Posts in Science & Research

Three of your most-loved minke whales have returned to the Hebrides this month, highlighting how important the region is for these wonderful whales who migrate to feed in the rich waters off Scotland’s west coast during the summer months.

Top Tips for Great Wildlife Encounters

We are amazed by all the incredible sightings you folks have been having recently. See our 10 top tips for how to have the best marine wildlife encounters, whilst keeping the welfare of these amazing animals at the forefront of our minds.

Science & Research, SightingsCaroline Willis11 August 2020Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, WiSe Scheme, Wildlife Safe, disturbance, wildlife watching, responsible tourism, best practice for watching wildlife, scottish marine wildlife watching code

You can help us get back on the water!

You can help us to conduct research by taking part in our Crowdfunding campaign! Every pound you gift, will make a difference and help protect whales, dolphins and porpoises in our waters.

Science & Research, SilurianGuest User15 July 2020acoustics, acoustic monitoring, science art, art science, David de la Haye, silurian, passive monitoring, soundscape

*PRESS RELEASE* Public urged to report whale and dolphin sightings in Hebrides

We are calling on members of the public to record their at-sea excursions and sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises and endangered basking sharks off Scotland’s west coast to boost monitoring efforts and strengthen understanding of the coronavirus lockdown’s impact on these animals.

In the News, Sightings, Science & ResearchLauren Hartny-Mills7 July 2020whales, dolphins, Whale Track, sightings, citizenscience, get involved, killer whale, bottlenose dolphins, John Coe killer whale, John Coe, aquarius, West Coast Community

Noise Beneath the Waves

On World Oceans Day we’re raising awareness of the impact that human activity has on the soundscape of the marine environment. Join David de la Haye as he launches his project ‘Cetacean Conserevation: An Oceanic Sound Model’ which incorporates sounds recorded from on board our research vessel

Science & Research, SilurianMorven Summers8 June 2020acoustics, acoustic monitoring, science art, art science, David de la Haye, silurian, passive monitoring, soundscape

Heading down memory lane for #Volunteerweek

As part of National Volunteers Week we'd like to give a massive THANK YOU to everyone who has helped to collect on the marine life in our waters! We celebrated by asking some of our past volunteers about their favourite moments from theirs trips over the years.

Science & Research, SightingsGuest User6 June 2020bottlenose dolphins, sightings, whale track, Tobermory, photo ID, citizen science

Bottlenose dolphins make a surprise visit to Tobermory harbour!

It was a magic start to the month as bottlenose dolphins made a surprise visit to the bay! Word quickly spread amongst the community and members of the HWDT team rushed down from our respective home offices to get a closer look.

Science & Research, SightingsGuest User3 June 2020bottlenose dolphins, sightings, whale track, Tobermory, photo ID, citizen science

The Space Below: HWDT acoustic recordings feature in an exciting new sound installation

Emma Critchley and Lee Berwick’s new installation, The Space Below explores the global issue of underwater acoustic pollution. Emma spoke to us about The Space Below and shares her experience creating the installation.

Science & Research, Events & OutreachAlison Lomax6 March 2020rspb Balranaldhebrides, volunteers, get involved, scotland, marine conservation

Creel fishermen, rescue teams and researchers team up to tackle entanglement

Working together is the only way to deliver results! The west coast of Scotland played host to the first workshop of this kind in Europe, bringing together creel fishers and other members of the Scottish Entanglement Alliance (SEA) to work together to try and tackle the problem of whale entanglement.

Science & Research, In the NewsLauren Hartny-Mills30 October 2019creel, creel fishing, disentanglement, entanglement, Scottish Entanglement Alliance, BDMLR, SMASS, SCFF, WDC, SNH, David Mattila

Dolphin detective work makes a match!

Citizen science is key to better understanding mobile species like bottlenose dolphins. Rian Harris, our Education and Photo-ID Volunteer, has been undertaking some dolphin detective work to uncover the movements of some of the Inner Hebrides community.

Science & Research, SightingsLauren Hartny-Mills14 August 2019bottlenose dolphins, sightings, whale track, Tobermory, photo ID, citizen science

*PRESS RELEASE* Mystery killer whale pod investigated off Scotland’s west coast

The identity of a group of nine killer whales off Scotland’s west coast, encountered during the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s annual marine research expeditions last year, remains a mystery, despite extensive research and a flurry of sightings of killer whales in the Hebrides over recent weeks.

Public consultation opens on Marine Protected Areas for whales, dolphins and sharks

Today the Scottish Government has opened a public consultation seeking views on proposals for four new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). HWDT will be responding to the consultation and hope that all stakeholders will take the opportunity to voice their views, so that the best possible outcome can be reached for whales, dolphins, sharks and for coastal communities.

In the News, Science & ResearchAlison Lomax7 June 2019whales, dolphins, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, Scotland, Hebrides, cetaceans, marine protected areas, MPA, MPA proposals, minke whale, Basking shark

HWDT completes first winter survey in Hebridean seas

For the first time in HWDT’s history, Silurian, our research yacht has started conducting surveys during the winter months.

Cuvier’s beaked whale live strands on Mull

Read the latest updates from the Cuvier’s beaked whale stranding on Mull over Hogmanay.

Science & Research, SightingsMorven Summers25 January 2019stranding, cuviers, beaked whale, SMASS, BDMLR, HWDT

Scotland's Seas: Drowning in Plastic?

Here on the West Coast of Scotland, we're also seeing first-hand the devastating effects of our marine life. In 2015, our crew had a distressing encounter with a minke whale where it’s rostrum was caught in a plastic packing strap. Read more below about what we have done to help tackle the plastic problem, and how you can get involved with our work.

Science & ResearchMorven Summers2 October 2018Liz Bonnin, Drowning In Plastic, Plastic, Entanglement, Scottish Entanglement Alliance, whales, dolphins, plastic, plastic pollution, pollution, volunteer now, act now, anti plasticComment

Threat to UK Killer Whales Prompts Call for Urgent Government Action

New research published today in the journal Science, led by Aarhus University in Denmark, predicts more than half of the world’s killer whale (orca) populations face collapse due to the effects of invisible toxic pollutants called PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).

HWDT Announce Official Gaelic Name

Following a consultation led by recently-appointed Gaelic Development Intern Kenny Rankin, the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has adopted an official Gaelic name, part of an exciting step towards incorporating Gaelic into the Trust’s work at every level.