Research

During our tours we record sightings of marine megavertebrates, including whales, dolphins, sharks, ocean sunfish and Atlantic bluefin tuna. We also track the route of our boat. Using this information we can calculate the number of animals observed in a given area relative to the time spent travelling there. This allows us to identify locations where animals are consistently seen.

By combining these sightings with data on environmental conditions, we can build a clearer picture of what makes certain areas important for these species. Tracking our survey routes is equally important, as it enables us to identify areas where animals are not observed. By comparing the conditions in areas with high animal sightings to those where none are recorded, we can determine the factors attracting wildlife to specific locations and gain a better understanding of their ecology.

An example of a habitat model prediction. This one is for Risso’s dolphins.

We use various ecological models to analyse this data and produce maps predicting the relative likelihood of animals occurring in different parts of our study area. A key focus of our research is understanding how distribution hotspots change over time. In particular, we investigate how tidal processes vary throughout the tidal cycle and how these changes influence the locations where animals are found. This enables us to predict where certain species might be present at different times.

An example of a habitat model prediction. This one is for harbour porpoises and shows a predicted distribution at the time of high water in Penzance.

This research is crucial for assessing how important habitats for marine megavertebrates overlap with areas of fishing activity, helping to identify potential risks of entanglement in nets. It also allows us to pinpoint areas where collision risks may be highest due to fast-moving boat traffic or where future construction projects could pose threats to marine life.

During our tours we take photos of the animals we encounter. Some have distinctive scars, marks or patterns that allow us to identify them. By comparing photos taken over time, we can determine whether an individual animal regularly visits the same area. Photos can also be compared across different locations to understand the extent of their movements. If enough marked individuals are recorded over a wide area, statistical calculations can provide estimates of population size and determine whether a population is open or closed.
This research helps us understand how marine animals use our seas, which in turn supports informed conservation decisions tailored to their needs.

We have been involved in photo identification research of bottlenose dolphins since 2007. Our research played a key role in the formation of the group now known as the South Coast Bottlenose Dolphin Consortium, and Duncan continues to attend its regular meetings.
This project focuses on tracking the movements of what we describe as the South Coast’s Inshore Pod of bottlenose dolphins. These dolphins can be classified as either inshore or offshore variants, with inshore dolphins adapting to near-coastal environments and offshore dolphins developing behaviours suited to deeper waters.
In the UK, four resident populations of inshore bottlenose dolphins have been identified: in Cardigan Bay, the Moray Firth, Barra in the Outer Hebrides, and along the south coast of England. Our work contributed to the recognition of the south coast population. Photo identification research has shown that these dolphins are travelling further east and visiting the Cornish coast less frequently. The population is estimated to consist of around 40 individuals.

We are happy to collaborate with other researchers. Please feel free to get in touch for access to our catalogue.

We have been involved in photo identification research of Risso’s dolphins since 2008 and currently have a catalogue of over 400 marked individuals. By collaborating with organisations such as Seawatch Foundation, Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch, and Association AL LARK in Brittany, we have identified movements of dolphins between Mount’s Bay, north-west Wales, and the Isle of Man. So far, we have found no matches with Brittany, but we continue to compare catalogues.

Risso’s dolphins have scratches and patterns on their bodies and fins which can make them easy to identify. These marks can change over time so it’s useful to highlight more than one identifying mark for each animal.

We are happy to collaborate with other researchers. Please feel free to get in touch for access to our catalogue.

We photograph the seals we encounter during our tours and collaborate with the Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust to better understand how seals use the Cornish coast and beyond. Seals are capable of travelling great distances, and to date, the furthest recorded Cornish photo match is from the southern reaches of the Bay of Biscay. One individual was photographed near Biarritz and then spotted again three weeks later near St Michael’s Mount.

Here is a list of our Scientific Publications:

1. de Boer, M. N. et al. Jones, D, Jones, H and Knee, B (2018) Spatial and Temporal Baseline Information on Marine Megafauna-Data Facilitated by a Wildlife Tour Operator. Open Journal of Marine Science. 08(01), pp. 76–113. doi: 10.4236/ojms.2018.81005.

2. de Boer, M., Jones, D. and Jones, H. (2017). Ocean Wanderers – Extralimital Encounters with Bowhead Whales (Balaena mysticetus) in Temperate European Shallow Waters. Aquatic Mammals. 43. 279-288. 10.1578/AM.43.3.2017.279.

3. Brereton T, Jones D, Leeves K, Lewis K, Davies R, Russel T. (2017). Population structure, mobility and conservation of common bottlenose dolphin off south-west England from photo-identification studies. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 2018;98(5):1055-1063. doi:10.1017/S0025315417000121

4. Horton, T. W., Block, B. A., Davies, R., Hawkes, L. A., Jones, D. O., Jones, H., Leeves, K., Maoiléidigh, N., Righton, D., van der Kooij, J., Wall, D., Witt, M. J. (2021). Evidence of increased occurrence of Atlantic bluefin tuna in territorial waters of the United Kingdom and Ireland, ICES Journal of Marine Science, Volume 78, Issue 5, August 2021, Pages 1672–1683, https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsab039

5. Jones, A., Hosegood, P., Wynn, R., De, B., Butler-Cowdry, S., & Embling, C. (2014) Fine-scalehydrodynamics influence the spatio-temporal distribution of harbour porpoises at a coastal hotspot,Progress in Oceanography, 128, pp. 30-48. Available at: 10.1016/j.pocean.2014.08.002