Rare humpback whale spotted on Pembrokeshire coast

Lloyd Nelmes, an aquarium manger and marine project officer with Sea Trust Wales, spotted a humpback whale in Pembrokeshire in 2024.

Nelmes said: “The whale jumped out right in front of us. It was incredible, and it’s still probably my top wildlife moment of my life.”

He explained that humpback whale sightings were rare but not unheard of in Welsh waters, with sightings happening once every two or three years.

Nelmes said the way to spot a humpback whale was by the overall shape, white pectoral fins, and knobbly skin also known as barnacles, as well as the whales’ behaviour.

“We’ve seen humpbacks here on the rare occasion… but it seems to be becoming more common, which is awesome,” he said.

“It’s quite likely just an indication of how much food is about at the moment.”

He said he had been on an “incredible” trip out to the Celtic Deep the day before Abbot’s discovery and had seen six fin whales, tuna balling up and 1,000-plus dolphins, adding it was not too surprising that a humpack was “out there also making the most of the food”.