According to a recent analysis, the surge in Minke whale sightings in the Hebrides reached an all-time high in 2023, but basking shark sightings were recorded low. The findings of a 20-year monitoring program done by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust point to a possible link between the changes in these two species. Data demonstrates that while basking shark seeing rates are high, minke whale sightings are low, and vice versa.

Record Minke Whale Sightings Contrast Sharp Decline in Basking Sharks

The Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland, are internationally recognised as a significant home for various marine animals, including whales, dolphins, and the endangered basking shark. The basking shark, the world’s second-largest animal, plays an integral part in marine ecology, just like Minke whales. Since 2002, the Isle of Mull-based nonprofit has been tracking marine biodiversity through trips, using its research vessel, the Silurian, and citizen scientists.

In 2023, the Surge in Minke Whale Sightings hit an all-time high of 1.57 per 100 km, with 167 animals observed—the most in the monitoring program’s two-decade history. In stark contrast, basking shark sightings have reached an all-time low, with only seven individuals confirmed in 2022 and 2023, corresponding to 0.07 sightings per 100 kilometres. The reason for this significant reduction is unknown, and the Trust stresses the immediate need for an additional search into suspected variables like global warming.

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Long-Term Monitoring Crucial for Marine Conservation

During the summer, Minke whales travel to the nutrient-rich waters off western Scotland, where they feed on phytoplankton and zooplankton, the building blocks of the marine food web. While the Surge in Minke Whale Sightings is encouraging, sighting rates might differ due to environmental constraints. Cetaceans, specifically Minke whales, face hazards such as mass strandings, vessel collisions, and entrapment in abandoned fishing gear, sometimes known as “ghost gear.” These threats lead to the decline of an estimated 300,000 cetaceans each year.

The drop in basking shark sightings is causing growing alarm. Rona Sinclair, a marine mobile species monitoring adviser at NatureScot, suggested that the decrement could be attributed to the availability of zooplankton, the sharks’ major food source. She also noted that the sharks might still be available but at higher depths, making them more difficult to identify. Sinclair emphasised the necessity of ongoing research efforts to understand better how basking sharks are doing and to ensure that suitable conservation measures are implemented.

Dr. Lauren Hartny-Mills, scientific and conservation manager at the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, emphasized the significance of long-term monitoring in determining the trends harming these species. She stated that continued research is critical for understanding the effects of climate change and other environmental stresses on marine biodiversity in Scotland. The Trust’s analysis, based on 49 research excursions spanning 22,645 kilometres between 2021 and 2024, underscores the potential impact of such data in guiding future conservation efforts. Almost 300 volunteers carried out visual surveys and observed marine life with underwater microphones, leading to over 3,000 sightings of ten distinct marine species of mammals.

The findings underscore the importance of ongoing collaboration between academics and conservationists in ensuring the protection of Scotland’s marine species, particularly in light of the environment and climate emergency. A new understanding of these ecosystems, facilitated by people’s collaboration, can help boost efforts to preserve the Hebrides’ rich biodiversity.

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