An oceanic species in coastal habitats: Risso's dolphin distribution in Scottish waters and implications for conservation management

里索的海豚通常居住在大陆架以外的近海栖息地，在那里它们以浅海和海洋鱿鱼为食。然而，在英国，特别是在苏格兰西部，该物种也表现出沿海分布。这种分布意味着它们与人类活动重叠，并增加了干扰的风险。里索的海豚受到各种国家和国际法规的保护，是苏格兰海域的优先海洋特征。2020年，在刘易斯岛外为该物种建立了自然保护海洋保护区(东北部刘易斯兆帕)，这代表了一个持续高密度的地区，也证明了它可以被用作产卵和哺育区域。这项研究旨在提高对里索海豚利用海岸栖息地的了解。了解里索的海豚为什么占据沿海水域，以及它们在那里做了什么，是量化风险和这些近岸地区的重要性的关键。这项跨学科研究的结果将使监管机构能够更好地监控里索海豚，无论是在《海洋保护区》之内还是之外，并确保它们在苏格兰水域的长期保护，从而促进苏格兰周围日益城市化的沿海地区产业的可持续发展和经济增长。

Risso's dolphins generally occupy offshore habitats beyond the continental shelf, where they forage on neritic and oceanic squid. However, in the UK, and off western Scotland in particular, the species also exhibits a coastal distribution. This distribution means that they overlap with anthropogenic activities, and increases the risks of disturbance. Risso's dolphins are protected under various national and international regulations, and are a Priority Marine Feature in Scottish seas. In 2020, a Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area was established for the species off the Isle of Lewis (North-east Lewis MPA), representing an area with persistent high densities, and evidence that it may be used as a calving and nursing area. This study seeks to improve understanding of the coastal habitat use by Risso's dolphins. Understanding why Risso's dolphins occupy coastal waters, when they are there, and what they are doing is key to quantifying risk and the importance of these nearshore areas. The results of this inter-disciplinary research will allow regulators to better monitor Risso's dolphins, within and outside the MPA, and ensure their long-term conservation in Scottish waters, thereby promoting the sustainable progression of industries and economic growth in increasingly urbanised coastal seas around Scotland.