Sea-Changers support HWDT's research programme

HWDT are delighted to announce new support from Sea-Changers for our data collection and research work

Rebecca Dudley9 January 2019

Check out all the updates from the second half of our survey season this year, including the first ever sightings of pilot whales from Silurian!

Silurian, SightingsRebecca Dudley21 December 2018silurian, survey, dolphins, volunteers, volunteernow, marine wildlife, marine conservation, HWDT, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, scotland, killer whale

12 tips for an Ocean Friendly Christmas

This festive season you can make just a few wee changes to your celebrations, making a big impact on our seas. Some of our team have got together to share our favourite tips to make your Christmas more ocean friendly.

Morven Summers19 December 2018plastic, plastic free, christmas, ocean friendly, eco, eco gifts

HWDT Welcomes Familiar Face as Winter Acoustic Research Assistant

We are delighted to welcome Lynsey Bland to the team this winter as our Acoustic Research Assistant to help process our valuable acoustic data. Lynsey is a familiar face at the trust having volunteered and worked with us many times over the years.

Lauren Hartny-Mills14 December 2018

HWDT Welcomes New Photo-ID Volunteer

This winter we have a new face here in the team! Michael will be with us for six months over the winter working alongside our science team, helping to go through the photographs that have been captured this season, identifying individual animals and updating our photo-identification databases and catalogues.

Morven Summers5 December 2018

HWDT's Big Give Christmas Challenge 2018

Our Hebridean Marine Explorers programme brings marine science to life, championing our vitally important Hebridean seas and encouraging outdoor and hands-on learning. The programme comprises school visits, field trips and floating classroom sessions and all donations made through the Big Give Christmas Challenge will contribute to this project in 2019.

Guest User27 November 2018

HWDT joins call for a Scottish Environment Act

Today one of our Trustee’s, Denis Molison, attended the campaign launch for the #FightforScotlandsNature campaign, spearheaded by Scottish Environment LINK. HWDT are one of 35 charities backing the campaign. Read Denis’ take on this important campaign below:

Guest Articles, In the NewsMorven Summers13 November 2018Brexit, EU, Fight for Scotlands Nature, Campaign, ScotLINK, Scottish Environment LINK, whales, dolphins, Trustee

Inspiring Ullapool’s Future Scientists and Sailors

As part of the Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape Partnership Scheme’s Marine Project, five local teens joined HWDT on board Silurian to see what living at sea and researching whales and dolphins is all about. Find out from their perspective how they got on…

Silurian, Survey SummariesCaroline Willis5 November 2018silurian, survey, dolphins, volunteers, volunteernow, marine wildlife, marine conservation, HWDT, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, scotland, work experience, porpoise, sailing, youth trip, breakingdownbarriers

Survey Summary: Teen Research Expedition 3

The last survey of 2018 - our third and final Teen Research Expedition, covering waters around Wester Ross and up to Lochinver. This trip really proves that volunteering on board Silurian, is about much more than spotting a few dolphins!

Silurian, Survey SummariesCaroline Willis2 November 2018silurian, survey, dolphins, volunteers, volunteernow, marine wildlife, marine conservation, HWDT, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, scotland, teen team, teen research expedition, work experience, porpoise, sailing, sailing holiday

Survey Summary: HWDT 13

During 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.

Silurian, Survey SummariesRebecca Dudley23 October 2018Silurian, volunteer holidays, whales, dolphins, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, survey, Scotland, Hebrides, cetaceans

*PRESS RELEASE* Research reveals Scotland’s west coast as global cetacean hotspot

Today marks the launch of our Hebridean Marine Mammal Atlas. In this first edition, we present an overview of the visual sightings data collected from 15 years of survey effort on board the dedicated research vessel, Silurian, from 2003 to 2017.

In the NewsLauren Hartny-Mills12 October 2018whales, dolphins, Hebridean Marine Mammal Atlas, Hotspot, basking sharks, porpoise, research, silurian

Survey Summary: HWDT 12

During the survey we encountered four different species of marine mammals, including a sighting of 25 pilot whales! This was truly a special encounter for everyone on board and even though we have had reports of pilot whales this was the first ever time they have been encountered from Silurian in its 16 years of surveying!

Rebecca Dudley10 October 2018

Survey Summary: HWDT 11

Despite some challenging conditions, we covered an impressive 290 nautical miles, encountering seven species of marine mammals. Harbour porpoise were the most commonly sighted species with 25 encounters of 47 individuals. Common dolphins came in second, with over 70 individuals seen!

Rebecca Dudley8 October 2018

A Huge THANK YOU to our Outreach and Research Volunteers!

A huge thank you to the dedicated and passionate Outreach and Research Volunteers who joined our team for six months, to support our engagement and research projects.

Events & OutreachMorven Summers5 October 2018

Scotland's Seas: Drowning in Plastic?

Here on the West Coast of Scotland, we're also seeing first-hand the devastating effects of our marine life. In 2015, our crew had a distressing encounter with a minke whale where it’s rostrum was caught in a plastic packing strap. Read more below about what we have done to help tackle the plastic problem, and how you can get involved with our work.

Science & ResearchMorven Summers2 October 2018Liz Bonnin, Drowning In Plastic, Plastic, Entanglement, Scottish Entanglement Alliance, whales, dolphins, plastic, plastic pollution, pollution, volunteer now, act now, anti plasticComment

Hebrides Cruises announced as HWDT's latest Corporate Partner

HWDT is delighted to announce a new corporate partnership with Hebrides Cruises

FundraisingGuest User1 October 2018

Threat to UK Killer Whales Prompts Call for Urgent Government Action

New research published today in the journal Science, led by Aarhus University in Denmark, predicts more than half of the world’s killer whale (orca) populations face collapse due to the effects of invisible toxic pollutants called PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls).

HWDT staff undergo Marine Mammal Medic training with BDMLR

More HWDT staff members join BDMLRs voluntary network of marine mammal medics - dedicated to the rescue and well-being of all marine animals in distress around the UK.

Events & OutreachSiobhan Moran24 September 2018an tallaHebridean Whale Trail, BDMLR, Marine Mammal Medic, training, rescue, SMASS, save the whales, whale, dolphin, HWDT staff, conservation

Announcing new corporate partnership between Glengorm Castle and HWDT

HWDT is delighted to announce a new corporate partnership with Glengorm Castle on the Isle of Mull

FundraisingGuest User18 September 2018

Ardnamurchan Whale Tales: part IV

The final instalment of Ardnamurchan Whale Tales - the weekly blog from Craig Mackie, our Ardnamurchan Lighthouse volunteer.

The Hebridean Whale TrailSiobhan Moran13 September 2018Ardnamurchan LighthouseHebridean Whale Trail, sightings, volunteer, minke whale, whale watching, Whale Track

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