On Saturday 23rd May the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group (IWDG) invites you to join us at a local headland or vantage point for Whale Watch Ireland 2026, between 5:00-7:00 PM. This annual event, now in its 24th year, comprises free and guided watches at 18 local sites as part of All-Ireland whale watch day.
There have been six confirmed species of beaked whales recorded in Ireland to date, all of which belong to the family Ziphiidae. These are elusive deep-diving offshore whale species, and the majority of what we know about them globally comes from the examination of stranded individuals. The most frequently stranded beaked whale species in Ireland
The Independent Advisory Committee (IAC) has published its Nature Restoration Recommendations, recognising that 90% of our protected habitats are in unfavourable conservation status, and laying out key areas of work to allow implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation. The cost to implement the Regulation in Ireland across land and sea is estimated at up to
I can’t be the only person wondering what’s happening to our humpback whales this year? A review of IWDG sightings data over the past decade (2016-2025) shows that during this period our first recorded humpbacks have been reported between March 2nd and April 20th, with a median date of March 27th (see graph below). At
Ireland boasts such rich and abundant marine biodiversity as well as a legal responsibility to protect it. The European Commission has recently sent a letter of formal notice to Ireland opening an infringement procedure for failing to fulfil its obligations under the Habitats and Birds Directives. The deadline for putting in place a network of
Ireland’s seas are home to whales, dolphins, seals, seabirds, fish, coastal communities and livelihoods. They are also under increasing pressure. For years, people across Ireland have called for stronger protection for our marine environment. Yet progress on Marine Protected Area legislation has been too slow. Ireland has committed to protecting 30% of its waters, but
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is running Live Stranding Response Training Courses this summer to train new volunteers and refresh the skills of existing responders across Ireland’s coastal counties. 📍 Sligo (Mullaghmore) – Saturday 25th April – Sold out 📍 Clare (Whitestrand) – Saturday 13th June – Book HERE 📍 Kerry (Ballinskelligs) –
The IWDG have published the proceedings from the workshop Examining Standards of Baseline Data Acquisition for EIA and Mitigation for Offshore Construction under the EU Habitats Directive. IWDG officers Patrick Lyne and Stephen Comerford organised the workshop at the European Cetacean Society Conference in the Azores last year, bringing together a group of international experts
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
Climate change and biodiversity loss are critical global challenges that undermine public health, ecosystem stability, and the well-being of humans and animals. As an island nation, Ireland’s economy, communities, and food systems depend heavily on the health and productivity of its marine ecosystem. Ensuring their long-term resilience requires the implementation of science-based approaches to assess,