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.
Warm wishes,
Emily
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