Question reference: S5W-06328
- Asked by: Mairi Gougeon, MSP for Angus North and Mearns, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 18 January 2017
-
Current status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 26 January 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring and analysis it conducts of the number of cetaceans washed up on shores each year.
Answer
The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Marine Animal Strandings Scheme (SMASS) to collate, analyse and report data for all cetacean, seal, marine turtle and basking shark strandings around the Scottish coast.
The project provides a co-ordinated approach to surveillance of marine species strandings and investigates major causes of death of stranded marine mammals in Scotland including by-catch and physical trauma. It provides quarterly and annual statistics to Scottish Government and offers scientific advice as necessary about major causes of death in stranded marine mammals, including any trends or unusual events.
Details about the Scottish Scheme can be found at http://www.strandings.org/smass/about/