Scotland’s seas recognised as important for marine mammals
Last week, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force announced 33 new Important Marine Mammal Areas (IMMAs) within the Northeast Atlantic and Baltic Sea.
6 IMMAs have been designated in Scottish seas and cover much of our inshore waters and large sections offshore to the west. We welcome the identification and designation of such large areas of Scotland’s seas as crucial for marine mammals.
The orange highlighted areas have been designated as IMMAs in Scottish waters
The Minches and Sea of the Hebrides, and the Monach Isles and Western Continental Shelf IMMA incorporates much of the waters off the west coast of Scotland. HWDT submitted these areas as a candidate IMMA for consideration and have been involved in the review process over the past year. We are delighted to see them designated. Data collected by our citizen scientists during research expeditions and reported through Whale Track, alongside data gathered by our partner organisations, such as WDC, Seawatch Foundation and ORCA, were used to demonstrate the importance of the areas identified off Scotland’s coast.
WHAT IS AN IMMA?
IMMAs are defined as discrete portions of habitat, important to marine mammal species, that have the potential to be delineated and managed for conservation. They are not legal designations, but independent, peer-reviewed assessments based on criteria supported by data.
To date, 74.3% of the world ocean has been examined for IMMAs, with IMMAs comprising 13% of the examined area. IMMAs are divided into 57% within exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and 43% in international waters on the high seas. Globally, there are now 280 IMMAs.
Minches and the Sea of the Hebrides IMMA
The waters between the Outer Hebrides and the mainland coast of west Scotland are amongst the richest in terms of marine mammal diversity of any in the British Isles. Twenty-three marine mammal species have been recorded here, nine of which meet at least one of the IMMA criteria. This is due to the area’s proximity to the shelf edge, the complex currents that pass around the islands, and the various productive fishing grounds in the area. The continental shelf seas support the following marine mammal species: harbour seals and grey seals, harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, white-beaked dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, killer whales, and minke whales. The habitat is important for breeding for grey seals, harbour seals, harbour porpoises and Risso’s dolphins. Hybrids of the latter with common bottlenose dolphins have been recorded in the area.
Monach Isles and Western Continental Shelf IMMA
This IMMA encompasses the continental shelf waters between the Outer Hebrides and the continental shelf edge and includes the Monach Isles. This area is particularly important for grey seals, with the Monach Isles supporting the largest breeding colony in Europe, and ~6.5% of global pup production. These rich and productive waters also support a diverse range of additional marine mammal species. These include species associated with the continental shelf slope (sei whales, fin whales, sperm whales, northern bottlenose whales, long-finned pilot whales, Atlantic white-sided dolphins, common dolphins) as well as species associated with the shelf itself (humpback whales, white-beaked, harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins, grey seals, and harbour seals, minke whales, killer whales, and Risso’s dolphins). The shelf slope is an important habitat for migrating whales, and a century ago, supported a major whaling industry.
HOW CAN IMMAs HELP?
IMMAs are identified to prioritise their consideration for conservation measures by governments, intergovernmental organisations, conservation groups, and the public.
“IMMAs provide a check to see if marine mammal habitats are included under existing measures. At the same time, IMMAs are turning up substantial new areas which are needed for protection.”
Hoyt and other marine scientists are calling on governments to take action to utilise the IMMA tool in marine spatial planning, the creation of marine protected areas, and for performing environmental impact assessments.
“We are turning the corner in terms of government, industry and academic recognition of the value of IMMAs.
As we get closer to completing the global picture, IMMAs are securing a place for whales and other marine mammals at the negotiating table for conservation measures. It is urgent that we take notice.”