Polar Star - March - May 2024
Tuesday 19 March 2024
 7.5°C   S Fresh Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

Nature / Video shows seal taking refuge in mussel farm after being hunted by orcas

NEWLY released video footage shows a harbour seal attempted to evade a pod of killer whales by hiding in a mussel farm in Shetland.

The clever seal was caught on camera by local drone pilot Nick McCaffrey.

McCaffrey captured 38 minutes of footage of eight orcas hunting the seal, which craftily hid in between two lines of mussel ropes.

The seal eventually left the safety of the mussel ropes and headed into open water.

However, its luck ran out and it was quickly captured and dispatched by the orca.

The chase happened on 6 March in and around the Grunna Voe mussel farm off the east of the mainland.

The footage was analysed by Emily Hague, a PhD student at Heriot-Watt University.

She is researching the impact of human activities, including manmade structures like fish farms and offshore energy developments, on marine mammals.

“Interactions involving man-made structures are rarely, if ever, caught on camera,” Hague said.

“This makes this footage extra special and very insightful from a scientific point of view.

“It gives us a whole new perspective on how marine life, in this case two top predators, are living with manmade structures in our seas.

“It’s fascinating that these novel structures in the marine environment are potentially being used by prey to hide from predators.

“Interactions like this can also shed light on potential risks to marine mammals.

“Last year a juvenile member of this killer group died entangled in rope and was found on Orkney. If this group is spending a lot of time around marine structures, then this may have associated risks, like entanglement.”

The drone pilot and other wildlife enthusiasts were alerted to the orcas’ arrival by the Shetland Orca Sightings Facebook page and a dedicated Whatsapp group, both managed by wildlife photographer and guide Hugh Harrop.

These groups meant the drone pilot could trace their route as the whales travelled from just south of Lerwick towards the mussel farm.

Hague has published her full findings in Aquatic Mammals (Issue 48.4), out today (15 July).

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.