On the 25th of May, the IWDG Stranding Scheme received a report from a ranger with the National Trust of a dead minke whale that had stranded on Portstewart Strand in Co. Derry.
A volunteer with the IWDG stranding network was able to visit the animal to collect additional data, including taking additional photos and measurements. Her report revealed that the animal was an adult male minke whale measuring around 7.5m. Closeup images of the animals tail stock showed injuries consistent with entanglement, as seen in the accompanying photo.
Photo by IWDG Volunteer showing signs of entanglement.
Yet another example of the power of our amazing volunteer network. This evidence would have been missed had our volunteer not collected this additional data. Huge thank you also to those who reported the whale – please continue to report all stranded whales, dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks and sea turtles to the IWDG. Your records allow us to monitor stranding trends overtime, which in turn helps us to inform and advise government and industry.
Due to our long term stranding dataset which goes back to 1990, we are able to state that we do expect to see several minke whale strandings per year, with four reported so far this year.
Between 2008 and 2020, we received an average of 5 records per year of this species. The year 2021 was the peak year for minke strandings, with 14 animals reported. Although figures dipped to 5 in 2022, they rose again to 12 whales in 2023. Eight animals were reported in 2024.