938b7aafb7f3d7bbab6e4d6f917be693 English dataset Policy Officer Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) Shorewatch.data@whales.org pointOfContact 2016-12-02 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.8 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326 2005-present Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) Shorewatch Programme records 2016-11-30 publication 2005-01-01 creation Shorewatch http://www.whales.org The Shorewatch Programme trains volunteers to conduct land-based watches for cetaceans in coastal waters around northern Scotland. Shorewatch data is effort-based and collected from specific sites using consistent methodology. The complete Shorewatch data set contains effort and sightings from 2005 - 2009 (Spey Bay only) and from 2010 through the most recent completed calendar year from all Shorewatch sites. Longstanding sites can be found in Aberdeen, along the south coast of the Moray Firth, Inverness area, the North coast, the West coast, and the outer Hebrides. Pilot sites exist in some of the other Hebridean islands and on Orkney. Policy Officer Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) Shorewatch.data@whales.org originator Policy Officer Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) Shorewatch.data@whales.org custodian continual Delimited Marine Environmental Data and Information Network NDGO0005 Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-01-06 revision Cetacean behaviour Cetacean abundance SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary 2009-11-16 revision Data is freely available for use in teaching and conservation but permission must be sought for use if the data will be reproduced in full or part or if used in any analyses. Upon request data can be made available for research or commercial use providing that the originators are acknowledged in any publications produced. otherRestrictions The sightings data is visible on the NBN gateway / Atlas of Living Scotland but the full effort-based data set must be requested from WDC Shorewatch. English biota International Hydrographic Bureau, Limits of Oceans and Seas 1954-01-01 creation Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland International Hydrographic Bureau, Limits of Oceans and Seas 1954-01-01 creation North Atlantic Ocean International Hydrographic Bureau, Limits of Oceans and Seas 1954-01-01 creation North Sea SeaDataNet vertical extent keywords 2010-01-01 revision water column ICES Statistical Areas 2014-05-16 creation IVb ICES Statistical Areas 2014-05-16 creation VIa ICES Statistical Areas 2014-05-16 creation IVa -8.8537 -1.2951 56.8028 59.6695 2005-01-01 2016-12-06 Policy Officer Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) Shorewatch.data@whales.org distributor http://Shorewatch.whales.org WDCS Shorewatch database A link to the Shorewatch online data entry portal http://www.whales.org whales.org A link to the main WDC website dataset Local volunteers are trained up to carry out 10-minute watches for cetaceans from specific sites around the north coast of Scotland. A 'Shorewatch' methodology is to scan each quadrant of the survey area (left to right) for one minute with binoculars (provided) followed by a one minute naked eye scan and then repeat this process a second time. Watches can occur no more often than once per hour and take place as randomly or scheduled but not because cetaceans are known to be in the area. Casual sightings can be recorded outwith a watch at any time. Volunteers have attended a one day training on methodology and cetacean-ID. They use shared / provided equipment and enter the data into an online database or send in paper datasheets. Regular updates and trainings are provided.