Bottlenose dolphins are perhaps the best-known cetaceans found around Scotland. Photo-identification studies indicate that around 200–300 individual dolphins occur regularly in Scottish waters. They can be seen close inshore on both the east and west coasts, but are most commonly spotted on the east coast where numbers are also highest.
The emerging picture from ongoing studies is that the BND are continuing to move south, with some individuals staying in the Moray Firth, some found off the mouth of the Dee, some off the Tay and some being more eager explorers.
As surveys are largely carried out in the summer months it is less clear whether there is greater or lesser movement during the winter period. Moray Firth Special Area of Conservation (SAC) – a marine Natura site – was created to protect the bottlenose dolphins that use this important area year round.
Threats to dolphins include marine pollution (ingestion/entanglement and drowning), climate change impacts on food chain, accidental bycatch of fishing boats, disturbance and collision strikes by power boats, noise pollution interference with echo-location, and chemical pollution.
Harbour and Grey seals are probably visible offshore. There is a mixed picture on how well seals are doing around Scotland with greys doing fine but harbour seal numbers having been showing a decline on the east coast.