With the dedication and contribution of all the volunteer citizen scientists who have joined us on board over the past two decades, alongside our funders, supporters and charity donors, we have achieved a great deal.
• Monitored and reported on changes in our marine environment over time, such as the increase in common dolphin sightings off Scotland’s west coast. The acoustic data gathered over time has highlighted the increase in underwater noise in Hebridean seas since we began monitoring.
• Improved the understanding of threats faced by species in Scottish waters. The Minke Whale Entanglement Project was pioneering in determining that whales are susceptible to getting caught in static gear ropes. In more recent times, the data was instrumental when the Scottish Entanglement Alliance wanted to further understand the scale and impact of the threat.
• Influenced policy change for the better protection of Hebridean cetaceans. The largest Special Area of Conservation in Europe for harbour porpoise was designated in 2016 using data collected by you to set the boundary. The data gathered on board provided the evidence needed to designate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for minke whales, Risso’s dolpins and basking shark – a global first!