East Coast Bottlenose Dolphins

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) on the east coast of Scotland are protected through a Special Area of Conservation in the inner Moray Firth. The Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) works collaboratively with the University of Aberdeen Lighthouse Field Station to monitor the conservation status of this population across their range in Scotland, under license from NatureScot.

Long Term Monitoring

Since 2009, SMRU has conducted photo-identification surveys in the Tay Estuary and Adjacent waters in St. Andrews Bay.

During summer months, researchers take high-quality digital photos of dolphin dorsal fins. Individual dolphins can be identified through unique natural markings. There are currently over 200 individual animals in the wider population ID catalogue maintained with our colleagues at the University of Aberdeen.

Collecting this individual information is used to estimate the total number of animals in the population, birth and survival rates, and to study movement between areas of the coast.

Three of these dolphins have been incorporated into a sculpture called Tay Fins at the Broughty Ferry promenade on the Tay Estuary.

Get Involved

Head to our dedicated Citizen Fins project to get involved with monitoring bottlenose dolphins movements along the east coast

Citizen Scientists play a crucial role in our understanding of bottlenose dolphins on the east coast. Since 2019, our Citizen Fins project has been accepting dorsal fin photos, particularly from the north east England coastline where bottlenose dolphins have been seen regularly in recent years.

Sightings can also be submitted to our collaborators at the Sea Watch foundation and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC)

If you come across a live marine mammal stranding, please contact BDLMR. If you come across a dead stranding in Scotland contact SMASS, or in England and Wales contact CSIP.