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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.

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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 🧪

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

Merry Christmas everyone, from the entire CRRU team! 💙

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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. 🧪

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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.

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

"Blotchy" has successfully raised 4 of her 5 previous calves, so we have high hopes for this wee one, and will continue to track the health and welfare of mum and her little one over the following weeks/months ahead. 🧪 #dolphins #bottlenosedolphins #cetaceans #research #conservation #science

Photo of bottlenose dolphin calf with its mother.

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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. 🧪

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

Further impact may also be due the increase in vessel traffic and associated noise disturbance caused by the proposed export cable corridors and landfall sites for new wind farm operations adjacent to this newly-designated MPA. 🧪 #whales #minkewhales #conservation #research #science #marinebiology

Photo of a minke whale in north-east Scotland, with birds in the background.

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

The nearshore habitats utilised by juvenile minke whales, for example, may harbour greater impacts from anthropogenic activities such as set creel lines (with pathological evidence of entanglement in creel lines being seen in as many as 50% of all stranded minkes in Scottish waters).

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

A better understanding of the movements, habitat preferences, behaviour and niche segregation of these whales is necessary to inform the adaptive management process for this north east MPA (see sitelink.nature.scot/site/10477).

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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.

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

Changes in prey availability, due to climate change or other environmental factors, can lead to reduced food intake and emaciation as well.

Photo of a minke whale in Scotland with its dorsal fin visible.

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

Last week we saw the first wave of newly-arriving minke whales to the Southern Trench MPA (Marine Protected Area). Several of the animals were evidently underweight, distinguishable from their projecting vertebrae, which could clearly be seen along their backs.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

New light on the function of the raised, epidermal tubercles on the leading edge of the dorsal fin (shown in the attached image) also suggests an anatomical role in sexual behaviour.

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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! 💙

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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 ☀️

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