The Shannon Dolphin Project has been running for 30 years, barely three dolphin generations. However. we have gained some knowledge on their movements and use of the estuary, identified important foraging areas, documented calving rates, adult and calf survival and understand a little about their social structure. This work has shown the estuary is a
The fin whale stranded near Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry was visited by IWDG Strandings Officer Stephanie Levesque under the Deep Diving and Rare species Investigation Programme (DDRIP). DDRIP was initiated by the IWDG in 2022 in response to a well-documented increase in recent years in cetacean stranding records reported through the IWDG Stranding scheme. These include
After 2000, and the designation of the Shannon Estuary as a Special Area of Conservation for bottlenose dolphins, the Shannon Dolphin Project settled down. Dolphin-watching had become well established with the launch of two purpose-built dolphin-watching boats. Following the SAC designation, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) based a Conservation Ranger in west Clare
Week number 3 of our new scientific programme on the Celtic Mist was, like the previous ones, unique and fantastic. Even if our first sailing day was rough, we were fortunate enough to spot a basking shark as our first sighting of the week, thanks to curious juveniles gannets circling above (birds are always
Looking for a weekend with a difference? Why not join the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) www.iwdg.ie, Ireland’s leading marine conservation NGO, on a weekend whale-watching course in West Cork during summer 2023. By taking part you will also be actively supporting whale and dolphin conservation and research in Ireland. Our 2023 residential weekends
MPA Finance Report is first of its kind in Europe. A coalition of leading environmental non-governmental organisations and networks has revealed that Ireland can save its ocean biodiversity by spending approximately €55 million between 2024 and 2030 to reach its targets of protecting 30% of our seas and ocean. Fair Seas has produced the first
Michael Viney was our best nature writer. Many have come before, and many are emerging, but Michael’s simple description of life in Mayo, living off his acre of land with Eithne and Michelle is untouched. His observations of Ireland’s wildlife and wild places were unique, always supported by current scientific knowledge and interpretation but wrapped
Hélène Quévreux, our new biologist for the 2023 season tells us about the latest scientific survey onboard Celtic Mist After a few busy weeks between floating classrooms, Cork Harbour Festival and the Fair Seas conference during the World Ocean Day, Celtic Mist is back out at sea. Like the previous week of surveys, forecast of
It’s been a very interesting few weeks for humpback whale research in Irish waters, as for the first time we can recall in almost 25 years, the humpback story has had a complete shift from waters of the Irish southwest to those of the northwest. A plot of all humpback sightings on our system produces
Hélène Quévreux, our new biologist for the 2023 season tells us about her first week onboard and the start of the new scientific programme! This week, Celtic Mist crew’s was spoiled! Not only we had had an incredible weather and delicious dishes all week (soups, sandwiches, pasta and all kind of vegetables!) but we had