ECOMMAS Topic Sheet

The east coast of Scotland is home to several species of marine mammal, including a protected population of bottlenose dolphins (see Figure 1) and a widely distributed population of harbour porpoise (see Figure 2). These animals are monitored to make sure that the populations are healthy and also to improve our understanding of how and when they use different areas along the Scottish coast. The plans for marine developments along the east coast of Scotland, including the installation of wind farms and significant port re construction, make it all the more important to continue studies of these populations. Collecting data, especially over time, will give us deeper understanding of how bottlenose dolphin and porpoise use the east coast waters, and allow us to determine whether developments have an impact on their behaviour.