Passengers on Scotland’s ferries have ‘some of the best seats in the house’ to see whales visiting the country’s waters.  

A survey by marine conservation charity ORCA has recorded hundreds of sightings of the ocean-going mammals in areas where Calmac ply their trade.  

 As part of their “State of Cetaceans 2024” report, ORCA analysed 330,000 kilometers of ocean in 2023, nearly 6,900 kilometers of which covered CalMac routes.  

The data, which will play a key role in identifying where action is most urgently needed to safeguard marine life, identified 389 sightings of 2,206 individuals from seven cetacean species – whales, dolphins and porpioses, on CalMac’s network.  

These included viewings of humpback whales, which were recorded twice in 2023; once on the Oban-Castlebay route and once on the Ullapool-Stornoway route.   

The Oban-Castlebay route was also the most prolific for sightings overall, with 1,118 animals spotted over the 2,089 kilometers of waters surveyed within this area.  

A bottlenose dolphin bow rides a ferry in the Sound of Mull.A bottlenose dolphin bow rides a ferry in the Sound of Mull. (Image: Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust)

Minke whales made a splash as a particular highlight across all the CalMac routes, but were particularly numerous in the Hebrides, on the western side of the Ullapool-Stornoway route towards the Isle of Lewis.   

Cetacean sightings were also high on the Oban-Coll-Tiree-Colonsay route, with 741 sightings representing four species including minke whales.  

This is thought to be likely due to good prey availability, particularly of small fish such as sandeel and herring.  

The complex physical environment of the Hebrides could also make these prey easier for minke whales to catch and explain their comparatively high abundance there.   

CalMac has been working in partnership with ORCA since 2017, with the charity undertaking vital scientific marine biodiversity monitoring from CalMac vessels while also educating passengers on the marine environment around them.  

ORCA’s relationship with CalMac, as well as cruise liners and freight ships, has a significant impact as the data collected plays a key role in increasing knowledge about this facet of the little-explored marine environment.  


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A large part of the monitoring work is undertaken by a dedicated army of volunteer citizen scientists known as Marine Mammal Surveyors, who devote their spare time to carrying out surveys from the ferries.   

ORCA utilises a survey methodology known as distance sampling, which enables it to collect vital data on cetaceans from opportunistic survey platforms like CalMac ferries.  

As the vessels use regular routes over long periods of time, ORCA can maintain a comprehensive and authoritative data-set specific to the areas where they operate.  

Lucy Babey, head of science and conservation at ORCA, surveying whales and dolphins on board a ferry.Lucy Babey, head of science and conservation at ORCA, surveying whales and dolphins on board a ferry. (Image: ORCA.)

Emily Meyer, CalMac Environmental Compliance Specialist, said: “We are very proud of how our long-standing partnership with ORCA has helped to facilitate crucial marine research in Scotland’s waters.  

“The charity has been conducting high-level, bridge based scientific cetacean surveys on board our vessels since 2017, and the data that has come from their work over 2023 has been fantastic to see. The observation and monitoring of our sealife and its welfare is underpinned by accurate, detailed information, and we’re committed to supporting ORCA as it continues to put Scotland’s underwater wildlife on the map”.   

Lucy Babey, Director of Programmes and Deputy Director of ORCA, added: “CalMac has given us the opportunity to monitor, and learn more about, the diverse and exciting wildlife around the Hebrides.  

“We are so thankful to CalMac and their wonderful ship crew for allowing our volunteers on board to collect this vital data, which will help us safeguard these animals and their homes for future generations. If you’re travelling with CalMac over the summer months, keep your eyes peeled as there’s so much incredible wildlife to be sighted.”