sustaining volunteer engagement, expanding educational outreach, and strengthening research through environmental analysis and behavioural monitoring. Continued data collection and community involvement will be critical to improving understanding and informing conservation strategies for cetaceans in Kent’s waters. The following report was produced as part of the Coast Explorer Internship; a collaborative project between Adonis Blue Environmental Consultant (Kent Wildlife Trust), The Crown Estate, Vattenfall, and the Canterbury City Council, which is funded by The Crown Estate and managed by Adonis Blue Environmental Consultant. 20260227T14:55:04