A collaborative project is bringing together creel fishermen and marine scientists off Scotland’s west coast to explore a new way of listening to life beneath the waves.
Creeling for Sounds is a project led by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) that is trialling whether underwater acoustic recording devices can be safely and effectively deployed alongside working creel fishing gear. The community-led initiative aims to investigate whether this approach could result in year-round monitoring of whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans) in Scottish waters.
Taking place over the coming months, the project involves close collaboration with local creel fishermen, who are helping to test a range of deployment methods under real working conditions at sea. By attaching acoustic recorders to creel pots, the project will assess both the quality of the data collected and the practicality of this approach for fishermen.
HWDT hopes the findings will show whether this low-impact, collaborative method could be scaled up to support long-term monitoring of marine mammals and underwater noise across Scotland’s coastline.
“Cetaceans spend most of their lives underwater and rely heavily on sound to communicate, navigate and find food,” said Hannah Lightley, HWDTs Science Officer. “But winter conditions and limited survey opportunities mean we still have significant gaps in our understanding of how these species use our seas year-round.”
Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) offers a non-invasive way to detect cetaceans and assess changes in the marine soundscape, including the impacts of human-made noise. The information gathered is increasingly important for meeting national and international commitments, particularly in and around Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
From the outset, the Isle of Mull community has played a central role in shaping the project. Local people and businesses have donated creel pots for testing, while their practical knowledge has helped design robust equipment setups that work in real fishing environments.
During the initial trial phase, a local fishing vessel worked closely with HWDT’s science officer to test deployment and retrieval techniques, recorder positioning, and ways to minimise interference with fishing operations.
The project is designed to answer key questions, including whether acoustic devices can be safely used with active gear, whether fishing-related noise affects recording quality, and how manageable the process is for fishermen in day-to-day operations.
This project is supported by a grant of £29,937 from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund.
Sarah Brown, SMEEF Manager said, “At the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund we are always looking for exciting ideas like HWDT’s innovative Creeling for Sound project. Working with the creel sector they have identified an opportunity to use emerging technologies to increase our understanding of nature in really challenging habitats. They say we know more about the surface of the moon than we do about our seas and this is one small step towards changing that!”
The west coast of Scotland is internationally recognised for its marine wildlife, including harbour porpoises and minke whales, both of which are protected species and key monitoring targets within local MPAs. Fisher-led acoustic monitoring could help fill critical data gaps both inside and outside protected areas.
If successful, Creeling for Sounds could offer a model for long-term, community-based marine monitoring – strengthening both scientific understanding and relationships between conservation organisations, fisheries and coastal communities.
GET INVOLVED
Throughout January, February and March, participating fishermen will carry out deployments at sites across the west coast. Creel fishermen interested in taking part are encouraged to get in touch.
For more information, contact Hannah Lightley, Project Officer, at hannah.lightley@hwdt.org or 01688 30262
Source Morven Summers
