ORCA Marine Mammal Surveys End of Season Summary 2023
Teams of 4 or 3 trained volunteer ORCA Marine Mammal Surveyors conducted 26 surveys for marine megafauna from the bridge of 5 Caledonian MacBrayne 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
26
Total number of routes
5, including 1 new route
Routes
Mallaig-Lochboisdale (new survey route for 2023, 1 survey)
Oban-Castlebay (6 surveys)
Oban-Tiree-Coll-Colonsay (8 surveys)
Ullapool-Stornoway (6 surveys)
Uig-Lochmaddy-Tarbert (5 surveys)
Total number of individual animals recorded
1,054 - this is 326 more than in 2022
Total number of species recorded
11 - same number as in 2022
Species recorded
7 different species of whale, dolphin or porpoise were recorded. 2 seal species, 1 walrus and 1 shark (basking).
The below map details of all the animals sighted along the survey routes.
