The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society has called for a freeze on allowing new tour boats operating in the Inner Moray Firth until further research regarding the effects on local dolphins has been carried out.

The call comes during on-going talks to allow four commercial operators, including two eco-tourism boat companies, access to the water out of Inverness Marina.

The WDCS believes the additional traffic on the water could exceed safe limits for the UK’s most northerly group of bottle-nosed dolphins that live in the firth’s area of conservation.

The organization says the decision is being made based on commercial benefits alone, and people aren’t considering the potential risks for the 130-dolphin colony, and is calling on the Scottish government to conduct additional research before making a decision.

“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,” said Sarah Dolman, head of policy for the WDCS in Scotland.

Dolman adds that an independent research study by St Andrew’s University suggests that the Inner Moray Firth is already at capacity with existing water vessels, and adding tour boats would be exceeding its limits.

Jamie Hogan, managing director of Inverness Marina, says a decision has not yet been made in regards to the additional water vessels.

By Taylor Turner

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