Hostname: page-component-6766d58669-l4t7p Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-18T11:53:10.685Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The conservation of marine mammals in Scottish waters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2011

Paul M. Thompson
Paul M. Thompson
Affiliation:
University of Aberdeen, Department of Zoology, Lighthouse Field Station, George Street, Cromarty, Ross-shire IV11 8YJ, Scotland, U.K.
Get access

Synopsis

Scottish coastal waters contain populations of both common and grey seals. In addition, the area is used by at least thirteen cetacean species. National and international agreements are in place which aim to protect these species. However, limited data on the ecology of marine mammals and on the threats which their populations face has prevented the implementation of an effective conservation strategy for marine mammals.

This paper reviews current information on the distribution, abundance and population dynamics of seals and cetaceans in Scottish waters. It then outlines the nature and likely extent of threats to these species from human impacts such as incidental killing, disturbance, pollution. Finally, conservation and management objectives for Scottish marine mammal populations are discussed, particularly in relation to international treaties which require the U.K. to provide adequate protection measures.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences , Volume 100: Marine Conservation in Scotland , 1992 , pp. 123 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Society of Edinburgh 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Birnie, P. 1986. The role of law in protecting marine mammals. Ambio 15, 137–43.Google Scholar
Bjorge, A. & Oien, N. 1990. Distribution and abundance of harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena in Norwegian waters. Paper SC/42/SM3 submitted to the IWC scientific committee, June 1990.Google Scholar
Bowen, W. D., Capstick, C. K. & Sergeant, D. E. 1981. Temporal changes in the reproductive potential of female harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 38, 495–503.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyd, I. L., Lunn, N. J., Rothery, P. & Croxall, J. P. 1989. Age distribution of breeding female Antarctic fur seals in relation to changes in population growth rate. Canadian Journal of Zoology 68, 2209–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brown, S. G. 1976. Modern whaling in Britain and the NE Atlantic. Mammal Review 6, 25–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buck, J. D. 1980. Occurrence of human-associated yeasts in the feces and pool waters of captive bottlenosed dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 16, 141–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clapham, P. J. & Mayo, C. A. 1990. Reproduction of humpback whales (Megaptera novaengliae) observed in the Gulf of Maine. In Individual recognition of cetacea, pp. 171–6, eds Hammond, P. S., Mizroch, S. A. & Donovan, G. P. Cambridge: IWC.Google Scholar
Cockroft, V. G., de Kock, A. C., Lord, D. A. & Ross, G. J. B. 1989. Organochlorines in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the east coast of South Africa. South African Journal of Marine Sciences 8, 207–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duffield, D. A. & Chamberlin-Lea, J. 1990. Use of chromosome heteromorphisms and hemoglobins in studies of bottlenose dolphin populations and paternities. In The bottlenose dolphin, pp. 609–20, eds Leatherwood, S. & Reeves, R. R. San Diego: Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duffield, D. A., Ridgway, S. H. & Cornell, L. H. 1983. Hematology distinguishes coastal and offshore forms of dolphins (Tursiops). Canadian Journal of Zoology 61, 930–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dunn, J. L., Buck, J. D. & Spotte, S. 1982. Candidiasis in captive cetaceans. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 181, 1316–21.Google ScholarPubMed
EML. 1990. Inverness Main Drainage Scheme Environmental Assessment. Final Study Report to High-land Regional Council. Environmental Management Ltd., High Wycombe.Google Scholar
Evans, P. G. H. 1976. An analysis of sightings of Cetacea in British waters. Mammal Review 6, 5–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, P. G. H. 1980. Cetaceans in British waters. Mammal Review 10, 1–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, P. G. H., Harding, S., Tyler, G. & Hall, S. 1986. Analysis of cetacean sightings in the British Isles, 1958–1985. Unpublished Report to the NCC. Cetacean Group of the UK Mammal Society.Google Scholar
FAO. 1978. Mammals in the seas. Volume 1. Rome: Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.Google Scholar
Field, M. & Trainer, D. O. 1970. Polychlorinated biphenyl: interaction with duck hepatitis virus. Science 170, 1314–16.Google Scholar
Fraser, F. C. 1974. Report on Cetacea stranded on the British Coasts from 1948–1966. 14. British Museum (Natural History), London.Google Scholar
Gambell, R. 1990. The International Whaling Commission – quo vadis? Mammal Review 20, 31–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gaskin, D. E. 1982. The ecology of whales and dolphins. London: Heinemann.Google Scholar
Geraci, J. R. 1990. Physiologic and toxic effects on cetaceans. In Sea mammals and oil: confronting the risks, pp. 167–97, eds Geraci, J. R. & St Aubin, D. J. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Geraci, J. R. & St Aubin, D. J. 1990. Sea mammals and oil: confronting the risks. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Geraci, J. R., St Aubin, D. J. & Reisman, R. J. 1983. Bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, can detect oil. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 40, 1515–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hall, A. J., Law, R. J., Wells, D. E., Harwood, J., Ross, H. M., Kennedy, S., Allchin, L. A., Campbell, L. A. & Pomeroy, P. P. 1992. Organochlorine levels in common seals (Phoca vitulina) which were victims and survivors of the 1988 phocine distemper epizootic. Science of the Total Environment 115, 145–62CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hammond, P. S. 1990. Capturing whales on film – estimating cetacean population parameters from individual recognition data. Mammal Review 20, 17–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hammond, P. S. & Thompson, P. M. 1991. Minimum estimate of the number of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Moray Firth. Biological Conservation 56, 79–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Härkönen, T. 1987. Seasonal and regional variations in the feeding habits of the harbour seal, Phoca vitulina, in the Skagerrak and the Kattegat. Journal of Zoology 213, 535–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Härkönen, T. & Heide-Jorgensen, M.-P. 1990. Comparative life-histories of east Atlantic and other harbour seal populations. Ophelia 32, 211–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harwood, J. & Prime, J. H. 1978. Some factors affecting the size of British grey seal populations. Journal of Applied Ecology 15, 401–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harwood, J., Hiby, L., Thompson, D. & Ward, A. 1991. Seal stocks in Great Britain. Surveys conducted between 1986 and 1989. NERC News January, 11–15.Google Scholar
Hiby, A. R. & Hammond, P. S. 1989. Survey techniques for estimating abundance of cetaceans. Report of the IWC (Special Issue 11), 47–80.Google Scholar
Hoelzel, A. R. & Dover, G. A. 1989. Molecular techniques for examining genetic variation and stock identity in cetacean species. Report of the IWC (Special Issue 11), 81–120.Google Scholar
Holden, A. V. 1978. Pollutants and seals – a review. Mammal Review 8, 53–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
IUCN. 1988. Dolphins, porpoise and whales: An action plan for the conservation of biological diversity, 1988–1992. Gland: IUCNGoogle Scholar
Jackson, D. & Wilson, S. C. 1989. Tees estuary seals project. Interim report. Durham: David Bellamy Associates Ltd.Google Scholar
Kayes, R. J. 1985. The decline of porpoises and dolphins in the southern North Sea: A current status report. Report RR-14. Oxford: Political Ecology Research Group.Google Scholar
Kenchington, R. A. & Agardy, M. T. 1990. Achieving marine conservation through biosphere reserve planning and management. Environmental Conservation 17, 39–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kinze, C. C. 1990. Non-metric analysis of harbour porpoises from the North and Baltic Seas: implications for stock identity. Paper SC/42/SM35 submitted to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1990Google Scholar
Leatherwood, S. & Reeves, R. R. 1990. The bottlenose dolphin. San Diego: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Ljungblad, D. K., Wursig, B., Swartz, S. L. & Keene, J. M. 1988. Observations on the behavioral responses of Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) to active geophysical vessels in the Alaskan Beaufort sea. Arctic 41, 183–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lockyer, C. 1990. Review of incidents involving wild, sociable dolphins, worldwide. In The bottlenose dolphin, pp. 337–53, eds Leatherwood, S. & Reeves, R. R. San Diego: Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lockyer, C. & Morris, R. J. 1986. The history and behaviour of a wild, sociable bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) off the north coast of Cornwall. Aquatic Mammals 12, 3–16.Google Scholar
Marsh, H., O'Shea, T. J. & Best, R. C. 1986. Research on Sirenians. Ambio 15, 177–80.Google Scholar
Martin, A. D. 1990. Whales and dolphins. London: Salamander.Google Scholar
Mate, B. R. & Harvey, J. T. 1987. Acoustical deterrents in marine mammal conflicts with fisheries. Oregon: Oregon State University.Google Scholar
McBrearty, D. A., Message, M. A. & King, G. A. 1986. Observations on small cetaceans in the north-east Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea: 1978–1982. In Research on dolphins, pp. 225–59, eds Bryden, M. M. & Harrison, R. J. Oxford: OUP.Google Scholar
McConnel, B. 1986. Tracking Grey seals Halichoerus grypus using service Argos. Mesogee 42, 93–4.Google Scholar
McConnel, B. J., Chambers, C., Nicholas, K. S. & Fedak, M. A. 1992. Satellite tracking of grey seals (Halichoerus Grypus). Journal of Zoology 226, 271–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Minette, H. P. 1986. Salmonellosis in the marine environment: a review and commentary. International Journal of Zoonoses 13, 71–5.Google Scholar
Morris, R. J., Law, R. J., Allchin, C. R., Kelly, C. A. & Fileman, C. F. 1989. Metals and organochlorines in dolphins and porpoises of Cardigan Bay, West Wales. Marine Pollution Bulletin 20, 512–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mudge, G. P., Crooke, C. H. & Barrett, C. F. 1984. The offshore distribution and abundance of seabirds in the Moray Firth. Unpublished report to Britoil. Munlochy: RSPB.Google Scholar
NERC. 1983. Contaminants in marine top predators. Report to DoE. Publications Series C., No. 23. Swindon: NERC.Google Scholar
Nielson, B. 1986. The global plan of action for the conservation, management and utilization of marine mammals. Ambio 15, 134–6.Google Scholar
Northridge, S. 1988. Marine mammals and fisheries. A study of conflicts with fishing gear in British waters London: Wildlife Link.Google Scholar
Oien, N. 1990. Abundance of northeastern Atlantic stock of Minke whales based on shipboard surveys conducted in July 1989. Paper SC/42/NHMi18 submitted to the IWC Scientific Committee, June 1990.Google Scholar
Olesiuk, P. K., Bigg, M. A. & Ellis, G. M. 1990. Life history and population dynamics of resident killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the coastal waters of British Columbia and Washington State. In Individual recognition of cetacea, pp. 209–44, eds Hammond, P. S., Mizroch, S. A. & Donovan, G. P. Cambridge: IWC.Google Scholar
Pierce, G. J., Boyle, P. R. & Thompson, P. M. 1990. Diet selection in seals. In Trophic relationships in the marine environment, pp. 222–38, eds Barnes, M. & Gibson, R. N. Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press.Google Scholar
Pierce, G. J., Thompson, P. M., Miller, A., Diack, J. S. W., Miller, D. & Boyle, P. R. 1991. Seasonal variation in the diet of common seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Moray Firth area of Scotland. Journal of Zoology 23, 641–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prime, J. H. & Hammond, P. S. 1990. The diet of grey seals from the south-west North Sea assessed from analyses of hard parts found in faeces. Journal of Applied Ecology 27, 435–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Read, A. J. 1990. Age at sexual maturity and pregnancy rates of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from the Bay of Fundy. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 47, 561–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reijnders, P. J. H. 1980. Organochlorine and heavy metal residues in harbour seals from the Wadden Sea and their possible effects on reproduction. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 14, 30–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reijnders, P. J. H. 1986. Reproductive failure in common seals feeding on fish from polluted coastal waters. Nature 324, 456–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Richardson, W. J., Fraker, M. A., Wursig, IB. & Wells, R. S. 1985. Behavior of Bowhead Whales Balaena mysticetus summering in the Beaufort Sea: Reactions to industrial activities. Biological Conservation 32, 195–230.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richardson, W. J., Wursig, B. & Greene, C. R. J. 1990. Reactions of Bowhead whales, Balaena mysticetus, to drilling and dredging noise in the Canadian Beaufort sea. Marine Environmental Research 29, 135–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ridgway, S. H. & Harrison, R. J. 1981. Handbook of marine mammals. Vol. 1. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Safe, S. 1984. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs): biochemistry, toxicology, and mechanism of action. CRC Critical Reviews in Toxicology 13, 319–95.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smeenk, C. 1987. The harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena (L. 1758) in the Netherlands: stranding records and decline. Lutra 30, 77–90.Google Scholar
Subramanian, A., Tanabe, S., Tatsukawa, R., Saito, S. & Miyazaki, N. 1987. Reduction in the testosterone levels by PCBs and DDE in Dall's porpoises of northwestern North Pacific. Marine Pollution Bulletin 18, 643–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Summers, C. F. 1979. The scientific background to seal stock management in Great Britain. Swindon: NERC (Publications series C No. 21.)Google Scholar
Thompson, D., Hammond, P. S., Nicholas, K. S. & Fedak, M. A. 1992. Movements, diving and foraging behaviour of grey seals. Journal of Zoology 224, 223–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, P. M. 1989. Seasonal changes in the distribution and composition of common seal (Phoca vitulina) haul-out groups. Journal of Zoology, London 217, 218–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, P. M. & Hammond, P. S. 1992. The use of photography to monitor dermal disease in wild bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Ambio 21, 135–7.Google Scholar
Thompson, P. M. & Harwood, J. 1990. Methods for estimating the population size of common seals (Phoca vitulina). Journal of Applied Ecology 27, 924–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, P. M. & Miller, D. 1990. Summer foraging activity and movements of radio-tagged common seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Moray Firth, Scotland. Journal of Applied Ecology 27, 492–501.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, P. M. & Miller, D. 1992. Phocine distemper virus outbreak in the Moray Firth common seal population: an estimate of mortality. Science of the Total Environment, 115, 57–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thompson, P. M., Fedak, M. A., McConnel, B. J. & Nicholas, K. S. 1989. Seasonal and sex-related variation in the activity patterns of common seals, Phoca vitulina. Journal of Applied Ecology 26, 521–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, P. M., Pierce, G. J., Hislop, J. R. G., Miller, D. & Diack, J. S. W. 1991. Winter foraging by common seals (Phoca vituli na) in relation to food availability in the inner Moray Firth, NE Scotland. Journal of Animal Ecology 60, 283–94.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Verwey, J. & Wolff, W. J. 1982. The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). In Marine mammals in the Wadden Sea, pp. 59–64, eds Reijnders, P. J. H. & Wolff, W. J. Rotterdam: A. A. Balkema.Google Scholar
Ward, A. J., Thompson, D. & Hiby, A. R. 1988. Census techniques for grey seal populations. In Mammal population studies, pp. 181–91, ed. Harris, S. Oxford: Symposia of the Zoological Society of London. OUP.Google Scholar