Working Partnerships

HWDT works with a range of organisations throughout Scotland and the UK to ensure good linkage between HWDT and different conservation groups, effective working and conservation gain.

Europhlukes www.europhlukes.net

Europhlukes is a European group of scientists who have set up a Europe wide network of Cetacean photo-identification datasets (each dataset includes images of identified animals and sightings data for that image). HWDT contributes to this network through regularly providing Hebridean datasets of minke whale, killer whales and bottlenose dolphins.

Marine Biological Association (MBA) www.mba.ac.uk

HWDT's monitoring work includes collecting data on basking sharks. This work is part of a collaborative project led by the MBA and other partners, including the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and The Shark Trust. HWDT are committed to sharing all basking shark related data, including sightings data and photo ID records from Silurian and all other casual sightings reported to the Community Sightings Scheme.

Marine Task Force (MTF) www.scotlink.org/marine.htm

The MTF is part of Scottish Environment LINK. Scottish Environment LINK is the liaison body for voluntary sector environmental organisations in Scotland. The MTF is responsible for dealing with marine matters led by the following statement.

"The vision of the Scottish Environment LINK Marine Task Force is healthy, productive seas that can sustain thriving coastal communities in perpetuity." HWDT is a member of MTF along with Marine Conservation Society, WWF, RSPB, Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and National Trust for Scotland.

Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) www.sac.ac.uk

The SAC are the Scottish coordinators for all cetacean strandings across Scotland. HWDT works closely with the SAC in the reporting of strandings in the Hebrides and also the collection of skin, blubber, muscle and bone samples for analysis.

Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) www.smru.st-and.ac.uk

SMRU are advisors to the Government on marine mammal issues and undertake scientific research focusing on seals and cetaceans. HWDT works collaboratively with SMRU on a number of projects. These include the assessment of marine mammal distribution in relation to oceanographic variables and also the assessing the use of seal scarers used on fish farms.

Seawatch Foundation www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk

The Seawatch foundation is the national coordinating body for gathering cetacean sightings and survey data. They also undertake focused cetacean research projects. HWDT are regional Seawatch coordinators for the south-west Hebrides and work closely with Seawatch in encouraging the reporting of sightings and promoting cetacean recording in the local Hebridean area.

Wild Scotland www.greentourism.org.uk/WildScotland.html

Wild Scotland is the association for wildlife tourism operators in Scotland. Wild Scotland was set up to encourage the commercial operation, development and promotion of wildlife and tourism in Scotland in ways which are sustainable environmentally, economically and socially. HWDT work with Wild Scotland to help promote the development of operating guidelines.