Skip to content
All news
  • All news
  • About whales & dolphins
  • Corporates
  • Create healthy seas
  • End captivity
  • Green Whale
  • Prevent deaths in nets
  • Scottish Dolphin Centre
  • Stop whaling
  • Stranding
  • Whale watching
Bottlenose dolphins breaching

Landmark report reveals UK wildlife’s devastating decline

With whales and dolphins already facing many threats, a landmark report released this week reveals...
Dolphins with oil rig

Go ahead for new UK oil and gas exploration threatens whales and dolphins

Permission has been granted for the development of the UK's biggest untapped oilfield off Shetland,...
Icelandic hunting vessels in port

Whaling boat kept in port after more hunt cruelty exposed

Icelandic whale hunting fleet One of the whaling boats involved in the latest hunts in...
Commerson's dolphin

New Important Marine Mammal Areas added to global ocean conservation list

Commerson's dolphin Experts from a number of countries have mapped out a new set of...

Dolphins in WDC’s adopt a dolphin programme doing well

According to a report published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), with research undertaken by Aberdeen University, around 200 bottlenose dolphins make the Moray Firth and Scottish north east coast their home, and the population is ‘stable’.

WDC warmly welcomes this news. The population was at one time estimated to be around 130 dolphins, so this appears to show an increase, though there is now much more dedicated research and monitoring.

Over recent decades there has been a concerted effort of awareness and conservation: The designation of Special Areas of Conservation, raising awareness with boat owners and other water users around how to behave when sharing the water with the dolphins, research, outreach and a great deal more. WDC has been at the forefront of much of this work through our campaigns, Shorewatch project, funding of research, Scottish Dolphin Centre and the adopt a dolphin programme.


Adopt a dolphin field officer, Charlie Phillips said: ‘I’ve been studying these magnificent dolphins for over 30 years. It’s great to see that the population is doing well, in spite of all the activity in the area.  People love these dolphins, they are a key part of our natural heritage. They are to be valued and treasured.’

WDC policy manager, Sarah Dolman said: ‘We are cautiously optimistic. And of course we have to be aware that whilst there’s a lot of protection, there’s a lot of increasing human activity too, not all of it benign for whales and dolphins, so we have to monitor the site, manage it robustly and ensure greater protection.’

You can support our work in Scotland and all over the world by adopting one of the bottlenose dolphins who live in the Moray Firth.

About George Berry

George is a member of WDC's Communications team and website coordinator.