Maps
The River Tay estuary is an extensive piece of water filled with shifting sandbanks and areas of rocks. There is a deeper channel along the south side of the river which is used by shipping traffic and also the dolphins.
One of the problems faced by the dolphins in the River Tay is the proliferation of watersports. The increasingly warm summers of the past few years have seen more and more people taking to the water in a variety of watercraft, many without any knowledge of how to react when encountering the dolphins. The problem is further compounded by many of the designated watersport areas being where the dolphins actually feed.
To try and combat this lack of knowledge, we have been issuing watercraft users with copies of the WDCS Cetacean-Watching Guidelines before they take to the water. The reaction to this has been largely positive and will hopefully help to bring about a safer environment for the dolphins.