The Scottish Vessel Project
A collaborative project working together to capture marine vessel data around Scotland's coastline
A collaborative project working together to capture marine vessel data around Scotland's coastline
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;
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.
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;
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.
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 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.
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 !
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.
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.
We are enthusiastic to discuss and develop further collaborations with local businesses, schools or research groups.
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!
For any queries, collaborations or questions, please contact Emily via elh2001@hw.ac.uk
Orcas in Aith Voe, Shetland. Credit: Southspear Media & Surveys Ltd
Orcas around the Northern Isles. Credit: Graham Campbell