Hundreds of people join ferry watching event in Scotland and contribute to marine conservation
The ferry routes operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) off Scotland’s west coast are fantastic platforms for spotting wildlife, journeying through stretches of water rich in marine life.
The crossing between Ullapool, in the northwest Highlands, and Stornoway, on the Isle of Lewis, is fast becoming recognised as one of the best routes to spot the larger whale species recorded in the Hebrides. From 6th – 8th of August, HWDT joined award winning naturalists, Dan and Rachael, from Wild Discovery, and our friends at the Mammal Society on board the Loch Seaforth ferry to spot and record marine life as we crossed the Minch. Five species of whale, dolphin and porpoise (collectively known as cetaceans) were recorded over the three-day event using HWDT’s free Whale Track app, including numerous humpback whales and the second largest animal on the planet – the fin whale.
Marine mammal sightings recorded between 6th - 8th August 2024, on board the MV Loch Seaforth
Table shows the species count from the ferry watching event over the three days, in total 14.56 hrs of effort-based data was collected, covering 483 km.
It was wonderful to join so many dedicated wildlife watchers on deck, all keen to catch sight of a cetacean. The Ullapool Sea Savers, a proactive group of local young people working to tackle marine conservation issues in their town, joined us on board and were treated to views of a humpback whale surfacing close to the vessel – a first for many of the group.
“There’s something special about sharing a sighing of a whale or dolphin with people, it forges an instant connection. During the ferry crossings, it was brilliant to share some special moments with people - including my first humpback sighting!
Connecting with nature is so important to foster a passion to restore and protect our precious marine life.”
Ferry journeys are a great opportunity to watch for marine wildlife but by collecting data using Whale Track they can also contribute to deepening our understanding of cetacean species and how to protect them in Scottish seas. CalMac operate over 30 routes off the west coast, and during each crossing it’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for what creatures might surface and record what you see on Whale Track; from the Clyde to the Outer Isles, CalMac ferries operate in areas rich in marine life.
Keeping watch on the deck of the Loch Seaforth ferry, hoping to catch sight of a marine mammal breaking the surface
PEOPLE POWER
Citizen science is an important component in deepening our understanding of the species found in Scottish seas. Data gathered by members of the public via Whale Track, either dedicated watchers or opportunistic spotters, has a positive impact. From documenting the presence of rarer species in our waters to understanding individual whale movements, the data gathered is significant. HWDT’s Whale Track community is gathering data on a staggering scale. In 2023, a record-breaking 10,000+ sightings were recorded in one year.
It’s not just ferries which make great platforms for spotting, here’s Sharyn recording what she’s spotted while out paddle boarding.
IS THE EFFORT WORTH IT?
Effort-based data is the gold standard of data collection. ‘Effort-based’ means the observer records the duration of they have been watching for and distance they travelled (in the case of the Wild Discovery event, the duration and distance of each ferry crossing). Effort-based data allows researchers to perform much more robust analysis and can identify not just the presence and range of a species, but the abundance and distribution of a population. The excursion function on HWDT’s free Whale Track app allows whale watches to collect effort-based data while on a boat trip, such as a ferry crossing. Even conducting an excursion and not recording anything is great data, as it documents the absence of animals during that crossing, which is just as important for understanding their movements as when we do see them!
SNAPS FOR SCIENCE
Through the Whale Track app, photographs of animals encountered can also be uploaded, which in some cases can help identify the individual whale or dolphin. Photo-Identification utilises distinguishable features on an animal’s fin or tail to match it to known individual in a catalogue.
During the Wild Discovery event, thanks to Steve Truluck managing to get a fluke shot of one of the humpback whales, it was matched to an individual called ‘Davies’ from the Scottish Humpback whale catalogue – much to the delight of a youngster on board whose surname was Davies.
‘Davies’ the humpback whale, photographed here by Dan and Rachael from Wild Discovery
Anyone can join the Whale Track community and help protect Scotland’s marine life. Simply download the free and easy-to-use app and start recording what you’ve spotted. If you are taking a ferry crossing on the CalMac fleet, consider undertaking a Whale Track excursion using the app to gather effort-based data which is vital for a deeper understanding of species in Scotland’s seas.