Atlas shines a light on west Highland seas

BETTER protection is needed for the waters off Wester Ross a leading charity has urged after it branded local seas a "global hotspot" for cetaceans and basking sharks.

The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust made the call after it released a new marine atlas capturing key discoveries it has made over the past 15 years around the west coast and the Inner and Outer Hebrides.

It said the atlas’ findings highlight the region’s "extraordinary biodiversity" and shed new light on its whales, dolphins and porpoise – collectively called cetaceans – and basking sharks.

"This pioneering research is transforming our understanding of the Hebrides’ remarkable cetaceans, while offering new insights about trends and changes in the marine environment," said Dr Lauren Hartny-Mills, science and policy manager at the trust.

The atlas also celebrates the contribution of over 700 paying volunteers who have joined one of 200 research expeditions on the Trust’s research vessel, Silurian, making the surveys possible year after year.

So far, 23 cetacean species – a quarter of all known globally – have been seen in west coast wasters and some 30,000 animals have been recorded.

The trust’s evidence was also used to identify the boundary of Scotland’s first protected area for harbour porpoise.

The trust added that with sea temperatures rising in the Hebrides, climate change may be a cause of a 20-fold increase in common dolphin sightings, as this species is generally found in warmer seas. It said ongoing research was vital for monitoring such trends.

Visithwdt.org to view the atlas and to enquire about volunteering aboard Silurian.

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