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Check out our other blog posts1 November 2023
ORCA Marine Mammal Surveys: end of season summary 2023
Small teams of trained volunteer ORCA Marine Mammal Surveyors conducted 26 surveys for marine megafauna from the bridge of vessels on five of our routes in 2023. The majority of the volunteer ORCA Marine Mammal Surveyors conducting these surveys are local citizens, so are stewards of their waters, playing an active role in marine conservation.
Total number of surveys conducted
26
Total number of routes
Surveys were conducted on five routes, including one new route for 2023
What routes were included?
The following routes were covered in 2023 surveys:
- Mallaig-Lochboisdale (new survey route for 2023, one survey conducted)
- Oban-Castlebay (six surveys conducted)
- Oban-Tiree-Coll-Colonsay (eight surveys conducted)
- Ullapool-Stornoway (six surveys conducted)
- Uig-Lochmaddy-Tarbert (five surveys conducted)
Total number of individual animals recorded
1,054 animals were recorded through 2023 surveys. This is 326 more than in 2022.
Species recorded
During 2023, 11 different species were recorded. This was the same number as in 2022. These species included seven different species of whale, dolphin or porpoise, two seal species, one walrus and one shark (basking).
Map of sightings on survey routes
This map provides details of all the animals sighted along the survey routes.
