Celtic Sea Sensitivity Analysis Published The Marine Protected Area Advisory Committee has published their latest report Ecological Sensitivity Analysis of the Celtic Sea to inform future designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Commissioned by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage the report describes the scientific analysis “to provide rationales and recommendations for the
A coalition of Ireland’s leading environmental NGOs has strongly criticised the government for failing to publish key legislation that would protect Irish seas and help tackle the twin climate and biodiversity crises. Presenting a petition of 11,758 signatures from Ireland to Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD, the Fair
Water temperatures off Ireland’s west coast were unprecedented this April and May. A deadly combination of the climate crises mixed with the natural climate variability El Nino brought sea temperatures to their highest on record since 1850. Understanding to what extent this will affect waters off the Irish coast and its ecosystems remains to be
In recent months the IWDG, like so many other NGO’s in Ireland, has found itself at the receiving end of a fair amount of abuse on social media focusing around the twin issues of offshore windfarm development and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Last week however things took a more sinister twist, as what was initially
Authorities in Iceland recently decided not to grant a license to hunt fin whales this summer. Svandis Svavarsdottir, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, made the decision following an inspection by welfare officers from the Food and Veterinary Authority which found that the methods used to kill the animals resulted in excessive cruelty and were
The IWDG Cetacean Stranding Scheme has received a total of 122 reports between January and March of this year. The year 2021 was a peak year for strandings, with 200 animals reported during the same time period. Factors which may have contributed to 2021 being a peak year overall were the lockdowns which occurred as
Humpback whales found in Irish waters are known to travel in a north-south direction along the eastern North Atlantic, but one individual has unexpectedly been discoverd over 3,300 km nearly due west. On Jan 17th 2010, a humpback whale was observed and reported to the Irish Whale and Dolphin
A UK JNCC certified Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) course is to be offered on the 02-03 of March in the Atlantic Technological University Dublin Road Campus, Co. Galway. This course will be JNCC certified and is specific for the UK regulatory area and guidelines. This will be followed by an additional module for the Irish
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) with assistance from Vanishing Point (VP) is pleased to announce that we will be holding a Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) course from April 4 to 9 inclusive on the Beara Peninsula. Classes will be held on the pier in Castletownbere and practical recording sessions will include a short