A new Irish-led marine research mission has set off to discover strange new lifeforms that inhabit the deepest parts of our oceans. http://www.afloat.ie/resources/business/marine-science/ In collaboration with scientists from the UK’s National Oceanography Centre, the team sailed from Galway earlier this…

A Cork fisherman has described his anguish after one of three dolphins that recently made their home in the River Lee died in his nets. Anthony Quilligan was fishing downriver from Cork city with his father Simon when they were…

OCEAN2012 Ireland issued the following statement on the European Commission's proposal for reform of the European Union's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). "The Commission's proposal includes solid targets for the recovery of European fish stocks, including requiring that measures be taken…

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has validated 175 sighting records for June 2011. The most commonly recorded species were bottlenose dolphins, accounting for 28 per cent  of all sightings, followed by harbour porpoise (25%), minke whales (13.6%), common…

A mature student from the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology is taking part in the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group's Ship Surveys Programme. Irish Weather Online reports that Enda McKeogh is on board the Marine Institute's research vessel Celtic Explorer…

Today's Irish Times recounts a day in the life of whale watch operator Nic Slocum. Originally from the UK, Slocum traded tiring commutes to London for the peaceful life of sailing in west Cork 10 years ago, and shortly after…

Amongst the festival tallships lining Waterford quays, the RV Keary, a marine research survey vessel that mapped the estuary in advance of the tall ships arrival, will too be open to the public, writes Jehan Ashmore. Work to map the…

It's never been easier to own your own private island, with some going for less than €200,000, according to The Irish Times. http://www.afloat.ie/resources/island-news/ Cork-based estate agent Dominic Daly currently has islands on his books in west Cork, Donegal and the…

A new EU-funded project is tracking the movements of seabirds along the Atlantic coastlines of Ireland, the UK, France, Spain and Portugal. The Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment (FAME) project aims to pinpoint areas that are important for Europe's…

Hundreds of schoolchildren protested at Stormont last week to call for new laws to protect Northern Ireland's coastal waters, the Belfast Telegraph reports. The group handed a petition with 4,000 signatures to Environment Minister Alex Attwood urging the introduction of…

The Irish Seal Sanctuary (ISS) is leaving Courtown after being unable to reach agreement on the lease for its premises. Founder and co-director Brendan Price told The Irish Times last Monday that the group had been "locked out" of its…

Killer whales and a humpback whale have been spotted off the coast of Northern Ireland in recent weeks, according to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). Irish Weather Online quotes the IWDG's Pádraig Whooley, who said three killer whales…

Racers in Dalkey and Killiney Bay have been enjoying the sight of three bottlenose dolphins who have taken up residence in the area. The trio has attracted much attention in recent weeks due to their playful antics, but the…

Ireland has ranked fifth in a new Europe-wide report on bathing water quality - but some beaches in Northern Ireland are falling short of strict EU standards. MEP Jim Higgins welcomed the results of the annual Bathing Water Report for…

Fastnet Line which runs the Cork-Swansea port route on the Celtic Sea, is assisting the charity MarineLife to monitor cetaceans, writes Jehan Ashmore. The work of MarineLife is to survey the population trends and track the movements of dolphins, whales,…

Cork gardaí are investigating the looting of items from a First World War U-boat recently discovered off Roches Point. The Irish Times reports that the submarine also appears to have been damaged by the illegal salvagers. A spokesperson for the…