06 Jul 2021

Click here to access the quinquennial review section of the JNCC website. Guardian ‘Legal protections for wildlife and plants in the UK are set for a review that could result in some important species losing their entitlement to special status, ecology experts have told the Guardian.  Adders, slow worms, water voles, mountain hares, pine martens and red […]

08 Dec 2020

New sites to offer protection for iconic species.  Minke whale, basking sharks and Risso’s dolphins will be among a wide range of biodiversity and geological features to be safeguarded following the designation of four new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). A further 12 sites have been given Special Protection Area status, providing additional protection to Scotland’s […]

25 Feb 2020

Assessing the importance of Isle of Man waters for the basking shark Haley R. Dolton, Fiona R. Gell, Jackie Hall, Graham Hall, Lucy A. Hawkes, Matthew J. Witt Endangered Species Research Abstract: ‘Satellite tracking of endangered or threatened animals can facilitate informed conservation by revealing priority areas for their protection. Basking sharks Cetorhinus maximus (n […]

11 Feb 2020

A new report in the journal Nature by Lilian Lieber in a collaboration with many other has made some key breakthroughs in our understanding of basking shark populations and their migrations. BBC ‘Basking sharks travel migratory routes in groups of extended family, a new study led by Scottish scientists has suggested. Large groups of the […]

13 Aug 2019

Groundbreaking video by Exeter University team from the Hebrides – various feeds Researchers attempting to look at behaviour of backing shark aggregations underwater in areas where they also aggregate on the surface. Will they find evidence of mating? BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-49237808 Guardian Fin tech: underwater robot monitors sharks in Scottish waters 1.  ECO Magazine The ground-breaking […]

18 Jun 2019

Overview The Scottish Government’s vision is for a marine environment that is clean, healthy, safe, productive and diverse seas; managed to meet the long term needs of nature and people. Scotland’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network is being developed to help safeguard our most important natural and cultural heritage features on the principle of sustainable […]

09 Apr 2018

Largest aggregation sighted had 1,400 animals Ten large aggregations of basking sharks were identified between June 1980 and November 2013, ranging from 36 to at least 1,398 animals within an 11.5-mile (18.5-kilometer) radius of the central point in the aggregation. Data on breaching, circular swimming movements, and/or apparent feeding behaviour were recorded in seven of […]