Posts tagged cetaceans
Have your say on Highly Protected Marine Areas

The Scottish Government are currently running a public consultation to seek your views on Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). HWDT will be responding to the consultation and we hope that all stakeholders will take the opportunity to voice their views, so that the best possible outcome can be reached for whales, dolphins, porpoises and people.

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Public consultation on UK Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy

The Scottish Government is currently running a public consultation and is seeking your views on a new UK Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy. The strategy aims to support the conservation of nine of the most commonly seen cetaceans in UK waters, and now includes minke whales.

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Silurian volunteers have an unforgettable morning surrounded by basking sharks

Our latest research expedition concentrated on surveying the wild and remote northern reaches of our survey area, and saw Silurian sail up to Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point of the UK mainland. It was a great trip with an unforgettable morning with basking sharks and plenty of other wildlife along the way too, and the evenings were spent enjoying spectacular sunsets and exploring uninhabited islands.

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Species galore as Silurian surveys the southern reaches of our survey area

The fourth survey of the summer season concentrated on the southern reaches of our survey area, with eight species of marine megafauna encountered, inlcuding: basking sharks, bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, minke whales, harbour porpoise, grey and common seals.

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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.

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Familiar faces join Silurian as she surveys the Outer Isles

The third survey of the season explored the waters of the southern Outer Hebridean Islands, bringing the first basking shark sightings of the year on board Silurian! We also encountered hundreds of common dolphins, 10 minke whales, as well as harbour porpoise, common and grey seals.

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Spectacular minke whale sightings mark the start of Silurian’s summer survey season

We started the summer survey season in style on Silurian with our first minke whales of the year during the first standard survey expedition of 2019, and what spectacular sightings they were! We also saw bottlenose and common dolphins, harbour porpoise, grey seals and common seals.

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Silurian receives some well-deserved TLC!

Thanks to the generous backing of our funders and supporters, our research vessel Silurian has undergone a transformation! She travels thousands of miles every year to monitor Hebridean marine life and we are delighted that we have been able to give her the TLC she deserves!

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HWDT monitor Joint Warrior exercises in the Hebrides

Our last winter survey departed last week with a special volunteer on board. Andy Tait is one of our longest running and dedicated volunteers and has been working with the trust for 25 years! During the survey we saw harbour porpoise, grey and common seals and even a common dolphin!

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One of our longest running volunteers joins us for the March winter survey

Our last winter survey departed last week with a special volunteer on board. Andy Tait is one of our longest running and dedicated volunteers and has been working with the trust for 25 years! During the survey we saw harbour porpoise, grey and common seals and even a common dolphin!

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Survey Summary: HWDT 13

During the survey we had some amazing sightings of several species of cetacean, encountering white-beaked dolphins, common dolphins, minke whales and harbour porpoise. We also had some incredible skies, including an amazing display of the northern lights, accompanied by shooting stars.

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