Whale Track

Whale Track allows anyone to submit sightings of marine megafauna on the west coast of Scotland. Get involved to help improve our understanding of local species and contribute data to inform conservation policies to safeguard our amazing marine wildlife for future generations.

Twenty-four species of whale, dolphin and porpoise have been recorded in Scotland, accounting for almost a quarter of all species found worldwide and it is one of the most important and biodiverse areas in Europe for cetaceans.
But our seas are under huge pressure; increasingly busy, noisy and polluted. Scotland’s whales and dolphins exist in a fragile state, threatened by a range of environmental, climatic and human stresses. Evidence is the foundation of effective conservation, and that’s where you can help! With eyes out on the water all of the time, sightings data from the community is helping to improve our understanding of coastal species such as bottlenose dolphins and the occurrence of rarer ones such as humpback and killer whales. With your help and year round sightings, we can also uncover some of the mysteries about our more commonly seen species such as discovering the winter movements of harbour porpoises and marking the arrival and departure of our summer visitors.

Your sightings really do help make a difference. Download Whale Track today to learn about the species you might be lucky enough to see and report your sightings to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.