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BBC<\/p>\nSteven McKenzie and Aimee Stanton<\/p>\n
BBC Scotland News<\/p>\n
BBC<\/p>\n
Volunteers remove ropes from an entangled whale stranded on Raasay<\/p>\n
There has been an “exponential” increase in marine mammal strandings in waters around Scotland, scientists have found.<\/p>\n
The number of whales, dolphins and porpoises getting into difficulty has risen from about 100 a year to more than 300 over a 30-year period.<\/p>\n
Researchers at the University of Glasgow said possible causes include chemical, plastic and noise pollution and accidental entanglements in fishing gear.<\/p>\n
More than 5,140 stranded marine animals were recorded in the study between 1992 and 2022.<\/p>\n
Strandings happen when a marine animal becomes stuck in shallow water or on a shoreline. It often results in death or injury.<\/p>\n
The study, published in Scientific Reports<\/a>, found a steep rise in strandings involving common dolphins and baleen whales – filter-feeding species that include minke and humpback whales.<\/p>\n The new research used data gathered by the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (SMASS).<\/p>\n Harbour porpoises accounted for more than half all the strandings – 2,676 – followed by pelagic dolphins with 1,217 incidents.<\/p>\n A total 494 of common dolphins and 479 baleen whales had stranded over the 30-year period, according to the research.<\/p>\n The scientists said deep divers, such as sperm whales, and pelagic dolphins showed a steadier increase in strandings since the 1990s.<\/p>\n Researchers said while exact causes were difficult to pinpoint, they agreed that human activities were likely impacting on wildlife.<\/p>\n Scientists said “predominant threats” were declining fish stocks, noise pollution, and entanglements with lost fishing gear<\/a>.<\/p>\n Other risks were habitat change due to warming sea temperatures, and chemical and plastic pollution.<\/p>\n A humpback whale was freed from fish farm gear off Skye in January<\/p>\n Rachel Lennon, lead author and PhD researcher at the University of Glasgow, said: “Fisheries interactions are recognised as a critical threat for marine mammals, especially for baleen whales in Scotland. <\/p>\n “As populations begin to recover from the impacts of historic whaling, reports of entanglement have increased. <\/p>\n “While determining the exact causes of strandings can be complex, identifying these emerging trends provides a vital starting point for targeting future research.”<\/p>\n
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Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/14a8dc20-7dc7-11f0-88a2-b9725373e32e.jpg.webp.webp\")
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