
“The week or so on Silurian is always one of the highlights of my year. Great team spirit aboard contributing to valuable scientific data and all in the most stunning scenery of the UK.” - Tibor Beetles (one of many recurring Silurian volunteers)
Join us aboard our research vessel, Silurian, and be part of the conservation of whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks. Our survey expeditions are unique in the UK and provide an unforgettable experience!
The waters off the west coast of Scotland support a variety of cetacean species – both resident populations and seasonal visitors. Our expeditions help improve our understanding of this special area, safegaurding it for generations to come. We believe scientific evidence is the foundation of effective conservation and our Cetacean Research & Monitoring Programme delivers that evidence, but we need you to help us.
Our Programme relies entirely on volunteer citizen scientists. Every data point in the database has been collected by a dedicated member of the public. No experience is required to join a survey expedition just an enthusiasm and willingness to learn and be part of the team.
Survey expeditions run between April and October, with differing rendezvous locations, duration and cost for participating. Volunteers join our team to live-aboard alongside the HWDT crew as marine mammal field biologists. Full training in visual and acoustic data collection is provided by the excellent crew on board during these live-aboard monitoring expeditions.
There is still much to learn about the different cetacean species and the threats they face. With increased pressures on the marine environment, we must continue to monitor Scottish cetaceans, endeavour to better understand the issues these animals face, and promote action to protect them. There have been significant changes in the Scottish west coast marine environment over the past two decades. Our research has identified that the impacts on whales and dolphins is already prevalent.
Upcoming Expeditions:
As a volunteer aboard you will be expected to get fully involved with all aspects of the survey. Cooking is carried out by both the crew and volunteers. Participants need to have good balance and must be agile and able to move around the boat easily, some access aboard is difficult to navigate if your mobility is impaired.
The boat is not equipped for people with limited mobility and those requiring wheelchairs or canes cannot be accommodated unfortunately. Good vision in both eyes is required, although wearing glasses doesn’t exclude you from participating. A good sense of hearing is also important; part of the acoustic monitoring requires listening to high frequency noises on a hydrophone.
Levels of fitness should be such that you can stand observing for more than an hour at a time in potentially rough seas. A high threshold for boredom and good concentration are important when searching for marine mega-fauna.
“The week or so on Silurian is always one of the highlights of my year. Great team spirit aboard contributing to valuable scientific data and all in the most stunning scenery of the UK.” - Tibor Beetles (one of many recurring Silurian volunteers)
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“The week or so on Silurian is always one of the highlights of my year. Great team spirit aboard contributing to valuable scientific data and all in the most stunning scenery of the UK.” - Tibor Beetles (one of many recurring Silurian volunteers)
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Whale and Dolphin Expedition Survey