Sea stars

The playful performances of Britain's bottlenose dolphins attract avid fans - but they deserve personal space

- Adele Brand

Celebrity comes naturally to some. A cry of "dolphin!" stops most people in their tracks, necks craned and eyes shielded from sunlight reflected on the waters where this most talkative of acrobats plays.

Our coast is a theatre for bottlenose dolphins: from Cornwall to Orkney, Northumberland to Brighton, they spin their magic. They are good for us: they boost our economy via wildlife-watching tours and bring smiles to many faces. But they also challenge us to tread more softly on the marine environment.