Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust is a Scotland-based charity that has been running for years. It was set up to help protect the marine environment, looking after the Hebridean whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
- Location: Isle of Mull, Scotland
- Founded: TBD
- Species: Atlantic White-sided Dolphin, Basking Shark, Beluga whale, Blue Whale, Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Common Seal, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale, Fin Whale, Fraser’s dolphin, Grey Seal, Harbour Porpoise, Humpback Whale, Killer Whale, Long-finned Pilot Whale, Minke Whale, Narwhal, North Atlantic Right Whale, Northern Bottlenose Whale, Pygmy Sperm Whale, Risso’s Dolphin, Sei Whale, Sperm Whale, Sowerby’s Beaked Whale, Striped Dolphin, Sunfish, White-beaked Dolphin.
The trust’s work includes researching why so many of these animals are dying – they believe it may be due to changes in water temperature or pollution from coastal development.
They also do outreach work with schools and community groups, teaching them about Hebridean wildlife. And they run events like beach cleans to make sure our seas stay clean for all creatures great and small.
What is the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust?
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) was founded by marine wildlife enthusiasts, who were concerned about the decline in Hebridean Whales and dolphin numbers.
It is a registered charity working on behalf of Hebrideans living on the Hebrides, who share their lives with Scotland’s whales, dolphin species, basking sharks, and seals.
For many Hebertians the Trust represents their efforts to care for this very special place. The Hebrides are a unique environment where a lot of different species live in unusually close proximity to one another. Some species seem to be able to extract from small mammals information about what dangers might be lurking near at hand.
Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s Mission
Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust is a charity which trains, manages, and supervises volunteer programs to study Hebridean cetaceans. They manage the Hebrides’ only boat-based whale research station on the Isle of Mull, aiming to promote awareness about Hebridean whales.
Hebridean cetaceans are amongst Europe’s most elusive residents due to their scarcity in inshore waters at certain times of the year. Existing data collection programs of community-based research that do not produce robust counts or population estimates for Hebridian whales.
Why Organization Help Hebridean Whale, Dolphins, and Other Marine Wildlife?
The Scottish charity was founded to protect dolphins, whales, and other marine wildlife around the Hebridean Isles. The trust works to promote understanding and enjoyment of these animals, while also working to conserve their fragile habitats.
One of the main ways the organization achieves its goals is by undertaking research into the ecology and conservation of Hebridean cetaceans as well as fishes, seabirds, and marine mammals. The trust also offers public education programs throughout Scotland, aiming to explain the importance of marine conservation issues to people of age.
Marine wildlife is constantly threatened by human activity. The biggest threats to marine mammals include:
- Noise pollution from boats and sonar – noise pollution from boats and sonar can have a detrimental effect on marine mammals. Noise pollution can cause whales and dolphins to strand themselves on beaches. It can also disrupt their feeding and communication habits, and lead to hearing loss. The wildlife organization is working to raise awareness of the issue of noise pollution, and campaign for better regulation of boat engines and sonar use.
- Plastic and other garbage – plastic and other garbage in the ocean is a huge problem. It’s estimated that there are more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic in the world’s oceans, and every day 8 million pieces of plastic find their way into our waterways. This is not only a threat to marine life, but it’s also a health hazard for humans. Plastic can absorb harmful toxins, and when it’s eaten by fish or other marine life, it can contaminate the food chain. There are several things that we can do to help reduce the amount of plastic in our oceans. First, we can reduce our use of disposable plastics. Instead of using plastic bags, straws, or cups, try using reusable versions made from cloth or metal. Second
- Oil spills – oil spills are a major environmental hazard. They can occur from the rupturing of storage tanks, from the dumping of wastewater, or from accidents during transport. Oil spills are particularly dangerous because they can cause extensive damage to marine ecosystems. Wildlife can be injured or killed, and it can take years for the environment to recover.
- Climate change – climate change has been a big topic in the news lately. There are a lot of different opinions on what is causing climate change and how to fix it, but one thing everyone can agree on is that it’s a problem that needs to be addressed. There are a lot of things we can do to help reduce our impact on the environment and slow down climate change. Some things, like driving less and using less energy, are pretty easy to do.
- Entrapment in fishing equipment – when a fish is caught in a fishing net, they can become entangled. This can lead to the fish becoming exhausted and eventually dying. There are a few ways that fishermen can try to prevent fish from becoming entangled in their nets. One way is to use mesh sizes that are large enough to allow the fish to swim through them. Another way is to use escape hatches in the net, which allows the fish to escape if they become trapped.
- Overfishing of prey species- overfishing of prey species has a ripple effect throughout the food chain, it can cause the population of prey species to dwindle. This can have a negative impact on the environment and economy.
Fortunately, there are organizations that work to protect marine life. Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust is one such organization. Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust focus on protecting whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and basking sharks as well as their habitats.
Projects
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust conduct research such as monitoring populations and habitats and educating about the marine environment around Scotland and how to ensure long-term sustainability with a focus on marine mammals.
The Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust is involved in several projects which are aimed at preserving Hebridean cetaceans, including the Hebridean population of harbor porpoise.
They work closely with the Scottish Government Marine Scotland Science where they have responsibility for the Hebridean Cetacean population.
The wildlife has also been involved in conservation projects through a unique programme that has seen them heavily involved in improving the understanding of Hebridean cetaceans, as well as undertaking research into Hebridean porpoises. There were also programs for checking out whale sightings as well as collecting data for the latest sightings for dolphins.
See Related: South Asian River Dolphin
Is the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust legitimate?
Yes, the Trust is an international organization that works to protect whales, dolphins, and porpoises in Hebridean waters.
The organization was originally set up to study cetaceans in the Hebrides. They have expanded their work to include the conservation of whales, dolphin species, porpoises, and their habitats. It has also worked with other organizations to save these animals from extinction.
How can I donate to Marine Wildlife?
There are a number of ways to donate to help marine wildlife. You can donate money, items, or your time.
Money donations can be used for a variety of things such as purchasing food for rescued animals or funding research programs. You can also choose to sponsor an animal or make a one-time donation.
Items that are often needed include food, clothing, and toys for the animals, as well as supplies for rescue missions (like life jackets and stretchers).
Time donations are also very helpful and can be anything from volunteering at an event to helping with fundraising.
Do you want to support the work of The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust to protect various marine mammals through research and educational programs, then click on the donate button and go to their website or check the organization’s Facebook account.
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