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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreThe sun shone down as we set sail for the last winter survey of the season. Six volunteers from the local community joined us on board as we surveyed waters to the north of Mull
Read MoreWild weather extended into February as we set out for our latest winter survey. We encountered all types of weather as we surveyed the waters to the east of the Isle of Mull, with snow showers and hail storms broken up by sunny spells.
Read More2019 marks a very special year for HWDT as we surveyed the Hebridean seas every single month for the first time in our history! Recently Silurian completed surveys in November and December with magic minke whale and Christmas killer whale encounters!
Read MoreWe couldn’t believe our luck as we scanned the flat calm seas whilst bathed in sunshine during our latest winter survey. Sunglasses were a must and some members of team team had to get the sunscreen out!
Read MoreOur 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreToday 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreWe 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.
Read MoreThanks 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!
Read MoreOur 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!
Read MoreOur 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!
Read MoreAn all-female crew have delivered a dedicated monitoring survey on Silurian for the first time! With the help of five volunteers, they scanned the waters around Mull during our second winter survey.
Read MoreOur first ever survey in January marked the launch of our new multiyear programme of dedicated monitoring surveys during the winter months, providing critical year-round data for the first time in our history.
Read MoreDuring 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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