New laser photography is to be used for “pioneering” research into the health of whales and dolphins around the Western Isles.
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust will start using the techniques in this summer’s survey in the Minch.
Laser photogrammetry equipment will collect vital new information to assess the overall health of whales.
Becky Dudley, the trust’s marine biodiversity officer, 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 works by placing two dots of light – of a known distance, typically around 10 centimetres – onto the body of an animal at the same time a photograph is taken.
The technique 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 interactions with marine plastic and fishing gear.
The Hebrides and west coast is an important feeding ground for migratory minke whales. The trust has catalogued 230 of the species over 15 years of volunteers collecting data from its research yacht Silurian. Many of the whales return to the same feeding grounds annually.
Fiona Manson, a specialist at Scottish Natural Heritage, said: “Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust and its volunteers are making an important contribution to marine conservation in Scotland.
“We’re excited by the innovative techniques trust using to find out more about the health of wildlife in Scotland’s seas.”
“The data collected 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 local area.”
Pioneering laser technology aids whale study in Hebrides
13 April 2018
