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Humpback
Whale in the Firth of Clyde,
copyright Elise Rankin
this is the
only image of the whale currently in the Clyde
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An adult humpback
whale, possibly greater than 12 metres in length, has been sighted in
the Firth of Clyde last week – the fifth such whale to be seen off
western Scotland in the past month, compared with a usual total of
just one or two per year.
The whale was sighted
off Tighnabruaich in the Kyles of Bute on 6 July. On 8 July it
surfaced alongside the Scottish Ocean Youth Trust’s yacht, spouting
and swimmingly strongly in a northward direction into Loch Fyne. The
whale was observed breaching out of the water and lob-tailing – a
dramatic manoeuvre in which the animal throws its massive tail, up to
five metres across, out of the water, creating a huge splash visible
for miles. This behaviour could be used for
communication, display or
perhaps to ward off other animals.
Humpback whales were
once hunted to the brink of extinction in Scottish waters, but in
recent years Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has noticed an
increase in the number of sightings reported to its online sightings
database (www.hwdt.org). It is
unknown whether this represents a genuine increase in population
size, a range shift into Scottish waters, or more vigilant reporting
from members of the public. Researchers in Ireland believe that
humpback whales there are increasing in numbers.
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| Humpback whale photographed in the Hebrides from research vessel Silurian, copyright photographer/HWDT – this is an historic image of a humpback whale off the west coast of Scotland |
Over the past month,
there have been at least five different humpback whales documented
off Scotland’s west coast, from the Isle of Lewis to the Firth of
Clyde.
“Usually we expect
just one or two sightings of humpback whales per year, so to have
five in a month is very encouraging and exciting”, said Dr Conor
Ryan, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s Sightings and Strandings
Officer.
“Although humpbacks
can put on a spectacular show and are humbling to watch, we appeal to
people not to stress the whale by approaching in boats. This
individual is not in its typical environment and may be lost in the
sea loch. Besides, there are strict laws in place to protect this
species from harassment”.
The trust encourages
members of the public to become citizen scientists – both by
reporting sightings of cetaceans and basking sharks online and by
joining a research expedition aboard its sailing vessel Silurian.
Participants are trained in scientific methods and assist in data
collection to better understand the distribution of whales, dolphins
and porpoises around the Hebrides. Information on entanglement risk
in ropes and lines is also collected.
Morven Russell,
Volunteer Coordinator at Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, said: “By
joining us aboard, volunteers will have the opportunity to witness
first-hand the wealth of the Hebridean marine environment, whilst
contributing to a better understanding and consequently more
effective management of cetacean populations off Scotland’s west
coast.”
For more information,
please visit www.hwdt.org.
This week’s sighting
is the third confirmed humpback whale in the Firth of Clyde in recent
years. On previous occasions, the whales apparently navigated their
way out to the open sea. However, this is the first time that
Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has documented a humpback so far
north in the Clyde. Humpback whales are at high risk of entanglement
in ropes and lines in the water and there have been at least two
fatal entanglements in Scotland in the past 12 months.
Humpback whales have
the largest forelimbs in the animal kingdom – leading to their
scientific name Megaptera, meaning “giant winged”. They have 6m
long flippers which make them prone to snagging ropes. Given that
they cannot swim backwards, a simple entanglement can be fatal or
lead to prolonged suffering.
“At the moment, the
whale is swimming freely with no signs of distress or entanglement.
Hopefully it will make it's own way back to deeper water and come to
no harm”, said Karl Hurd, Southwest Scotland Regional Coordinator
of British Divers Marine Life Rescue, which is the competent
organisation in the UK for rescuing stranded and entangled whales.
- The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust is dedicated to enhancing knowledge and understanding of Scotland’s whales, dolphins and porpoises (cetaceans) and the Hebridean marine environment through education, research and working within Hebridean communities as a basis for the lasting conservation of local species and habitats.
www.hwdt.org
01688 302620 - BDMLR is an organisation dedicated to the rescue and well-being of all marine animals in distress around the UK. www.bdmlr.org
