Grantee: British Divers and Marine Life Rescue – Skye & Lochalsh

Duration: January – December 2025

Our unique marine wildlife – such as seals, whales, and dolphins – are often found in trouble around the coastline. Incidents can occur due to a number of causes, such as injury, illness, entanglement or disorientation.

British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) respond to these emergency situations through a network of regional voluntary teams. One of these teams, BDMLR Skye and Lochalsh, covers a vast geographical area which includes Skye, Lochalsh, Knoydart and the Small Isles. They are trained to respond to an increasing number of call-outs at a moments notice.

Photos courtesy of BDMLR Skye and Lochalsh.

The Project

This £7,000 grant will support the work of BDMLR Skye & Lochalsh in three main areas:

Upgrading kit

Incidents that involve refloating whales and dolphins require volunteers to spend long periods of time in the water – but the current set of communal drysuits are damaged and require upgrading. Further kit – including lifejackets, helmets and basic rescue kit – is also in need of replacement to ensure that rescue activities can continue as they respond to additional call-outs.

Community outreach

The public play a vital role in reporting potential cases to the BDMLR, so a dedicated programme in 2025 will focus on education and awareness raising, through talks and outreach materials.

Recruitment and training

There is a major ‘coverage gap’ around the Small Isles of Eigg, Muck, Rùm and Canna. Through outreach efforts and training courses, the team aims to engage and recruit individuals, improving the future outcome of cases occurring in these areas.