The Scottish Vessel Project

A collaborative project working together to capture marine vessel data around Scotland's coastline

About the Project

We are gathering information on the presence, distribution and type of vessels around coastal Scotland. We aim to capture data on the presence and movement of vessels, to better understand the amount of exposure to boats that whales, dolphins and seals experience at these different sites.

We are deploying vessel monitoring equipment to collect data on large and small boats, which will be analysed together with shore-based sightings data (of boats and marine life) to help us investigate the spatial overlap that exists. The deployment of vessel monitoring equipment is led by Heriot Watt University (in collaboration with  FleetMon Ltd. ), whilst the shore-based sightings data are being collected via three fantastic citizen science projects;

How to monitor vessel traffic?

In collaboration with FleetMon, we are deploying Automatic Identification System (AIS) receivers, which receive and store information on vessel ID, location, speed and activity (see map below for current locations of our AIS receivers).

Example AIS data collected over 24 hours around southern Shetland. Coloured dots/lines represent a single vessel

In the UK it is only a legal requirement for vessels over 15 metres long to transmit this type of information. This makes getting similar information for smaller vessels more challenging. So, along with AIS receivers we have deployed time-lapse cameras, which will record footage to allow us to capture similar information (e.g. vessel type, activity) for those smaller boats. The additional data enables us to build an understanding of all vessel traffic.

Shore-based sightings data

As well as deploying the monitoring equipment, we are also utilising and helping to process land-based sightings data from a number of community science projects who organise shore-based surveys and collect information on marine mammals and/or vessel traffic at our study sites;

WDC Shorewatch

 Shorewatch  is a network of volunteers trained and supported by  WDC  to carry out regular 10-minute surveys from land-based sites across Scotland. Initially set up in 2005, the programme now has more than 1000 trained volunteers watching around the coastline! Watchers record information on effort, sightings and collect data on vessels in the area.

We are collaborating with the WDC Shorewatch team to utilise their marine mammal and vessel data to help us better understand sites where there is a high degree of overlap. WDC Shorewatch volunteers are also carrying out dedicated vessel watches to contribute to data collection. Click the following links to  access vessel survey data sheets  and  vessel code sheets , and watch the video on how to carry out your own dedicated vessel watch.

The Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST)

In 2023, the Scottish Vessel Project developed an exciting new collaboration with the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST). We are now underway collecting data in two different types of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) off Arran, the South Arran MPA, and the Lamlash Bay No-Take-Zone. We are excited to explore these areas, as they have restrictions of what type of fishing can occur in both areas, but no restrictions on other types of human activities (including vessels and recreational activity). The data collected on Arran will allow us to gain a more holistic understanding of the other anthropogenic pressures being placed on Arran's Marine Protected Areas. The collaboration between SVP and COAST has been kindly funded by  Sea Changers , the  NERC SUPER-DTP Research Experience Placement , and  the Heriot-Watt PRIME awards . The funding allowed us to employ  Rebecca Olaleye  as a research assistant over summer 2023 to help establish our collaboration and data collection on Arran. Rebecca will be analysing the Arran data as part of her undergraduate dissertation project over 2023-24.

Orkney Marine Mammal Research Initiative

 Orkney Marine Mammal Research Initative (OMMRI)  believe in conservation through research and education, with their focus being on undertaking research and collating data relating to marine mammals within Orkney, to encourage a culture of stewardship that utilises an evidence based approach to protect Orkney’s marine mammals.

As of February 2022, OMMRI are joining the Scottish Vessel Project and will be carrying out dedicated vessel watches from land around the Orkney Isles.

Forth Marine Mammals

The  Forth Marine Mammals  Facebook page, set up in 2016, now has more than 10,000 members, all whom follow to keep up with sightings updates of whales, dolphins and seals within the Firth of Forth. The page allows anyone to post their sightings, along with information on species, time, direction of travel and even photographs. It is also an open forum to ask questions, be curious, and learn more about the marine life in these waters.

We are collaborating with the Forth Marine Mammals group, overlaying their sightings data with vessel data, to identify areas of high overlap.  Check out the website below, realised in 2023, which showcases two years of Forth Marine Mammals sightings data !

The Team

 Emily Hague  ( @emilyhague ) and  Dr Lauren McWhinnie  ( @Lhm3Lauren ) are leading the project, based within the Marine Spatial Analysis Group at the  Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology , Institute of Life and Earth Sciences at Heriot Watt University. Within our group, we are supporting multiple Master's and Undergraduate students with their vessel-related research: Rebecca Olaleye, Heather McIntyre, Rhys Selby, Lewis Clapperton, April Schaffner and Stephanie Moore.

Project Funding

The project is funded by the  MASTS Emerging From Lockdown Fund , the  Heriot Watt Annual Fund , the Heriot Watt Small Grants Scheme, the UKRI NERC SUPER-DTP Research Experience Placements scheme and Sea-Changers.

How you can help

Want to collaborate?

We are enthusiastic to discuss and develop further collaborations with local businesses, schools or research groups.

Data sharing

Please contact us if you'd like to use the data for your own research, for teaching, or for a student project . We'd be happy to discuss and are excited to consider new and exciting ways to analyse, or ask questions from the wealth of data we are collecting!

Contact Us

For any queries, collaborations or questions, please contact Emily via elh2001@hw.ac.uk

Orcas in Aith Voe, Shetland. Credit:  Southspear Media & Surveys Ltd 

Latest Updates

  • August '23 - Rebecca and Emily travelled to Arran to host training sessions on how to complete a vessel watch within the Lamlash Bay No-Take-Zone, and held an evening of talks at the COAST Discovery Centre. Missed it? Check out the training video  here .
  • July '23 - Welcome to new Rebecca Olaleye, the project's newly employed research assistant to help develop our new collaboration with the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST)
  • June '23 - BIG NEWS! The Scottish Vessel Project won the 'Principal's Research Impact and Engagement Award - Involve' award at the 2023 PRIME awards! We are delighted to receive this award, as it recognises outstanding achievement in public engagement with research, and the active involvement of communities outwith academia to develop and deliver research together. These are the pillars of the project and we are thrilled to be recognised!
  • June '23 - We are so SO excited to have been awarded funding from  Sea-Changers , to support our collaborative project between the Scottish Vessel Project and Arran COAST.
  • May '23 - Emily gave an update on the Scottish Vessel Project, as part of the MASTS Seminar Series.  Watch here .
  • May '23 - We are delighted to have been awarded funding from NERC Research Experience Placement (REP) scheme (via MASTS SUPER-DTP), to support a new collaborative project between the Scottish Vessel Project and Arran COAST over summer 2023.
  • May '23 - More AIS receivers deployed and new collaborations developed, including  Arran COAST ,  Shetland Webcams ,  HebNet ,  Gallan Head Community Trust , and the  Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust .
  • April '23 -  2 years of Forth Marine Mammals sighting data published !
  • Winter '22 - More AIS receivers deployed, including our first site in Northern Ireland, Portaferry, in collaboration with Queens University Belfast.
  • November '22 - Emily presentied Scottish Vessel Project research at the  2022 WDC SMASS Marine Forum 
  • November '22 - Emily presented preliminary results of the Scottish Vessel Project at the  MASTS Annual Science Meeting 
  • October '22 - Check out this  awesome blogpost  from FleetMon about our ongoing collaboration between them and the Marine Spatial Analysis Group at Heriot-Watt
  • August and September '22 - Emily received funding from the  MASTS-Scottish Funding Council Saltire Emerging Researcher European Exchange Scheme , to visit MaREI / University College Cork (Ireland) and Aarhus University (Denmark) to discuss the  Saturn H2020  shipping project, which seeks to find solutions to reduce underwater noise from shipping. Emily held workshops and shared more information on the Scottish Vessel Project. Click here for a video about the two trips.
  • Summer '22 - More AIS receivers rolled out around Scotland! Including new receivers set up at  WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre , at  Hebridean Adventures  (on the Isle of Lewis),  Stonehaven Golf Club , and at a variety of sites around Orkney (Sanday, in collaboration with  OMMRI  and Stromness and Flotta, in collaboration with Heriot-Watt Orkney Campus, Carl Mullins, funded by the Heriot Watt Small Project Grant Scheme)
  • February '22-  Spot that boat! How you can help to better our understanding of vessels and marine mammals around Scotland's coast ’ - Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust Online talk series
  • February '22- OMMRI dedicated vessel training video released  watch here 
  • January '22- Preliminary results presented at the UK and Ireland Regional Student Chapter for the Society of Marine Mammalogy conference, Special Session 'Anthropogenic Activities: Interactions, Disturbance and Risks'
  • December '21 -  'Spot the boat: understanding the overlap of vessel and marine mammal activity around Scotland’s coastline'  blogpost for the Mammal Society
  • October '21 - AIS equipment deployed in the Moray Firth, in collaboration with FleetMon
  • October '21 - Shorewatch clinic training - vessel watch Q&A
  • September '21 - 'Meet the Scientist: Marine Mammals in the Firth of Forth' talk to the Scottish Seabird Centre  watch here 
  • August '21- Dedicated vessel watch practical training held at West Braes (Pittenweem, Fife) 10am-1pm. All welcome!
  • August '21- Online Shorewatch training (including vessel watch training!)
  • August '21 - WDC Shorewatch dedicated vessel training video released  watch here 
  • August '21 - Latest Forth Marine Mammals sightings maps released (see below, click for more detail) - 640 sightings records between 1st May and 23rd August!
  • August '21 - Latest AIS data example for the Firth of Forth released
  • August '21 - AIS equipment deployed at Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Shetland
  • June '21 - Lauren and Emily feature on  BBC Radio Shetland , listen in from 19:50
  • June '21 - Forth Marine Mammal sightings maps released for May.

Orcas around the Northern Isles. Credit: Graham Campbell

StoryMap created by

Emily Hague, February 2021

Disclaimer

This StoryMap does not necessarily reflect the views of Heriot Watt University, the funders, or any of the collaborating partners.