Hebridean Whale And Dolphin Trust

Have you heard about the proposal for large-scale seaweed harvesting in Scotland? We have, and like many people we are concerned about the impact this would have on our remarkable marine environment. Kelp is an important habitat for many marine animals including cetaceans, seals, seabirds, otters and even basking sharks which recently have been shown to congregate around kelp beds too. To voice our concerns, we joined with other groups within the Scottish Environment LINK Marine Group Save Scottish Seas to submit a response to the proposal. You can read the full response here:
http://www.scotlink.org/…/SE_LINK_Respo nse_Marine-Biopolyme…

It has been another amazing week of sightings here in the #Hebrides, with 7 different species reported through Whale Track! As we look forward to the weekend ahead here is an update from Craig, our dedicated #Ardnamurchan #volunteer as he reflects on his first week at the #lighthouse.
Ardnamurchan Tourist Association Ardnamurchan Campsite Ardnamurchan - The Real Wild West VisitScotland @ardnamurchan.lighthouse

HWDT is delighted to be participating in The Big Give #ChristmasChallenge18 to raise funds for our Hebridean Marine Explorers programme. Pledge your support by 5pm on 31st August 2018 and your donation could be doubled during a live online donation week starting on #GivingTuesday 27th November. https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/…/hebr ideanwhaleanddolphin…

Looking for a last minute volunteering getaway? There are still volunteer spaces available on our whale and dolphin research expeditions departing from Ullapool, Scotland, this September and October, NOW 25% OFF original berth price.
Check out these white-beaked dolphins swimming alongside our research vessel, Silurian. You can experience them for yourself by joining us now. No experience necessary!
Contact volunteercoordinator@hwdt.org or visit https://hwdt.org/silurian for ...dates, details, and reduced joining prices.
#volunteernow #marineconservation #conservation #conservationjobs #volunteering #whales #dolphins #sailing #visitscotland #ullapool #hebrides Ullapool Sea Savers Ullapool Harbour Trust Oban Times Nature Scotland Eco Nature Holidays Orca Guardians Iceland @Glengorm Wildlife Project Sea Life Surveys Living Seas NW Highlands
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Greetings from the most westerly point of the UK mainland!
Meet our fantastic #volunteer Craig, who is living in the stunning Ardnamurchan Lighthouse for a month to monitor marine life. He is on hand to offer top-tips and helpful-hints for spotting our enigmatic local species as you take in the incredible view over the #Hebrides. You will find him every afternoon looking out from the foghorn, and after spotting #bottlenosedolphins in his first few minutes after arriving we h...ave high hopes for this exciting placement.
Come say hello and join us #whalewatching!
Read more about the placement: https://hwdt.org/…/ardnamurchan-lightho use-volunteer-in-post
Ardnamurchan Tourist Association Ardnamurchan Campsite Ardnamurchan - The Real Wild West VisitScotland The Scottish Association for Marine Science
#lighthouse #whale #dolphin #marineconservation #calmacadventures #westisbest
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Our second Teen Team trip of the season involved 6 young citizen scientists, 55 sightings of marine megafauna, 234 individual animals, and 6 different species, including common seal, grey seal, harbour porpoise, common dolphin, minke whale and basking shark.
Between them, the team also recorded a staggering 2774 manx shearwaters over the week, accounting for 69% of the birds tallied!
If you are 16 or 17 years old and are feeling inspired to spend seven days at sea, working al...ongside scientists as marine mammal field biologists, why not join our Teen Research Expeditions next year?
Kick start your career in marine conservation by keeping an eye on our website and social media pages for 2019 survey dates, soon to be announced.
#marineconservation #volunteer #volunteernow #teenteam #silurian #whales #dolphins #porpoises #scotland #hebrides #kickstartcareersinmarineconservation #conservationcareers Visit Mull & Iona VisitScotland​ WorkingAbroad Projects WiseOceans
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Did you know about our Eco Shop in our Discovery Centre in Tobermory?
Now stocking a variety of ocean friendly gifts and products. Open 10:30 - 16:30 every day until the end of September.
... #plasticfree #oceanfriendly #ecoshop #ecowarrioir #saveourseas #ecover #bamboo #saveourplanet #hwdt #hebrideanwhaleanddolphintrust #stoptheplastictide Mull and Iona Community Trust Glengorm Wildlife Project Living Seas NW Highlands Visit Mull & Iona Mull Aquarium Sea Watch Nature Scotland
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Fascinating research from Scottish Natural Heritage and ExeterMarine about #baskingsharks, one of our many seasonal visitors to Scotland's west coast. Basking sharks are in our top 5 most frequently encountered species from our research vessel #Silurian & via #WhaleTrack, our community sightings app and website.

We're really excited to announce Jay Butler as the new Chair of HWDT - welcome to the team Jay!
You can read more about Jay and the rest of our team below.

There’s no mistaking that fin!
John Coe, our most famous killer whale in the West Coast Community, known for his 2m tall dorsal fin with a distinctive notch, was spotted off Dunvegan Head, Skye, yesterday.
If you happen to be out and about and spot a whale, dolphin, porpoise or a basking shark (or even John Coe!) remember you can report your sighting via Whale Track, our community sightings app and website.
... Whale Track is free to download, and you can even upload your photos too!
Thanks to Henry Williams who reported his spectacular sighting yesterday and sent in his photos.
#killerwhale #orca #whaletrack #sighting #skye #whale #dolphin #scotland #hebrides Sea Life Surveys Nature Scotland Glengorm Wildlife Project Natural Apptitude VisitScotland Explore Mull Wildlife Scottish Wildlife Trust RSPB Scotland
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Our first Teen Team trip of the season was a succesful one, with some great sightings and dramatic weather, including two common dolphins bow riding Silurian.
Cetacean of the week has to go to the harbour porpoises though, with sightings of these little guys making up 56% of our encounters. Not many people are lucky enough to catch these rare glimpses of porpoises, through crystal clear water, so we all felt incredibly privileged.
Thanks to all the volunteers who joined us t...his trip!
For any teens interested in joining us, we will be publishing details of our survey timetable within a few weeks, so keep your eyes peeled!
#marineconservation #volunteer #volunteernow #teenteam #silurian #whales #dolphins #porpoises #scotland #hebrides #kickstartcareersinmarineconservation #conservationcareers Visit Mull & Iona VisitScotland WorkingAbroad Projects WiseOceans
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Fancy something different this summer?
Solve the riddles, crack the codes, and escape the pirate!
Book onto our Room Escape activity in our Discovery Centre on Tobermory High Street. All ages welcome.
... To book, please call our centre on 01688 302816.
#familyactivities #childfriendly #roomescape #thingstodomull #marineconservation #whales #dolphins #getinvolved #thingstodotobermory Visit Mull & Iona Tobermory Harbour Association Glengorm Wildlife Project
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Fantastic final day for our teen marine mammal scientists with over a 150 common dolphins recorded throughout the day! #bestworkexperience #teenresearchexpedition #teenteam #citizenscience #commondolphin #sighting #silurian #standoutfromthecrowd

Discounts now available for places on our unique Silurian Research Expeditions departing from Ullapool this September and October.
Each expedition provides a fantastic opportunity to work alongside scientists as marine mammal biologists, gain skills and experience a once in a life time opportunity sailing the Hebrides!
HWDT are offering a special deal with 25% off original berth prices. Join us now as a volunteer, contributing to the conservation of Scotland's whales, dolphin...s and porpoises. No previous experience required: just a desire to learn, a strong sense of team work, and availability for one of the survey dates below.
More information about our research vessel Silurian and life as a volunteer citizen scientist can be found here: https://hwdt.org/silurian
#volunteernow #marineconservation #conservation #conservationjobs #volunteering #whales #dolphins #visitscotland #sailing #hebrides VisitScotland Oban Times Nature Scotland SCOTLAND: The Big Picture Volunteer Glasgow Eco Nature Holidays The Majestic Line Hebrides Cruises Orca Guardians Iceland ORCA Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme Glengorm Wildlife Project Sea Life Surveys The Scotsman Living Seas NW Highlands Hebrides News Hebridean Adventures
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We're off to a great start on our second Teen Research Expedition of the season. Last night we collected plankton for our evening entertainment. #planktonparty #microscope #marineconservation #workexperience #teenteam #silurian

Calling all keen photographers...
The British Photography Awards 2018 #competition is now open, and is your chance to showcase your skills as well as supporting some great charitable causes, including HWDT!
Half of the money received from entry donations will be donated to a charity of your choice, (so don't forget to select us!).
... Find out more about the competition, including how to enter, below.
Happy snapping!
#photographycompetition #photography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #charityTuesday #whales #dolphins Oban Times Visit Mull & Iona The Majestic Line Sea Life Surveys Glengorm Wildlife Project Living Seas North West Living Seas NW Highlands WWF Scotland Nature Scotland
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Ever wondered what life is like as a volunteer on board Silurian?
Rod White, one of our dedicated volunteers, is here to tell you what to expect, including the very best bits, of life on board a scientific research vessel.
If you feel inspired by Rod to join us on a survey and monitor whales and dolphins, all you need is a desire to learn, to be a strong team player, and to be available for the dates of one of our surveys. Find a list of dates here:https://hwdt.org/silurian...-timetab le
#marineconservation #volunteer #volunteerholidays #whales #dolphins #killerwhales #orca #sailing #Hebrides #Scotland WorkingAbroad Projects WiseOceans Visit Mull & Iona Hebrides Cruises Sea Life Surveys The Majestic Line GoAbroad.com VisitScotland Nature Scotland
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Ghabh Coinneach MacFhraing, ar n-Intearnach Leasachadh Gàidhlig ùr, a chiad turas air bòrd Shilurian an t-seachdain seo, agus e na cheathramh ball den chriutha air turas rannsachaidh do dheugairean. ’S urrainn dhuibh leughadh mar a chòrd e ris sa phost a sgrìobh e dhar bloga!
Kenny Rankin, our recently-appointed Gaelic Development Intern, was on board Silurian for the first time this week, supporting our Teen Research Expedition as fourth crew. You can read his contribution t...o our blog at:
http://www.hwdtblog.co.uk/?m=1
Kenny's post is generously funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
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If you missed it, here's some more information about our celebrity visitor Knobble the Minke Whale, spotted by Sea Life Surveys last week. Knobble has returned to Scotland's west coast every year for 13 years in a row, showning just how important the area is for marine wildlife. Knobble even has a special song [click the link to view]!
If you spot Knobble, make sure to report your sightings to Whale Track - our community sightings app and website. The Whale Track app is free to use and available on Android and Apple phones, allowing people to submit sightings at the touch of a button.
#whales #dolphins #minkewhales #Knobble #sightings #WhaleTrack #Scotland #whalewatching #Hebrides Visit Mull & Iona VisitScotland Nature Scotland Sea Watch Oban Times

poped in with my wee girl on Saturday and the amazing staff offered us an unscheduled talk about the bones the trust has for giving talks to customers and passing on Knowledge to others.

my wee girl was amazed and before we kneww it the talk was full of children and parents. Amazing facilities and staff. top marks . 10 out of 10 all round.

Thanks

This is a great great organisation doing amazing work in Argyll and the Hebrides. I urge you to become a member and support them in their work. Its so important!

The week on Silurian in June was one of best trips I've done. Great communication beforehand, very friendly crew and fellow volunteers and some fantastic sightings. I hope to make this my annual treat as long as I can afford to!

My older daughter’s favourite shop on Mull! She goes in every time we visit Tobermory and knows all about all the bones!

From the moment we stepped into the shop (which I'd spotted on Trip Advisors 'top 50' list of things to do on Mull) we met one of the most enthusiastic, engaging, knowledgable people I ever met! I wish I'd asked his name so I could give him a mention!! Our 5 yr old son is really interested in all things 'marine' especially basking sharks, and this guy connected with him and showed him whale bones, a dolphin skeleton, told him loads of facts, showed him (and our younger daughter, who just wanted to buy a cuddly puffin!) a shark jigsaw game and a guess the noise game. We must have been with him for over half an hour! He answered all the kids questions and then expanded on all his answers by showing more pictures or telling additional fun facts! I'd highly recommend a visit to this shop and book one of the kids activities they have on offer, which sadly we didn't have time to do. Hope to go back and will definitely book in for a info session or workshop then.

Amazing trips for wildlife and for getting to know the Hebrides on Silurian!