In Europe seas around Scotland are riches for marine mammals. Scotland holds about 70% of Europe's population of grey seals and about 35% of the EC population of common seals, emphasising the important role that these mammals have in Scottish waters.

Around the Scottish coastline, over twenty species of whales, dolphins and porpoise known collectively as 'cetaceans' can be seen. These include common dolphins, minke whales and killer whales. Scotland is also home to the most northerly pod of bottlenose dolphins.