During the survey 127hrs of survey effort was logged, with 66% of this in sea state 3 or less (not bad for October!). 115 sightings of nine cetacean species and one seal species were recorded, totalling 2,427 animals.
Species recorded were: harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), common dolphin (Delphinus delphis), bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus), long-finned pilot whale (Globicephala melas), Atlantic white-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus), minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) and Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus).
For the full daily sighting reports by Dave Wall during this survey, click on the “Ship Survey Unit” icon on the right of the home page, or under the “Sightings” banner above, then select “Ship Surveys” & the “Ship Survey News” link.
Agency: Fisheries Science Services, Marine Institute
Ship: R.V. Celtic Explorer
By Dave Wall. IWDG
Ship Survey Co-ordinator