UHI Shetland and Whale and Dolphin Conservation Call on Public to Share Photos of Risso’s Dolphins

UHI Shetland is collaborating with international marine conservation charity Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) to launch a public call for photographs of Risso’s dolphins spotted around Shetland, Orkney and northeast Scotland.

The joint project is inviting members of the public, wildlife tour operators, photographers, and any visitors to the areas to submit their images to support ongoing research into this distinctive and little-understood species.

Risso’s dolphins are recognisable by their tall dorsal fins and heavily scarred, pale-grey bodies. Each individual carries a unique pattern of nicks, notches and scars on their dorsal fin, which allows researchers to use a technique known as photo-identification (photo-ID) to distinguish one dolphin from another.

By analysing submitted images, the research team can:

• Identify individual dolphins
• Estimate population size
• Track movements between sites
• Monitor site fidelity and habitat use
• Better understand long-term trends in the region

“Photographs taken by the public can provide invaluable data” said Dr Emily Hague, marine mammal researcher at UHI Shetland. “Every image of a dorsal fin could help us recognise an individual dolphin and build a clearer picture of how Risso’s dolphins use waters around the region”.

Risso’s dolphins are regularly sighted around Shetland, Orkney and northeast Scotland, yet many aspects of their ecology and population structure in Scottish waters remain unknown. Collaborative efforts between researchers and the public are helping to fill these knowledge gaps and inform conservation planning.

The team welcomes photographs taken at any time (recent or historical) provided they were captured in Shetland, Orkney or northeast Scotland. Images should show the dolphin’s dorsal fin, along with details of the sighting location, date, approximate group size. The team ask that images are not edited or cropped, and that all photographs from the encounter are shared, to help understand group size and dynamics. Blurry photographs may still be helpful.

Information on how to submit photographs is available at:
https://www.shetlandmarinemammals.com/projects/rissos-dolphin-surveys or you can directly email Shorewatch@whales.org

By sharing their images, members of the public can play a direct role in advancing scientific understanding and helping to safeguard Risso’s dolphins for the future.

This project is being supported by funding from the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund using funds made available by the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund, the Shetland Community Benefit Fund and Viking Community Fund (from Viking Energy), and the EU Horizon Ocean Mission funded BLUE CONNECT project.