Why do we need guidelines for Dolphin Watching in the Moray Firth?

For more information on the Dolphin Space Programme or for help planning your trip, please go to the dedicated DSP website, www.dolphinspace.org

Our Special Residents

The Moray Firth is one of the most important areas in UK waters for dolphins, porpoises, and whales (collectively known as cetaceans), and supports the only known resident population of bottlenose dolphins in the North Sea.

There are only about 130 bottlenose dolphins in the Moray Firth and a variety of locations along the coast provide some of the best land-based sites in Europe for watching them.

Other species of cetacean can be seen in the Moray Firth including white-beaked and Risso’s dolphins, harbour porpoise, minke, pilot and killer whales.

The Potential Impacts of Boat Traffic

Cetacean watching provides valuable income for local communities, as well as providing an ideal opportunity to interest and inform people about the marine environment. However, without appropriate management, cetacean watching from boats can cause disturbance to the very animals people enjoy to see.

Boat-based whale and dolphin watching is relatively new in Scotland. However, research carried out where this activity has been practised for many years indicates that cetaceans can show a negative response to the noise and behaviour of boats.

The potential effects of disturbance on cetaceans from boats can be broadly divided into three categories. These are:

• immediate effects arising from boat/cetacean collisions;
• short-term effects which include interruption or changes of essential behaviours such as diving, feeding, communicating, courtship, mother/calf bonding and group spacing.
• Repeated disturbance can result in increased stress and use of energy;
• long-term effects which can result in changes in distribution, reduced fitness and breeding potential.

Responses by dolphins to disturbance may be particularly pronounced when boats drive rapidly into or cut across groups of animals, approach aggressively or erratically and/or move over feeding and resting areas.

A report on the Dolphin Space Programme can be downloaded from the bottom of this page.

DSP Code of Conduct

List of DSP accredited boats

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Background Information:

Arnold, H. 1997. The Dolphin Space Programme: The Development and Assessment of an Accreditation Scheme for Dolphin Watching Boats in the Moray Firth. A Report for Scottish Wildlife Trust Scottish Natural Heritage and the EU LIFE Programme.

For a copy of the report, contact Ben Leyshon, Scottish Natural Heritage or download the report here.......