iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 11/05/2026

We have just released the first version of our Photo ID App for public use! 🎉 The Photo ID app is a research tool that can be used for photo identification studies, such as in longitudinal mark-recapture research. 🧪 photoidapp.crru.org.uk

The app allows for the grouping of photographs containing unique identification markings.

The app includes tools for editing and visually filtering photographs to help with the identification of marks.

Edge detection can be used to highlight edges, nicks, and marks for easier identification.

The app can be integrated with an analysis provider (such as a machine learning model) for convenient catalogue matching.

1135

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 30/12/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that Dr Kevin Robinson, director and lead researcher of CRRU, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to the protection of UK whales, dolphins, and porpoises as part of the King’s New Year Honours List 2026. #newyearhonours #kinghonourlist 🧪

1162

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 25/12/2025

Merry Christmas everyone, from the entire CRRU team! 💙

110

Reposted by Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU)

Oceana UK @oceanauk.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

🚢 Hidden vessels are threatening marine life in Scotland's protected waters 🚨 Nearly 2/3 of ships entering Scottish marine havens go undetected as they don’t use AIS, an identification system ❌ @whalesorg.bsky.social @heriotwattuni.bsky.social oceanographicmagazine.com/news/hidden-...

oceanographicmagazine.com

Hidden vessel traffic threatens life in Scotland’s MPAs - Oceanographic

A study finds two-thirds of vessels in Scotland’s MPAs aren’t using tracking system, exposing major gaps in protection for marine species.

0118

Reposted by Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU)

Open Seas @open-seas.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

It’s time to put the ‘P’ back in MPA: Marine Protected Areas in Scotland (and around the world) exist on paper but not always in practice. Here's what our #OceanWitnessReport uncovered ⬇️🧵🌊

122

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 09/10/2025

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

youtu.be

Stories from the team - Life at CRRU

YouTube video by Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU)

020

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 01/09/2025

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. 🧪

182

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 13/08/2025

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.

1218

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 04/08/2025

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. 🧪

Photo of bottlenose dolphin calf with its mother.

171

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 31/07/2025

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.

142

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 30/07/2025

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.

150

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 28/06/2025

A follow up on our recent emergency call-out to a group of sperm whales sighted in dangerously shallow waters within the inner Moray Firth.

122

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 20/06/2025

Yesterday (Thursday 19th Jun 2025) afternoon the CRRU team was alerted by the public to a group of sperm whales in the inner Moray Firth sighted in dangerously shallow waters.

210

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 24/02/2025

Porpoises (collectively known as Phocoenids) are a reverse sexually dimorphic group of odontocetes, where, unlike the majority of other toothed whale species, mature females are considerably larger than mature males.

100

Reposted by Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU)

Scottish Seabird Centre @seabirdcentre.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Hear from our CEO, Harry Huyton, about the importance of Scotland's spectacular seabird colonies and what must be done to protect them in this new piece published in @scotsman.com ⬇️ www.scotsman.com/news/opinion... 📷©️Nicol Nicolson

scotsman.com

Seabirds are Scotland's 'Great Barrier Reef'. We must get windfarms right to avoid calamity

Offshore wind development is essential and urgent, but this emerging industry needs to be ‘nature positive’ from the get-go

0116

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 04/02/2025

Come and join the CRRU webinar talk this week (presented by Dr. Kev Robinson) hosted by @rspb.bsky.social Aberdeen and North East Scotland The webinar will be presented via Microsoft Teams and is free to attend – to book simply email nesevents@rspb.org.uk Thank you! 💙

000

Reposted by Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU)

Oceana UK @oceanauk.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

FREED! A humpback whale entangled in ropes off Scotland has been freed thanks to BDMLR & local heroes. The whale is exhausted but safe. This is a stark reminder of the dangers marine life faces, let’s protect our #ocean! 🌊💙 www.expressandstar.com/uk-news/2025...

expressandstar.com

Rescuers free whale caught in rope off Skye

The humpback is said to be exhausted and British Divers Marine Life Rescue is continuing to monitor it.

14010

Reposted by Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU)

Scottish Seabird Centre @seabirdcentre.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Today we headed to Holyrood to meet our friends at @rspbscotland.bsky.social and give a voice to Scottish seabirds📢 [Thread]

1135

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 21/01/2025

Lots of hard work behind the scenes here at CRRU in the new year, in preparation for the upcoming research season ☀️

100

Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit (CRRU) @crru.org.uk · 26/11/2024

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! 💙

133