MEET THE TEAM

Sally Tapp joined us at the beginning of May 2025 as Scottish Officer.

She previously worked as Research Assistant for the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St Andrews University. Whilst there, she monitored harbour seals on the Isle of Skye during pupping seasons, collecting photo ID data for The Harbour Seal Decline Project; recorded sonar data to assist in development of an effective deterrent system to stop seals from travelling upriver to hunt salmon; and collected photo ID data as part of the East Coast Bottlenose Dolphin Project, investigating the southward expansion of the BND population into North East England.

Over the past 10 years, Sally has also worked extensively in marine conservation, surveying and recording cetaceans and other marine wildlife for the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts and others, across Scotland and England. Her work has focused on grey seals on Walney Island, bottlenose dolphins around Aberdeen harbour and harbour porpoises around Raasay and has contributed to the designation of Marine Conservation Zones around England and Wales.

Sally’s role is to travel around Scotland, strengthening the ties we have with various partners and our regional co-ordinators in the area, as well as supporting Orca Watch – our annual citizen science event based at John O’Groats.