Researchers fae Heriot-Watt University hiv fund that mair nor hauf o the vessels operatin in Scotland’s coastal watters are missed by staundart trackin systems. The study shaws that anely 43% o ships ithin 10 km o the coast braidcast an Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal—the common tuil yaised warldwide for tae track ship muivements.

Based on ower 1,800 oor o land an sea observations atween 2019 an 2024, the study covered nine o Scotland’s 11 marine areas an revealed significant regional an seasonal gaps. Maist o the data wis collected bi citizen experts fae groups sic as Whale an Dolphin Conservation Shorewatch in Shetland, the Hebridean Whale an Dolphin Trust, an the Community o Arran Seabed Trust yaisin a staundartised coontin method.

“This data challenges the assumption that AIS accurately reflects coastal activity. In some regions, ower 75% o vessel muivements gae unrecordit,” said Dr Emily Hague fae Heriot-Watt’s School o Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure an Society. In the Ooter Hebrides, for example, anely 20% o boats transmitted signals—even tho tourism, fishin, an aquaculture are vital there—compared tae 58% in the Orkney Islands. Alarmingly, in busy areas like the Forth an Tay ports, AIS data anely catches 8% o the real traffic.

Maist o the missin data comes fae smawer craft sic as unner-15m fishin vessels, recreational boats, an jet skis, whit arenae required by law tae cairry AIS. Dr Hague noted, “Governments, conservation bodies, an researchers rely on AIS tae model unnerwatter noise pollution, collision risks for marine mammals, seabed damage, greenhoose gas emissions, an ither climate impacts. Gin ower hauf o inshore vessel muivements are missin, thae models cuid seriously unnerestimate the true impacts, leadin tae ineffective management an conservation policies.”

Dr Lauren McWhinnie emphasised the critical role o accurate data for tae protect vital coastal habitats that support species like bottlenose dolphins, minke whales, an orcas. “Wioot comprehensive trackin, it’s challengin tae assess an mitigate the threits thae species face,” she said.

The researchers recommend supplementin AIS data wi land-based surveys an citizen science, especially in regions whaur mony vessels dinnae braidcast. “Ideally, even smawer vessels shoud yaise AIS. Better data will help coastal communities balance tourism an ither activities wi environmental sustainability, aid researchers an conservation groups in their wark, an enable marine planners tae implement mair effective regulations,” said Dr McWhinnie.

Volunteer Carole Davis fae WDC Shorewatch in Shetland added, “I’m prood tae contribute tae research that enhances oor unnerstaundin o vessel impacts an pynts oot the importance o citizen science in marine research.”

Published in Marine Policy, the study caws for the yaise o correction factors tailored tae local vessel types, regions, an seasons whanivver AIS data is yaised tae assess coastal impacts. “Scotland’s blue spaces are busier than ivver, an wioot improved data, we’re essentially navigatin blin whan it comes tae unnerstaundin potential risks,” concluded Dr Hague.

The findins represent a significant stap tae better monitorin an safegairdin Scotland’s coastal watters, urgin baith policymakkers an local communities tae address thae unseen risks.