During 2024, 11,039 encounters of whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other marine life were reported to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) by members of the public, or citizen scientists.
Over 65,000 animals have been sighted in Scottish waters, from 17 different species.
The data was collected during research expeditions run by the Trust and by people reporting what they’ve spotted through their community sightings network, Whale Track.
HWDT is a marine conservation charity which harnesses the power of citizen science to gather data. For thirty years people have been driving the Trust’s conservation efforts forward by getting involved with their citizen science initiatives. Over that time, a massive amount of data has been gathered which is used to better understand and protect species in Scotland’s seas.
Dr Lauren Hartny-Mills, HWDT’s conservation manager, said: “People are key to protecting
whales, dolphins and porpoises in Scotland and the data they gather underpins the
research and conservation work undertaken by the Trust.
“Whale Track now has more than 7,000 registered users and our expeditions have been running for 22 years. We’d like to thank everyone who has joined an expedition or reported a sighting, it’s an incredible public effort.”
The most recorded species was the harbour porpoise, the smallest cetacean found in
our waters and resident all year-round. The common dolphin was the second most sighted
species. Once a rare sight in Scotland’s seas, the common dolphin is now the most
regularly reported dolphin species. The minke whale was the most regularly reported
whale species.
During research expeditions in 2024, over 4,500 animals were recorded, including humpback and fin whales. More than 100 people joined expeditions between April and October and surveyed over 8,000 km of Hebridean waters – the equivalent of sailing from Scotland to Canada and back again.
The Whale Track community reported more than 60,000 animals; from a lone beluga whale off Shetland, to tracking John Coe and Aquarius, the only two members of the West Coast Community of killer whales seen in recent years, travelling up the Sound of Mull. The Whale Track community of citizen scientists plays a vital role in helping monitor and track animals in Scottish seas, particularly coastal species like bottlenose dolphins and rarer visitors like humpback and killer whales.
This year’s data will be added to the substantial databases held by the Trust. HWDT data is used by researchers, other conservation organisations and scientists to better understand the different species found in Scotland’s waters. The data is also used by government bodies to inform conservation policies and develop more effective measures to protect these animals.”
Over 10,000 whale and dolphin sightings recorded in Scotland this year
18 December 2024