HLF to Fund HWDT for Another 3 years!

HLF (Heritage Lottery Funding) with support from SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage) and AIE (Argyll & the Islands Enterprise) have made the most the last 3 years funding possible (including our brand new website here!) We are extremely grateful for their support. We have achieved a tremendous amount over the last three years in our education, sightings and marine outreach project.

We are currently finalising a funding package for the next three years to carry out further important monitoring and education work. HLF, SNH and AIE are to come on board again as well as additional funding partners. In NADAIR 2, we will be running a Marine Biodiversity and Marine Environmental Training Programme. In this, HWDT will undertake more detailed investigations, monitoring and education. The focus of the monitoring will be on priority marine species including harbour porpoise, minke whale, bottlenose dolphins, seals and basking sharks. Focused surveys will also be carried out to assess potential conservation threats such as monitoring the use of military sonar. The use of acoustic deterrent devices around fish farms is a source of noise pollution and potentially harmful for coastal cetaceans. HWDT will work with fish farm companies to undertake site-based studies to assess the extent of this threat and potential implications on cetacean populations. HWDT will investigate “hotspot” areas for cetaceans in more detail, identified during NADAIR 1. Shore-based observation projects will be undertaken and we are hoping to set up ferry surveys in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen , the Seawatch Foundation, The Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) and Caledonian MacBrayne. Sightings will continue to be gathered and distributed to the National Sightings Database – The Sea Watch Foundation. Photo-identification images of minke whales, bottlenose dolphins and killer whales will contribute to a Europe-wide photo-ID catalogue called “Europhlukes”. This web-based network allows researchers from all over the world to compare and match identified animals throughout a wide range. HWDT will continue to work with the Shark Trust, The Marine Biological Association and many other organisations.

In the spring, we plan to recruit a Senior Scientist to join our Biodiversity Officer to help develop our research projects further, to allow us to dedicate more staff time and resources to conservation and policy issues and to work more with our partners involved with the marine environment.

A Marine Environmental Training Programme will run concurrently with the Marine Biodiversity Programme. This will provide training to students, community groups and organisations such as the Earthwatch Institute providing instruction in identification, survey techniques and data analysis using the HWDT vessel Silurian.

Our Marine Education Project will build on the education work carried out in NADAIR 1. Visits will be made to all Argyll Island High Schools and many coastal schools with Silurian. Follow-on land-based visits will be made to all Argyll Atlantic area primary schools. Education courses and workshops will be delivered to local community groups, individuals, marine-users and volunteers as well as events attended further a-field. Further teachers' resources will be provided through the new website.

The next 3 years promises to be full of challenges for the Trust, yet we hope rewarding too, as we continue to work with the local communities and others to promote the need for a healthy marine environment for all.