Dear MARMAMers, I'm pleased to share our latest publication from the 'Scottish Vessel Project': 'Marine monitors: Land-based citizen science observations show AIS data underrepresents coastal vessel traffic co-occurring with marine mammals' published in Biological Conservation, which used 3 years of land-based citizen science data recording vessels seen at the same time as marine mammals to show that AIS data did not represent vessel traffic with marine mammals 70% of the time, with 59% of co-occurring powered vessels not broadcasting AIS. Furthermore, non-AIS powered (e.g. speedboats) and human-powered vessels (e.g. kayaks, paddleboards, skiffs) were the most likely type to have a response recorded (e.g. behavioural change). The paper discusses how best to monitor and manage this data poor fleet of vessels, given their increasing overlap with (and potential to disturb) whales, dolphins, porpoise and seals in coastal areas. You can read the full paper at the link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111284 Warm wishes, Emily Emily Hague ·.¸.·´¯`·...¸.·><((((º> Post-doctoral Research Associate BLUE CONNECT Project ·...¸><((((º> [UHI Shetland logo] www.emily-hague.com<http://www.emily-hague.com/> emily.hague@uhi.ac.uk<mailto:emily.hague@uhi.ac.uk> Tel: 01595771029 Find me on Google Scholar<https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=hs8dFYwAAAAJ&hl=en>, LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-hague-a55411110/>, Twitter<https://x.com/emilyhague/>, Bluesky<https://bsky.app/profile/emily-hague.bsky.social> shetland.uhi.ac.uk<https://www.shetland.uhi.ac.uk/> Scottish charity no. SC050701 This message is intended for the use of only the person(s) ("intended recipient") to whom it is addressed. It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Accordingly any dissemination, distribution, copying or other use of this message or any of its content by any person other than the intended recipient may constitute a breach of civil law or criminal law and is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender as soon as possible.
