Menu

Ireland's sailing, boating & maritime magazine

Marine Wildlife
UKSA trainees examine one of the oyster baskets that have been installed in Cowes
Following the launch of the Isle of Wight’s first oyster regeneration project in October last year, the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA) has now made it part of the sustainability modules on its education courses. UKSA worked in partnership with…
There is a French government temporary ban on commercial fishing in the Bay of Biscay to protect dolphins
France has announced a temporary ban on almost all commercial fishing in the Bay of Biscay to protect dolphins. As Agence France Press (AFP) reports, the restriction extending from Finistere in Brittany to the seas off the Spanish border will…
Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan
Flood risk management, biodiversity, seafood and water quality are among themes of the Government’s national adaptation framework on climate which has been opened for public consultation. Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan marked the opening of the month-long…
The EU’s Court of Justice
The EU’s most senior court has stopped short of applying overfishing rules across all EU fish stocks in a case taken by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) and environmental lawyers Client Earth. The EU’s Court of Justice has ruled…
The signature tail markings of a humpback whale photographed in Bermuda waters
A Bermudan whale researcher has confirmed that a humpback photographed in Bermudan waters is “Hookie”, which has been spotted in Irish waters. As The Royal Gazette reports, Andrew Stevenson of Whales Bermuda said this was not only the first match…
“We have entered a key year for biodiversity” - Coastwatch co-ordinator Karin Dubsky
Coastal nature protection, management and restoration is the theme of a Coastwatch seminar later this month. The seminar on January 24th in Trinity College, Dublin will focus on seagrass habitat and the Nature Restoration Law. It will also discuss progress…
A Puffin on the Saltee Islands off County Wexford
The seas off Wexford have been designated as a proposed new special protection area (SPA) for birds by Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan. The new SPA adjoins eight existing SPAs designated for this area and will cover over…
David Lawlor with oysters at Dun Laoghaire Marina. Lawlor is starting what may be a 15 to 20-year project with a pilot, cultivating a series of “oyster gardens” in several yacht marinas at Poolbeg, Malahide and Dun Laoghaire in Dublin
Diver, sailor and coffee distributor David Lawlor is not that mad about oysters – he’ll eat them out of politeness – but he is mad about what they can do as keystone species in stabilising marine habitats. That’s why he…
One of the dolphins filmed by Dun Laoghaire’s assistant harbour master on Monday morning 8 January
Dun Laoghaire’s assistant harbour master was quick with the camera when a pod of dolphins paid a visit on Monday morning (8 January). Dolphins like these are a common sight for boaters in Dublin Bay and beyond. But it’s a…
Researchers from the School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute at the University of Galway have been studying Dublin Bay tides over a seven-year period
Satellite tracking of “pongy” seaweed and algal build up has been developed by University of Galway scientists. As The Irish Times reports, local authorities can receive complaints of seaweed accumulation, particularly from Dublin residents who may confuse it with sewage…
Ken O’Sullivan’s extraordinary footage is now taught as part of geography and business studies courses in secondary schools
Marine wildlife documentary Ken O’Sullivan, who first filmed basking sharks “speed dating” off the west coast, has confirmed dates for his nationwide “Into the Deep” tour. As The Sunday Independent reports, O’Sullivan’s material is now being used on two Junior…
Dr Rachel Millar and Dr David Smyth of Ulster Wildlife with Belfast Harbour’s Simon Gibson at the new native oyster nursery at City Quays
A shellfish nursery recently installed in Belfast Harbour in an effort to revive the Northern Ireland capital’s native oysters is already showing promising results. Last month, hundreds of oysters were lowered into the water at City Quays for the project,…
A grey reef shark
Reef sharks were always thought to be in perpetual motion, but a new study suggests sharks can nap or sleep. The study is based on grey reef sharks in the Seychelles, and has been published in the Journal of Fish…
Increasing the resources of environmental NGOs will make an important contribution towards achieving effective future maritime spatial planning
An environmental network has been given additional funding of €1.1 million by Minister for Environment and Climate Eamon Ryan to “build capacity” in relation to planning for offshore wind. The extra funding of €1.1 million has been approved by the…
Puffin in flight
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has issued a direction regarding activities requiring prior ministerial approval within the site of the proposed special protection area (SPA) for seabirds in the North-West Irish Sea. As reported earlier this year…
Dr Atlan Lok, Dr Evrim Kurtay, Dr Aytaç Özgül, pictured with María Pérez Tadeo and Yaiza Pozo Galván, who are members of a research project, which is part of the EU “Strategic Infrastructure for Improved Animal Tracking in European Seas” (STRAITS) initiative, that will study the movement of sea animals at four strategic locations
Underwater noise levels and movement of marine mammals are being tracked in European waters by a scientific team led by Dr Joanne O’Brien and a team from the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway. The devices were deployed in Turkey and…

Marine Wildlife Around Ireland One of the greatest memories of any day spent boating around the Irish coast is an encounter with marine wildlife.  It's a thrill for young and old to witness seabirds, seals, dolphins and whales right there in their own habitat. As boaters fortunate enough to have experienced it will testify even spotting a distant dorsal fin can be the highlight of any day afloat.  Was that a porpoise? Was it a whale? No matter how brief the glimpse it's a privilege to share the seas with Irish marine wildlife.

Thanks to the location of our beautiful little island, perched in the North Atlantic Ocean there appears to be no shortage of marine life to observe.

From whales to dolphins, seals, sharks and other ocean animals this page documents the most interesting accounts of marine wildlife around our shores. We're keen to receive your observations, your photos, links and youtube clips.

Boaters have a unique perspective and all those who go afloat, from inshore kayaking to offshore yacht racing that what they encounter can be of real value to specialist organisations such as the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) who compile a list of sightings and strandings. The IWDG knowledge base has increased over the past 21 years thanks in part at least to the observations of sailors, anglers, kayakers and boaters.

Thanks to the IWDG work we now know we share the seas with dozens of species who also call Ireland home. Here's the current list: Atlantic white-sided dolphin, beluga whale, blue whale, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, Cuvier's beaked whale, false killer whale, fin whale, Gervais' beaked whale, harbour porpoise, humpback whale, killer whale, minke whale, northern bottlenose whale, northern right whale, pilot whale, pygmy sperm whale, Risso's dolphin, sei whale, Sowerby's beaked whale, sperm whale, striped dolphin, True's beaked whale and white-beaked dolphin.

But as impressive as the species list is the IWDG believe there are still gaps in our knowledge. Next time you are out on the ocean waves keep a sharp look out!