NEW laser technology is to be used to for “pioneering research” into whales and dolphins living off of Scotland’s west coast. Scientists will use photogrammetry equipment to help collect vital new information to assess the overall health of the mammals in the Hebrides. The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust said it will use the technology, which makes measurements from photographs, for its 2018 survey.
Marine biodiversity officer Becky Dudley said: “This new equipment will help build a greater understanding of individual whales’ movements, behaviour and overall health, and help us evaluate their interactions with manmade items in the marine environment.”
The bespoke equipment made for the conservation charity works by placing two dots of light of a known distance, typically around 10cm (4in), on to the body of a whale or dolphin at the same time a photograph is taken.
This will be used to measure the length of the animals, helping to determine numbers of young whales, assess body conditions for parasites such as sea lice, and classify marks and scars from marine plastic and fishing gear. Surveys are partly funded by a grant from Scottish Natural Heritage and are carried out by volunteers and marine scientists.
They document the health of whales, dolphins and porpoises from the charity’s specialised research yacht Silurian. The project has been ongoing for 15 years.
Fiona Manson, a marine specialist at Scottish Natural Heritage, said: “The data collected by the trust over the years has helped us understand more about our marine wildlife and how to look after it, and this is an invaluable way to better connect people to nature in their area.”
The surveys will run from April 15 to the end of October, with departures from Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, Kyle of Lochalsh near Skye, and Ullapool.
For more details, visit hwdt.org/silurian
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here