English - Caribbean Environment Programme

East ScotlandSCANS II (in July, 2005) found the second highest density of minkes in the survey area offeast Scotland and the central North Sea (see Figure 4.19, below). The adjacent sector, coveringnorth east Scotland, was also one of the highest densities in the survey area. Density surfacemodelling of this data, which allows some investigation of distribution at a finer scale, predictedhigh densities of minke whales to be around north east Scotland, including the Moray Firth (seeFigure 4.20, below).The first SCANS survey which occurred ten years previously (also in July), recorded similarly highdensities around north east and east Scotland, the highest for the survey (see Figure 4.17, p.39).Density surface modelling this time predicted that south east Scotland had the highest densities(see Figure 4.18, p.39). The differences between the years may be due to variations in thedistribution and availability of prey species 280 . However, the results from both surveys indicatethat east Scotland is important habitat for minke whales, at least in July.An earlier UK-wide study identified the waters off east Scotland (from the north east coast ofEngland, north to Orkney) as an area with one of the main concentrations of minke whales 281 .A multi-year study (2001 to present) that takes place along the southern coast of the Outer MorayFirth also reports considerable numbers of minke whales in this area, although again, with somevariation in numbers between years 282 . Given that research effort is restricted to a relatively smallarea compared to the scale minke whales will be operating at, this fluctuation in numbers is notsurprising and has been commonly reported in other studies of baleen whales on their feedinggrounds 283 . It has been suggested that minke whales sighted here, and those sighted in the InnerHebrides on the west coast, may be part of one population that utilise both areas, favouring oneover the other in response to changes in prey abundance 284 . This is based on the observation thatincreases in sightings for the Outer Moray Firth in recent years have been matched by decreasesin the Inner Hebrides 285 . Also, initial comparisons of photos of minke whales from this area withphoto-ID records from the Inner Hebrides on the west coast, have revealed some possiblematches 286 . The suggestion that the east and west coast minke whale populations may belinked should be investigated, along with the factors behind the potential shift indistribution observed.40280Hammond, 2007281Northridge et al, 1995282Robinson, Tetley and Mitchelson, 2009283Robinson, Tetley and Mitchelson, 2009 (and references within)284Stevick, 2007285Robinson et al, 2007; Stevick, 2007286Robinson, Tetley and Mitchelson, 2009