Atlantic Whale Deal this, Atlantic Whale Deal that… You may have heard the name of this project a handful of times if you have been keeping up with our blogs and ezines. For almost three years now the IWDG has been joining research vessels on the Atlantic Ocean for this project, but what is the
Atlantic Whale Deal: Leg 2 of WESPAS aboard the Celtic Explorer By onboard MMO Leah Moynihan, IWDG I spent three weeks onboard the RV Celtic Explorer as a Marine Mammal Observer (MMO), and it was one of the most exciting and eye-opening experiences I have ever had. As a newly graduated marine biology student, I
As part of the Atlantic Whale Deal, it is my job to identify surveys that have a high chance of encountering large whales. These surveys would greatly improve our chances of capturing footage of the cetaceans and their blows on the Sea.AI Sentry thermal camera. So far we had mainly joined the Irish RV Celtic
On the 17th of March 2026, Emilie De Loose, IWDG Atlantic Whale Deal project officer, and myself, Ailbhe Power, MMO and past IWDG intern, embarked on a three-week survey on board RV Celtic Explorer. The aim of this survey was to test the capabilities of the SEA.AI thermal camera (nicknamed Wall-E) in detecting whale blows
When it was announced that a second edition of the Acoustic Monitoring from Ireland to the Gibraltar Oceanic waters Survey (AMIGOS) was underway for the STRAITS (Strategic Infrastructure for improved animal Tracking in European Seas) project, we were quick to reach out to the chief scientist, Dr María Pérez Tadeo, to see if another berth
A trip to Lisbon to board the RV Celtic Explorer for a dedicated cetacean research cruise is a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of marine ecosystems. On the 20th of October, we set sail southwards towards the Strait of Gibraltar, equipped with advanced technologies, including the SEA.AI thermal imaging camera. This device will continuously
Atlantic Whale Deal: Mitigating Ship Strikes and Enhancing Carbon Sequestration in the Atlantic The IWDG are partners in an EU Interreg Atlantic Area funded project which aims to mitigate against ship strikes and enhance carbon sequestration in the Atlantic. The project aims to address these shared challenges by delivering innovative solutions that protect whales