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…

The latest product from sonar technology company Tritech is a mammal detection system for use around underwater turbines. According to the manufacturers, the Gemini SeaTec system uses a multi-beam sonar and image detection software to provide real-time monitoring and warning…

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is on alert a pod of pilot whales that narrowly avoided a mass stranding in Scotland heads south towards Ireland. http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/marine-wildlife/item/15720-pilot-whales-avoid-mass-stranding-in-scotland/ The situation has prompted fears of a repeat of last year's tragic…

Rescuers reports that a pod of around 60 pilot whales at risk of beaching in shallow waters off Scotland's Western Isles appear to be out of danger. According to The Guardian, the whale pod alarmed conservationists by swmming into Loch…

The crew of sailors, artists, musicians and historians on board Ar Seachrán - who are retracing the famous voyage of St Brendan - were refused permission to land on Skellig Michael, it has emerged. The Kerryman reports that though some…

Basking sharks have dominated recent sightings of large marine wildlife, according to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). http://www.afloat.ie/port-news/marine-wildlife/ The largest shark species in Irish waters accounted for a whopping 43% of sightings submitted to the IWDG's ISCOPE database…

The annual Blessing of the Boats took place recently at Rush Sailing Club, the North County Leader reports. Local priest Fr Kieran Coughlan conducted the ceremony, which took place away from the boats this year due to particularly blustery conditions…

Ballyvergan marsh is under threat after the discovery of an illegal pipe being used to drain the wetlands area, claims Coastwatch. The Irish Times reports that the environmental group has called for immediate action over the draining of the marsh…

An 'underwater kite' developed by a Swedish company could be a simple answer to harnessing the power of the sea, The Local reports. The Deep Green device looks like a toy kite with a turbine attached. But when tethered to…

Seaweed picking is just one example of many 'green' tourist breaks now available in Ireland, according to The Irish Times. Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa in West Cork offers a two-night 'seaweed experience' for those looking for a more responsible,…

Cork-based boat charter firm Whale of a Time has posted video on its YouTube channel of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) tagging a basking shark from its boat Mischief: Apart from whales, basking sharks are the largest…