Marine & Wildlife

Wild Bottlenose Dolphin UK Welfare

UK resident bottlenose dolphin populations face welfare pressures from boat disturbance, entanglement, pollution and prey depletion that require coordinated management.

Key Facts

The Moray Firth population of approximately 200 bottlenose dolphins is the UK's largest resident group
Boat disturbance causes repeated displacement from resting and feeding areas
Wildlife watching guidelines recommend minimum distances of 100 metres from cetaceans
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) persist in dolphin blubber at levels that compromise immune function
Salmon decline in the Moray Firth reduces prey availability for resident dolphins

Welfare Considerations

Bottlenose dolphin welfare in UK waters requires coordinated management of multiple simultaneous threats. Respectful wildlife watching and pollution reduction are the most tractable individual actions.

What You Can Do

Follow WiSe scheme guidelines when watching dolphins from boats or land
Choose sustainably caught salmon to reduce competition for dolphin prey fish
Support Wild Dolphin Watching Scotland and equivalent responsible tourism operators