Towards improved conservation of the east coast of Scotland bottlenose dolphin population: quantifying and understanding a major range expansion into northeast England

Successful conservation planning for protected populations requires robust information on distributional range, abundance and population trends. Since 1989 the east coast Scotland bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population has been monitored by the University of Aberdeen’s Lighthouse Field Station and the Sea Mammal Research Unit in two main study areas: the Moray Firth Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Tay estuary and adjacent waters. The population is currently undergoing a major range expansion from Scotland into northeast England, as indicated from public sightings and citizen science photographic data. However, there is a lack of empirical data on abundance and distribution of bottlenose dolphins south of the Scotland-England border. This presents a challenge to assessing the conservation status of this protected population, which is required by law under respective Habitats Regulations in England and Scotland.