The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group advocate for a better understanding of cetaceans and their habitats through education and research. We believe that the first step in becoming an ocean literate and informed society, starts with our youngest citizens. We are delighted to announce a new educational resource for young and aspiring marine biologists, Ireland’s
Tá borradh faoi thionscal an fhuinnimh in-athnuaite mhara tuartha sna blianta amach romhainn agus sprioctháirgeadh de 5GW d’fhuinnimh gaoithe amach ón gcósta faoi 2030 agus 30 GW faoi 2050. Tacaíonn Grúpa Faire na Míolta Móra agus na nDeilfeanna (IWDG) le dícharbónú gheilleagar na hÉireann, ach é sin ráite, ba cheart go ndéanfaí aon fhorbairt amach
Sperm whales are one of the most abundant great whale species in the deep waters of offshore Ireland, according to a new study by the Scotland-based Sea Mammal Research Unit Consulting (SMRU Consulting) and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT). The study, published recently in the Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, estimated there is a
Update 17 November 2020 Willy Aubin reports: “Stranding fin whale series continued Saturday 14 November with another case of stranding in St Hilaire de Riez, a 15.8m, male (without the tail, which was taken on the beach, we do not don’t know by whom ??). Again an extremely emaciated animal”. Willy also asks “with this
It seems hardly a month goes by without humpback whales offering us some new insights into their lives. This week was no different. On Sat. 7th Nov a pair of humpback whales were photographed by Ryan Leith off Whalsay, Shetland, Scotland. The images were seen by Nick Masset on social media and he immediately felt
Press Release 11 November 2020 McConalogue lodges legal appeal against Court decision to allow large trawlers fish inside Ireland’s six mile zone In December 2018, following a public consultation process in which over 900 submissions were received, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine announced that vessels over 18 metres will be excluded from trawling
It was January, 1988. We were bobbing in a cold, murky sea, rain hitting my diving mask at 45 degrees. We had been floating there for what seemed ages when poof, a large grey mound of blubber surfaced right next to us, out of nowhere. The dolphin repeated this three times then was gone. It
The reason a rare Sowerby’s Beaked Whale live stranded and died in Wicklow Harbour on 4 July 2020 is not known. Despite a full post-mortem being carried out at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine laboratory facilities at Backweston, the cause of death could not be determined. Dr Simon Berrow of the Irish
Entanglement of whales in fishing gear is an increasing issue worldwide. The IWDG have recently documented evidence of entanglement of a humpback whale in Irish waters. Humpback IRL#HB43 in the Irish Humpback Whale Catalogue was first recorded this year on 9 May spending off Toe Head, Co Cork. It was recorded three times in June
Role of the IWDG in Live Strandings IWDG are a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) who aim to promote better understanding of cetaceans and their habitats through education and research. We do this by the collection and distribution of data and collaboration with universities, government and research groups. We operate a stranding scheme which records the incidents