The IWDG is contracted by Dublin Port to deliver a Marine Mammal Mitigation Plan as part of the Alexandra Basin Re-Development. This plan involves monitoring of piling, dredging and dumping operations and long-term acoustic monitoring. The first phase of the long term acoustic monitorng using Static Acoustics (SAM) was enabled in December when CPODs were
Posts Categorized: News
On Jan 16th 2017 there was quite remarkable footage (below) and stills taken from Cork Harbour mouth which showed a pair of bottlenose dolphins attacking and presumably killing a harbour porpoise. These incidents are likely to be relatively common, but getting such compelling evidence is not. The event was documented and reported to IWDG by
The new Mammal Atlas published this week by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and National Parks and Wildlife Service is a huge achievement. Comiled over many years with the support of many organisations and individuals. The IWDG were key partners and are delighted to have been able to provide thousands of inshore and offshore cetacean
IWDG recently made a submission to the EPA regarding the application by Arkow Energy Ltd., Wicklow to to remove up to 99,999 wet tonnes of material over an eight-year term. Unfortunately we missed the deadline for submissions, which was on 7 January, and our concerns cannot be considered by the EPA. The IWDG were not aware
UPDATE: The latest news is that three common dolphins were found at Dungarvan but only two were still alive when found. Both of the live animals were in poor condition and one was confirmed dead later. The third dolphin moved inwards with the tide but was in poor condition and was still in the area
IWDG learnt about a number of seals and a cetacean washed up at Ardmore Co Waterford on Monday. We sent down a local member of our Strandings Network, Andrew Malcolm, who identified it as a harbour porpoise and suggested the cause of death was fisheries interactions. However, it has been reported that pair trawling was
Mick O’Connell, Strandings Officer with the IWDG is a lovely man but when you see his name pop up on your phone early on a Sunday morning, you know it’s not good news! Today, Sunday the 8th January, Mick rang to say Brian Langan was just after reporting a live stranding to the IWDG at
The IWDG are delighted to announce we have appointed Lorraine Bull as our new General Manager and Communications Officer. Lorraine has been a member of the IWDG for many years and attended a number of courses including the Cape Clear Whale Watching weekend and SMART sea training onboard Celtic Mist. Lorraine has a degree in Zoology
A little bit closer to home than Sri Lanka….. Recent sighting reports to IWDG suggest that the annual eastward movement of large whales, namely fin and humpbacks, along the Irish South coast is underway. In recent days whale watchers Andrew Malcolm and Ann Trimble from Ram Head, Ardmore Co. Waterford have had memorable fin whale
This year I have been fortune enough to spend my Christmas and New Year travelling through South India and Sri Lanka. It has been an amazing experience of social and cultural difference, culinary experimentation and a natural environment that at times has seemed unparalleled. But without a doubt, my most special and enduring memory will