Unfortunately, we are continuing to see an increase in stranding rates of some cetacean species along the Irish coast compared to previous years. We currently have a total of 295 stranding records logged in our database from 1 December to 18 September 2023, which includes one basking shark and four loggerhead turtles. This figure was
Ahoy, Mateys! On a sunny Saturday afternoon in early September, a small group of eager and budding marine biologists gathered on the pier in Bantry Bay. We boarded the Celtic Mist with excitement and wonderment, uncertain of how our week together would unfold. As we unloaded our gear into our snug cabins with functional bunks,
An Bord Pleanála has refused permission for the proposed Shannon Technology and Energy Park on the River Shannon near Ballylongford, Co. Kerry. The application by Shannon LNG Ltd was for a Liquified Natural Gas terminal to receive and process gas transported by ship from abroad. In its decision ABP made reference to the Shannon bottlenose
Many of our readers recently were following with interest the story of the trio of Northern bottlenose whales Hyperoodon ampullatus that were recorded in inner Bantry Bay, Co. Cork between August 19th to September 3rd 2023. This contribution is by way of bookending the story, while acknowledging there may still be a degree of uncertainty
Beginning of our latest survey onboard Celtic Mist was slightly different from others legs. Unfortunately we got stuck in Dingle for two days because of high wind, which is why the crew was fully reunited only on Monday (instead of Saturday like the usual). But staying on Celtic Mist in Dingle’s Marina wasn’t so bad
A few years ago the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) embarked on an ambitious expedition from the reassuring and familiar surrounds of the Irish coast to the far off and stark shores of Iceland. I mostly remember the follow up TV documentary made about this epic voyage aboard the Celtic Mist, especially as it
On Saturday, the 19th of August, we celebrated the National Heritage Week theme of passing down knowledge and skills through generation through our “Be a marine biologist for a day,” which took place at the Shannon Dolphin Center in Kilrush, Co. Clare. Beginning the day with an introduction to cetaceans, IWDG scientists explained the differences
Our scientific programme on Celtic Mist is still in full force, with leg 11 (already!) sailing from Fenit to Dingle. Our fantastic crew enjoyed sightings of marine mammals, such as common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, many grey seals around the Blasket Islands, and even a minke whale in Dingle bay. We also had sightings of breaching
After the last few weeks of surveying focusing on collecting data on the resident Shannon bottlenose dolphin population, our scientific programme shifted gears this week. We surveyed nearby the Shannon estuary and spent our nights in Fenit marina as the forecast was too uncertain to anchor safely overnight. We had various kinds of weather during
After persistent winds which battered the south coast over the past month Celtic Mist finally set sail last week on a new adventure. This week marked the start of the Shannon Dolphin Project surveys. These surveys concentrate on collecting data on the Shannon dolphins, a genetically discrete population, resident of the Shannon Estuary. But first