Dolphins, whales and porpoises

The waters around Scotland are among the finest in Europe for seeing dolphins, whales and porpoises, collectively known as cetaceans.

More than 20 cetacean species can be seen in Scottish waters, but seven species are relatively common close to our coasts:

bottlenose dolphin
harbour porpoise
minke whale
white-beaked dolphin
Risso’s dolphin
common dolphin
orca (killer whale)

Harbour porpoise

The harbour porpoise is the

smallest cetacean found in Scottish waters
most abundant cetacean in inshore waters

Harbour porpoises tend to be seen alone or in small groups. They may form larger groups where there’s an abundant food source. They feed mainly on small fish species as well as squid, octopus and shellfish.

Harbour porpoise range widely around the coast of Scotland. The west of Scotland is home to a higher density of harbour porpoise than is found elsewhere. The Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC was created to protect the animals in this region.

White-beaked and common dolphins

White-beaked dolphins are found throughout northern European waters. In Scotland, they’re most often seen in the Minch and to the north of the Outer Hebrides, in the outer Moray Firth and off the Aberdeenshire coast.

Common dolphins tend to be summer visitors to Scotland, and are mainly recorded here between May and October, when food is most abundant. They can sometimes be seen in large schools and are highly acrobatic, often leaping clear of the water.

Orca

Orcas (killer whales) are the largest species of dolphin. Their distinctive black-and-white coloration makes them easy to recognise. Orcas can be seen in coastal waters off the west coast of Scotland and in the Northern Isles. Some groups of orca feed on fish, while others target seals.

Threats to cetaceans

Threats include:

chemical pollution – when ingested, chemicals can build up in the blubber
entanglement – minke whales, in particular, may become entangled in nets, ropes and lines
collisions – with shipping vessels, marine renewable devices and other infrastructure
noise pollution – noise made by marine traffic, seismic testing for oil and gas, military activities, construction, acoustic deterrent devices and other sources can cause injury and disturbance
disturbance – while it’s great to see dolphins and whales from a boat, too much attention from boats can disturb and displace them from feeding areas