2010-03-05

'Own Goal' For Moray Firth Dolphin Watching Industry

WDCS has condemned the decision by Inverness Marina to allow four new commercial berths, including two for new dolphin watching boats, in the protected habitat of the inner Moray Firth, a move which potentially puts the Firth's resident (protected) dolphin population at even greater risk.

"As far as WDCS is aware, this decision has been made on purely commercial grounds, without consideration for the very dolphins that will be the focus of an expanded local dolphin watching industry," said Sarah Dolman WDCS head of policy for Scotland.

According to a recent independent scientific study by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Ltd at St Andrews University, the inner Moray Firth may already be at carrying capacity for recreational vessels. When you add commercial craft (including fishing vessels, dive boats, power boat schools and dolphin watching operators), it is likely that this capacity is being far exceeded.

The dolphin population is supposed to be protected by the Special Area of Conservation (SAC)", Dolman continues. "Allowing the dolphin watching industry to carry on growing without the benefit of solid research to demonstrate that such growth is within sustainable parameters is dangerous for the animals and a commercial own goal for the local dolphin watching industry.

The Scottish government has recently made a commitment to be Europe's most sustainable tourism destination by 2015. WDCS challenges the Scottish government to achieve this aim by funding the essential research that is necessary to demonstrate that the dolphin watching industry is sustainable and further, that it is able to meet the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive that protects the dolphins in the Moray Firth.

"We believe that no new operators, including at Inverness Marina, should be allowed to operate within the SAC until this vital piece of research has been completed", Dolman concludes. "Decisions about licensing and capping the industry can then be made, based upon sound science."