Europe’s largest military exercise returns to Scottish waters
Joint Warrior, Europe’s largest military exercise, will begin in Scottish waters today (01 October 2022). This multi-threat military training exercise brings together warships, submarines, aircraft and land-based forces from the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, British Army, NATO and other allied forces.
Joint Warrior usually takes place twice a year in the spring and autumn, off the north and west coast of Scotland for a duration of two weeks . This year’s autumn exercise will take place between the 01 and 12 October with activities planned around the UK: from the Scillies in the south to Shetland in the north. Military activity will take place in Hebridean seas for the duration of the exercise. More information about when and where the activities will take place can be found here.
HWDT have long-standing concerns about the impact that Joint Warrior exercises (and the testing period prior to these exercises) have on whales, dolphins and porpoises - collectively known as cetaceans. Cetaceans are reliant on using sound to navigate, find food and communicate, and are extremely sensitive to underwater noise pollution. Military sonar used during these operations produces an intense loud noise and scientific literature clearly links disturbance, at-sea injury and mass strandings of cetaceans to the use of military sonar.
We question how Europe’s largest military exercises are allowed to take place within and near to known cetacean hot-spots and protected areas specifically designated for Scottish cetaceans, and how such activities are compatible with the conservation objectives for these protected areas.
HWDT having been collecting information about the presence and behaviour of cetaceans, and the underwater soundscape during these activities since 2009. Our team will be setting sail this weekend to continue our long-term monitoring of these military exercises, which helps to identify trends and changes in the marine environment over time.
HOW YOU CAN HELP?
We ask you to be vigilant during this time. You can contribute to our long-term monitoring of these military exercises too by logging your excursions and reporting any sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises or basking sharks through our community monitoring programme, 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.