#MARINE WILDLIFE - The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has confirmed a new humpback whale sighting, this time in Northern Ireland. According to the IWDG, this is the third consecutive year that a humpback whale has been spotted in…

Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO Marine Institute and Mr. Liu Qing  Vice President Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation  in relation to Fishery science and technology during a trade visit to China with Mr.…

#TORNADO – A mini-twister, a  tornado or waterspout made a spectacular appearance off Bray Head, County Wickow this morning and was captured on tape and posted on youtube by user oifeno1 at the same time as a lightning, thunder and hail…

#MARINESCIENCE – A team of Scientists led by Dr. Louise Allcock, NUI Galway set sail onboard the RV Celtic Explorer 13th April 2012 to investigate biodiversity on the Whittard Canyon System. Whittard Canyon is a huge canyon system that spans…

#ISLAND NEWS – A beacon is due to be lit early this afternoon (2 – 3pm) on Cape Clear Island, marking the 100th anniversary today of the RMS Titanic's departure from Cobh (Queenstown) where the doomed liner continued on her…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - Sailors, fishermen and SCUBA divers in England's West Country could face "tough new restrictions" if plans for conservation zones in the Irish Sea and around the UK coast go ahead. According to This Is Cornwall, groups representing…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - This past weekend saw confirmation that two humpback whales have made an unseasonal visit to Irish waters. As previously noted on Afloat.ie, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) had received reports of a sighting of the…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - The mystery disappearance of an allegedly rare whale carcass from a Co Clare beach last week has been solved. As The Irish Times reports, Clare County Council admitted yesterday that the "badly decomposed whale" was removed from…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - At least two humpback whales have been spotted by birdwatchers off Galley Head in West Cork, according to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). "This is the first time since the large whale project commenced in…

#ISLAND NEWS - Writing in the Boston Globe recently, Cork native Thomas Breathnach extols the virtues of the Aran Islands as "a bastion of native culture". "The country’s roughest seas and 1,000 miles of ancient stone walls have successfully preserved…

Energy Minister, Pat Rabbitte has welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on offshore renewable energy research cooperation with the United States Department of Energy. The memorandum was signed on his behalf in Washington last week during the Taoiseach's…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - A meeting of the Northern Ireland Marine Task Force (NIMTF) last week brought together interests from across the spectrum to discuss the new Marine Bill and ensure it will "deliver for all sea users". The workshop at…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - Staff and students from the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology spotted an black-browed albatross in what was a "very rare" sighting of the bird in Ireland's skies, The Irish Times reports. The group was on board the State…

#COASTAL NOTES - Bantry Bay has reached its capacity for salmon farming, says the committee formed to oppose a proposed new facility at Shot Head. Save Bantry Bay has called a public meeting for supporters tonight (24 March) at Eccles…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - Northern Ireland's Green Party has warned that "rogue" anglers may shoot seals that are consuming their fish stocks unless they are relocated, the Belfast Telegraph reports. The protected seals have been getting into the River Quoile in…

#MARINE WILDLIFE - Two killer whales have been spotted near Kinsale in recent weeks, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) reports. Two separate sightings of the orca pair near Barry's Head have been confirmed by the group, via photos…