Researchers fae Heriot-Watt University hae fund dat mair nor hauf o da vessels operatin in Scotland’s coastal watters are missed by staundart trackin systems. Da study shaws dat anely 43% o ships ithin 10 km o da coast braidcast an Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal—da common tool employed warldwide for trackin ship muivements.

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

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

Maist o da missin data comes fae smaaer craft sic as unner-15m fishin vessels, recreational boats, an jet skis, dat arena required by laa tae carry AIS. Dr Hague noted, “Governments, conservation bodies, an researchers rely on AIS for modellin 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, dis models cuid seriously unnerestimate da true impacts, leadin tae ineffective management an conservation policies.”

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

Da researchers recommend supplementin AIS data wi land-based surveys an citizen science, especially in regions whaar mony vessels dinna braidcast. “Ideally, even smaaer vessels should uise AIS. Better data will help coastal communities balance tourism an idder activities wi environmental sustainability, aid researchers an conservation groups in deir wark, an enable marine planners tae implement mair effective regulations,” said Dr McWhinnie.

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

Published in Marine Policy, da study caas for da uise o correction factors tailored tae local vessel types, regions, an seasons whinivver AIS data is uised for assessin coastal impacts. “Scotland’s blue spaces are busier dan ivver, an ithoot improved data, we’re essentially navigatin blin whin it comes tae unnerstaundin potential risks,” concluded Dr Hague.

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