UHI Shetland is conducting vessel-based surveys around Shetland, with the aim of collecting photo-ID data on marine mammals, especially Risso’s dolphins. This photo-ID data will allows the project to identify individual, and to understand many things, including population size, calving rates and success, local habitat preferences, movements, and seasonality of habitat use.
Funding supported staff to deliver a programme of photo-ID surveys and to collate other data (e.g. historic imagery, drone and acoustic data). This initial effort helped to highlight where future research and funding could be targeted to answer further questions related to Shetland’s Risso’s dolphins. Thanks to HWDT for the photo!
In 2025/26, SMEEF was able to provide a grant of £25,000 to UHI Shetland to support this work using resources from the Nature Restoration Fund.