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 deployed at four different locations in the Bay. Two are on the Burford Bank adjacent to the dump site and two inshore, with two acting as controls.
A short film http://consulting.iwdg.ie/iwdg-deploy-amar-and-cpods-off-dublin-port/ of the deployment onboard Dublin Ports workcat Rossbeg has been produced by Canola Pictures (see Facebook: CanolaPicturesIreland Twitter: @canolapictures). This provides a glimpse into the kind of work IWDG to ensure these very important national infrastructure projects do not impact on marine mammals, especially cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoise). Dublin Port are required to deliver a MMMP as part of their oplanning permission from An Bord Pleanala and our work is part of a suite of environmental monitoring activities underway. Please see http://www.dublinportabr.ie for more information.
CPODs being attached to mooring line AMAR ready for deployment CPOD attachment
IWDG provides consulting services to utlilise its experience and knowledge of whales and dolphins in Ireland. We feel we are best placed to deliver marine mammal mitigation, provide marine mammal risk assessments using latest sightings data and carry out Environmental Impact Assessments. Our team of qualified and experienced people can provide MMO services as well as dedicated visual and acoustic surveys. See http://consulting.iwdg.ie/ for more information and contacts.