The IWDG Cetacean Stranding Scheme has received a total of 122 reports between January and March of this year. The year 2021 was a peak year for strandings, with 200 animals reported during the same time period. Factors which may have contributed to 2021 being a peak year overall were the lockdowns which occurred as
Humpback whales found in Irish waters are known to travel in a north-south direction along the eastern North Atlantic, but one individual has unexpectedly been discoverd over 3,300 km nearly due west. On Jan 17th 2010, a humpback whale was observed and reported to the Irish Whale and Dolphin
A UK JNCC certified Marine Mammal Observer (MMO) course is to be offered on the 02-03 of March in the Atlantic Technological University Dublin Road Campus, Co. Galway. This course will be JNCC certified and is specific for the UK regulatory area and guidelines. This will be followed by an additional module for the Irish
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) with assistance from Vanishing Point (VP) is pleased to announce that we will be holding a Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) course from April 4 to 9 inclusive on the Beara Peninsula. Classes will be held on the pier in Castletownbere and practical recording sessions will include a short
The IWDG Sligo local group and the Mullaghmore Sailing Club are teaming up to deliver a talk to the local sailing community in Sligo about whales and dolphins. Sailors have a unique opportunity to explore and observe amazing wildlife while enjoying the water. Visiting areas otherwise inaccessible can have its perks if you know
It’s been quite a while since IWDG attended an industry show, but with a little encouragement from Sandra O’ Donovan, we took the plunge at last weekend’s Irish Skipper Expo, where all roads lead to the University of Limerick sports complex. The only fly in the ointment was that the show was right in the
The IWDG support the recent call by the ISWFO and the IFPEA for a 10 year moratorium on military exercises within the Irish EEZ. The IWDG support fishers right to work without feeling threatened by military exercises, additionally such a moratorium would also greatly reduce the threat these exercises pose to whales and dolphins. While
Report IV, Walrus update 20th Sept. 2021 IWDG have just heard of a walrus sighting yesterday Sunday 19th Sept. 2021 in Höfn, Hornafjörður, southeast Iceland and the images suggest that this is likely to be the same walrus aka “Wally” that was last seen in Crookhaven, West Cork on August 30th. We are awaiting further
On the 22nd August, a lone bottlenose dolphin known as ‘Nick’ caused a stir after being filmed interacting boisterously with swimmers in Hayle harbour, Cornwall, UK. At the time, marine conservation groups British Divers Marine Life Rescue and Marine Connection warned of the dangers to both the dolphin and humans, as these ‘solitary social’ dolphins
IWDG Cetacean Stranding Scheme Update; January – February 2021 Since 2011, the number of strandings during the winter period has increased significantly. These strandings have been dominated by common dolphins. Here, IWDG Strandings Officer Stephanie Levesque reports on strandings during the first two months of 2021, and puts these numbers into some historical context. Between January