The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) was delighted to attend the official launch of the ACCLIMATISE project at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) headquarters in Belfast on Thursday 26th March.
Representing IWDG at the event were Citizen Science Officer Jo Green and Science Officer Jack O’Callaghan, alongside project partners from across Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), ACCLIMATISE (A Changing Climate Impact Monitoring and Assessment Toolbox for Irish Seas) is a €7.1 million PEACEPLUS-funded initiative that will bring together leading scientific and environmental organisations to better understand and respond to the impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.
A key element of the project will focus on improving knowledge of marine predators, including bottlenose dolphins, and strengthening the evidence base needed to support their conservation and management across Irish waters.
IWDG will play a central role in this work through the development and expansion of citizen science approaches, led by Jo Green. Building on IWDG’s long-standing public participation programmes, the project will enhance how sightings and observational data are collected, structured and used to inform research and policy.
This work will contribute to a greater understanding of bottlenose dolphin distribution, connectivity and habitat use, particularly across cross-border regions. It will also support the development of coordinated monitoring approaches and action plans for the species at an all-island level.
Jo Green will lead efforts to engage coastal communities, stakeholders and citizen scientists, helping to build capacity in marine monitoring and strengthen the connection between people and their local marine environment. Through outreach, training and collaboration, ACCLIMATISE aims to empower communities to play an active role in shaping the future of Ireland’s seas.
Speaking following the launch, Jo Green said:
“Citizen science has always been at the heart of IWDG’s work. ACCLIMATISE gives us an opportunity to build on that foundation, improving how data are collected and used, while also strengthening engagement with coastal communities. By working together across the island, we can develop a much clearer picture of bottlenose dolphin populations and ensure that this knowledge feeds directly into conservation and management.”
The launch event marked the beginning of a four-year collaborative effort to develop new monitoring tools, ecosystem models and decision-support systems for marine planning under a changing climate.
IWDG looks forward to working closely with partners to ensure that citizen science and cetacean research play a key role in delivering meaningful outcomes for biodiversity and coastal communities.
Thank you to AFBI and SEUPB