Europe’s largest military exercise begins today in the Hebrides
Today marks the start of Joint Warrior, Europe’s largest military exercise, in the Hebrides. This UK led NATO military exercise normally takes place for two weeks each spring and autumn off the west and north coast of Scotland. This year’s spring exercise runs from the 8th to 20th May 2021 and activities will take place in Hebridean seas from today (10th May).
Whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans) use sound underwater to navigate, find food and communicate. They are extremely sensitive to and easily disturbed by underwater noise. Military sonar used during these operations produces an intense loud noise that can cause injury, death and mass-strandings of cetaceans as well as wide spread disturbance.
HWDT have been running monitoring surveys to coincide with the Joint Warrior exercises since 2009 to help understand the impact that these activities may have on cetaceans across the Hebrides. Thanks to the tremendous generosity of our supporters in our recent Big Give Green Match Fund 2021 Crowdfunding campaign, our crew are able to conduct a scientific survey from our research vessel to coincide with the exercise to help better understand the impact that these military activities may have on cetaceans in the Hebrides.
HWDT have long-standing concerns about the impact that Joint Warrior exercises have on cetaceans. We question how Europe’s largest military exercises are allowed to take place within and near to protected areas specifically designated to protect Scottish cetaceans and known cetacean hot-spots. These areas also support whale-watching and nature tourism, which has become an important part of the local economy. It is difficult to understand how such activities are compatible with the conservation objectives for these protected areas and the well-being of local communities.
This year, we are particularly concerned about the timing of the Joint Warrior exercises, which are running later in the spring and earlier in the autumn than usual. HWDT’s long-term data from inshore waters show consistently higher sighting rates of several species in mid-May and September compared to early April and October when the exercises normally run.
Conducting the Joint Warrior exercises in May and September is likely to have a significantly greater impact on cetaceans, and we are concerned for the wide variety of cetacean species present in our waters at this time of year including migratory species like minke whales and large groups of common dolphins, as well as resident pods of dolphins and harbour porpoises.
HWDT has raised these concerns with the Ministry of Defence and Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, and we are disappointed that the activity is still going ahead as planned. We will continue to raise our concerns about these exercises with the Ministry of Defence and Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, and will continue to monitor the exercises during our scientific research expeditions.
We will continue working to ensure protection for cetaceans is meaningful and give whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks a strong voice in Scotland.
How can you help?
Between the 8th and 20th May, we ask you to be vigilant if you are on the west coast of Scotland. You can contribute to our long-term monitoring of these military exercises by reporting any sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises or basking sharks through Whale Track.
If you see any animals in distress, or behaving unusually, please contact British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) by calling their 24 hour Rescue Hotline on 01825 765546.