Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) commissions a report on the health of the population every six years. The University of Aberdeen has carried out more than two decades of monitoring using photographic analysis of individuals' dorsal fins and other identifying characteristics. And recently passive acoustic monitoring has been undertaken as part of the project.

The east coast of Scotland is home to around 195 dolphins, the only resident population of bottlenose dolphins in the North Sea. They are a regular tourist draw around the east coast and one of the most recognisable species in Scotland.

Boost to the economy
Wildlife spotters who come to the shores of the firth to see and photograph the bottlenose dolphins contribute an estimated £4m to Scotland's economy a year, according to other work by the university.

Protection
Bottlenose dolphins are listed under Annex II of the Habitats Directive as a species whose conservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).

The EU Habitats Directive gives bottlenose dolphins a strict level of protection throughout Scottish and UK waters. This ensures they are protected wherever they occur in the wider marine environment and not just within the boundary of the SAC.

The Dolphin Space Programme is an innovative accreditation scheme for tour boat operators in the Moray Firth who agree to stick to a code of conduct that helps minimise the impacts of boat traffic on the dolphin population.

â—„ Previous | Image of | Next â–º

-