Risso's dolphin monitoring - PAM pilot study - North-East Lewis MPA

The North-east Lewis Marine Protected Area (MPA) was designated in December 2020, with Risso’s dolphins being listed as one of its protected features. The overall aim of the current acoustic monitoring is to obtain insights into the spatial and temporal presence of Risso’s dolphin within the MPA and surrounding waters. Moreover, the results of this pilot project will inform development of a future long-term acoustic monitoring programme.

As part of this pilot project, NatureScot deployed six acoustic moorings within the MPA. In addition, Marine Directorate is undertaking acoustic monitoring through the Scottish Passive Acoustic Network (SPAN), which includes various monitoring stations around the MPA.

Using an automated AI detector recently developed by SAMS PhD student Thomas Webber (https://www.sams.ac.uk/people/research-students/webber-thomas-/), SAMS is analysing the acoustic data to investigate when and where Risso’s dolphin echolocation was recorded. Obtained results will feed into the design of a continued acoustic monitoring programme.

This is a SAMS Enterprise project.