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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU)

@crru.org.uk

95 followers 53 following 51 posts

Dedicated to the understanding, conservation, and protection of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in Scottish waters since 1997 🐬 🐳 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 https://crru.org.uk 🚨 Found a stranded whale or dolphin? Visit http://crru.org.uk/stranding

crru.org.uk

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Nov 26

Hello! 👋 We are a marine conservation charity dedicated to the study, conservation and understanding of whales, dolphins and porpoises in Scotland through scientific research, environmental education, and the provision of a voluntary veterinary rescue service for marine wildlife in distress! 💙

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 1d

Stories from the team: learn about life at Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) from Dr. Kevin Robinson, Director and Lead Researcher, and others from the CRRU team.

Part of a series of four short films of stories from different team members and their lives at CRRU. 💙🧪

youtu.be/Kc6dpeam318

Stories from the team - Life at CRRU

YouTube video by Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU)

youtu.be

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Sep 1

To read more about the extensive research being carried out by CRRU on these whales, go to crru.org.uk/research/pub... and type "minke" in the search box! 🧪

#research #science #marinebiology #whales #minkewhales #eDNA #cetaceans #animals

Scientific Publications

Since 1997, CRRU has published a plethora of research papers, government reports, conference proceedings and university theses.

crru.org.uk

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Sep 1

Having worked with these whales for almost 30 years now, CRRU's ongoing studies are incredibly important for the future protection of these presently "data-deficient" (and still commercially exploited) coastal balaenopterid whales that we so dearly cherish and love. 🐋

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Sep 1

We are also able to track the foraging patterns of the whales by recording each footprint location (left by the whale each time it surfaces and dives), from which eDNA samples are also collected for individual genetic analyses.

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Sep 1

⛵ In such cases, our approach is simply to "hang" with the whales, sitting most of the time with engines and sonar off, then moving with the animals as they relocate from one feeding patch to the next - allowing us to observe and record their unique feeding methods and individual entrapment methods.

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Sep 1

Other than recording individuals sighted during encounters (recaptures are highly informative to the site tenacity and movements of this meta-population), most of our research work (stable isotope studies, sex segregation, telemetry studies etc) is difficult to apply when the animals are feeding.

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Sep 1

This summer has been a poor time for minke whales in the Southern Trench Moray Firth MPA. There has been a notable lack of available sandeels for the whales, and until last week, we had absolutely zero encounters with the whales inshore. 🧪

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Aug 13

We have also suggested that the identification of groups containing "good mothers" would be highly desirable for conservation efforts for the future viability and protection of this potentially vulnerable northeast dolphin population. 🧪

#dolphins #bottlenose #research #science #conservation

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Aug 13

From our long-term studies we have established that there is a good cadre vs a poor cadre of mothers in this Moray Firth bottlenose population (see: assets.ctfassets.net/xe1w9sqtia79...).

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Aug 13

Introducing our 2nd newborn bottlenose calf of the 2025 season with her proud mum "Barbi" (ID#253)! 🐬

This new youngster (5th known calf for Barbi), was probably only hours old when we met her yesterday, as evidenced from its bent-over dorsal fin and uncoordinated surfacing behaviour. 🧪

Newborn bottlenose dolphin calf surfacing next to its mother. Fetal folds and a bent over dorsal fin are visible on the calf.

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Aug 4

"Blotchy" has successfully raised 4 of her 5 previous calves, so we have high hopes for this wee one, and will continue to track the health and welfare of mum and her little one over the following weeks/months ahead. 🧪

#dolphins #bottlenosedolphins #cetaceans #research #conservation #science

Photo of bottlenose dolphin calf with its mother.

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Aug 4

Some lovely news to start your week! 💙

Meet "Splatch", our first recorded newborn bottlenose calf (neonate) for 2025, born at the very end of July! 🐬

"Splatch" is the 6th known calf of ID#035 "Blotchy", who we first recorded back in 1997 when she was just a juvenile herself. 🧪

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jul 31

Further impact may also be due the increase in vessel traffic and associated noise disturbance caused by the proposed export cable corridors and landfall sites for new wind farm operations adjacent to this newly-designated MPA. 🧪

#whales #minkewhales #conservation #research #science #marinebiology

Photo of a minke whale in north-east Scotland, with birds in the background.

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jul 31

The nearshore habitats utilised by juvenile minke whales, for example, may harbour greater impacts from anthropogenic activities such as set creel lines (with pathological evidence of entanglement in creel lines being seen in as many as 50% of all stranded minkes in Scottish waters).

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jul 31

A better understanding of the movements, habitat preferences, behaviour and niche segregation of these whales is necessary to inform the adaptive management process for this north east MPA (see sitelink.nature.scot/site/10477).

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jul 31

Recaptures of known minke whales (see crru.org.uk/minke-catalo...) provide us with important information on the repeated, long-term presence and habitat use of these coastal whales within the Moray Firth Marine Protected Area (MPA).

Photo-ID Catalogues

The Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) is dedicated to the research, conservation and protection of cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) in northeast Scotland.

crru.org.uk

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jul 31

The team have all been working very hard with our beloved minke whales these past few weeks, and after long hours going through all the accumulated photo-identification shots, we have been finding some super recaptures of whales that have been in our long-term ID catalogue for many years now. 🧪

Photo of a minke whale in north-east Scotland.

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jul 30

This remains a focal objective of our ongoing and long-term monitoring studies within the Moray Firth MPA.

#whales #minkewhales #cetaceans #research #conservation #science

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jul 30

Therefore understanding the complex interplay of these factors is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies to better understand and protect these ecologically-important coastal whales.

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jul 30

Changes in prey availability, due to climate change or other environmental factors, can lead to reduced food intake and emaciation as well.

Photo of a minke whale in Scotland with its dorsal fin visible.

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jul 30

Last week we saw the first wave of newly-arriving minke whales to the Southern Trench MPA (Marine Protected Area). Several of the animals were evidently underweight, distinguishable from their projecting vertebrae, which could clearly be seen along their backs.

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jul 30

Emaciation in baleen whales can be a serious issue. However, it is not unusual to see this in these animals upon returning to their high latitude feeding grounds from their low latitude breeding grounds - especially in females, post-calving, visibly exhibiting their low energy reserves. 🧪

Photo of an emaciated minke whale in Scotland, with the outline of its protruding spine visible.

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jul 1

Thanks Manu, much appreciated 💙 Have a lovely week too!

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jun 30

Hi Manu, could this account please be added to the oceans/atmosphere feed! 🧪 We are a research non-profit with over 20 years of publications on cetaceans in costal and offshore waters in northeast Scotland and the wider UK (in addition to eDNA and other related work): crru.org.uk/research/pub...

Scientific Publications

Since 1997, CRRU has published a plethora of research papers, government reports, conference proceedings and university theses.

crru.org.uk

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Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · Jun 30

Hi Andrew, could this account please be added to the zoology feed! 🧪 We are a research non-profit with over 20 years of publications on cetaceans and related subjects: crru.org.uk/research/pub...

Scientific Publications

Since 1997, CRRU has published a plethora of research papers, government reports, conference proceedings and university theses.

crru.org.uk