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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

Dolphin sightings in Scotland on the up

This news post is about 6 years old
 

Climate change could be bringing sea mammals closer to our shores, a charity has revealed

Record numbers of dolphins are being seen off Scotland’s west coast.

However the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has said that climate change could be playing a role in cetaceans swimming closer to our shores.

Last year, the trust recorded 93 sightings of common dolphins – its highest total ever, and up from 75 sightings in 2016.

The trust’s 2017 survey – which recorded nearly 3,000 whales, dolphins, seals and sharks during more than 1,100 sightings – also saw large numbers of minke whales, with 62 sightings of 80 animals, and Risso’s dolphins, with eight sightings of 58 individuals.

The charity’s Dr Lauren Hartny-Mills said: “We have never documented so many sightings of common dolphins off Scotland’s west coast before.

“Our findings highlight the importance of on-going monitoring and research to strengthen our understanding of what is taking place in Hebridean waters. It is hard to say what is causing this increase, but a rise in sea surface temperatures linked to climate change could be playing a role.”

Fiona Manson, a marine specialist at Scottish Natural Heritage, said: “Volunteer citizen scientists make an important contribution to marine conservation in Scotland.

“The exciting range of marine wildlife in Scottish waters is a huge draw for visitors to our coasts, and is a fantastic way of connecting people with nature.”

The trust is collecting long-term data of species sighted along the west coast, with a number of volunteers and experts taking part in the project.