Shared Seas, Shared Responsibility: Reducing Disturbance for Scotland’s Marine Life
Experiencing Scotland’s rich marine life is truly magical, but it comes with a responsibility to approach it respectfully.
Seeing these animals in their natural habitat is a wonderful experience, but with this privilege comes a shared responsibility. By watching responsibly, we can help these amazing creatures thrive in our seas for generations to come.
Whales, dolphins and porpoises aren’t here for our enjoyment, they are simply going about their daily lives - feeding, breeding, and raising young. Our presence should be respectful, ensuring that our actions don’t cause unnecessary stress or disruption.
As a result of human activity, our seas and oceans are becoming busier, noisier, and more polluted, making it even more important to minimise our impact during encounters. Disturbance can range from stress and displacement, to more serious consequences like injury, or even death. When we watch wildlife, we must consider not just our individual actions but also the cumulative effect of multiple encounters these creatures may have experienced throughout the day.
To ensure these encounters remain special for both you and the wildlife, it's essential to approach them responsibly. Here are some top tips to guide your wildlife watching adventures.
Land Based Watching
One of the best ways to see marine life is from the shore! Land-based watching allows you to observe natural behaviours without causing any disturbance. Scotland’s coastline offers countless breathtaking vantage points, and the Hebridean Whale Trail highlights some great locations for spotting whales, dolphins, and other marine life.
Boat Based Watching
If you’re heading out on the water, the best encounters happen when animals choose to approach you. Following these simple guidelines will help keep both you and the wildlife safe. For the best results, follow these tips:
Slow down: As soon as you spot a whale, dolphin, porpoise, or basking shark, reduce your speed. This allows you to assess their behaviour and numbers effectively.
Recognise vulnerable individuals: Some animals, especially juveniles or those engaged in feeding or mating, are more susceptible to disturbance.
Limit vessel numbers: If two other boats are already present, it's best to keep your distance to prevent overcrowding.
Approach respectfully: From 300 meters, maintain a speed below 6 knots. Approach at an oblique angle to appear less threatening and to observe natural behaviours.
Maintain a safe distance*: Keep at least 100 meters away from marine animals. If you notice changes in their behaviour, such as altered feeding or social patterns, retreat calmly.
Steady your course: If animals choose to interact, like bow-riding, maintain a steady and predictable path to ensure their safety.
Avoid chasing: If the animals move away swiftly, respect their space and do not pursue them.
Be spatially aware: Ensure you're not cornering animals against the shoreline or separating group members.
Keep encounters brief: Limit your observation time to 15 minutes to minimise cumulative stress on the animals.
Depart cautiously: When leaving, do so slowly and carefully, especially around submerged basking sharks.
*These distances are the closest you should approach;
100 metres for whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks
200–400 metres for mothers and calves, or for animals that are clearly actively feeding or in transit (moderate to fast swimming in a single direction)
500 metres for basking sharks displaying courtship behaviour (swimming nose to tail, in a line)
For more detailed guidelines, including species-specific behaviours and sensitive periods, refer to A Guide to Best Practice for Watching Marine Wildlife.
By embracing these principles, you not only enrich your own experience but also contribute to the preservation of Scotland's marine wonders for generations to come.
If you witness boats harassing marine life, please report it to the Wildlife Crime Unit by calling 111.