HWDT Research Expeditions Shortlisted for a Nature of Scotland Award
Silurian - HWDTs research vessel and home to the 1,000’s of citizen scientists who join an expedition
The long-term cetacean monitoring work undertaken by citizen scientists on board our research vessel, Silurian, has been shortlisted for the coveted RSPB Nature of Scotland Coasts and Waters Award. The project, ‘Silurian: A 20-year voyage to protect Hebridean whales’ celebrates the contribution over a thousand people have made to protecting our seas.
HWDT’s flagship, Silurian, has surveyed Scottish waters for 20 years. A recognisable and familiar presence in the Hebrides, Silurian and her dedicated citizen scientists monitor important areas for whales, dolphins and porpoises, helping to protect the marine life found in Scotland’s seas for future generations.
The west coast of Scotland is of international importance for whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks, with many areas of critical habitat in need of protection and recovery. The pressures faced by whales and dolphins globally are huge and the threat of extinction for some species is real. Even in Scottish waters a much-loved community of killer whales - the West Coast Community - face extinction within our lifetime. Species monitoring is vital to conserve wildlife. Long-term research and monitoring are essential to understand and protect highly mobile and long-lived species like whales and dolphins.
This map highlights the rich biodiversity found in Hebridean waters.
The pioneering and unique research programme undertaken on board Silurian has generated the largest database of its kind for UK waters. Over two decades, Silurian has welcomed over 1,000 people - or citizen scientists – on board to be trained and deployed as field biologists. This long-term research programme depends on citizen scientists.
“Scotland’s west coast is of international importance for whales, dolphins, and porpoises. We’d like to thank everyone who has joined us on board Silurian over the past 20 years to participate in a research expedition. Each year, as the data set grows, the knowledge available to protect Scotland’s whales, dolphins and porpoises increases.”
Every single data point – and there are millions of them! – have been collected by citizen scientists. It is a staggeringly impressive public effort. The same rigorous survey methodology has been used for 20 years, ensuring that the data collected are consistent and comparable between years, providing a wide scale assessment of cetacean distribution and animal behaviour.
Silurian surveys the whole west coast of Scotland. Each year, from April until October, several expeditions are scheduled, departing from Tobermory (on the Isle of Mull), Mallaig and Ullapool (on the Scottish Mainland). These live-aboard expeditions are open to all. The only requirement is a willingness to learn and get stuck in to our survey work. Our passionate and knowledgeable crew provide all the training required and assist though-out the experience.
Each line on this map denotes a track of a survey line, where citizen scientists have gathered visual and acoustic data
The data collected onboard Silurian by you – citizen scientists - over the past 20 years provides a unique and powerful body of knowledge, which is having a real impact for the protection of whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks in Hebridean seas. Find out more by reading our Marine Mammal Atlas.
Sandra Reddy, joined an expedition in August 2023
“For an unforgettable experience at sea, with a fabulous committed crew, covering essential monitoring of wildlife used in important conservation measures to protect the marine environment join HWDT and be part of the solution.”
Being shortlisted for this award is testament to the efforts made by everyone who has joined an expedition to date and the contribution that these citizen scientists have made to the conservation of Scottish cetaceans. The 54 finalists of the RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards will all gather in Edinburgh on the 22 November to enjoy a night of celebration, where the winners of all 10 categories will be announced.
“The Nature of Scotland Awards celebrates people and projects who really make a difference for nature in their local communities and across the country.
Being at the head of the judging panel is a wonderful part of my job, as I get an unrivalled opportunity to hear about inspiring actions and the incredible things that can happen when people work together. - we can’t tackle the nature and climate crisis alone.”