Two passenger ferry vessels which operated on routes to the Aran Islands will be put up for auction next month, writes Jehan Ashmore. The sister vessels are the MV Clann Eagle I (2005/169grt) and MV Clann Na N'oileain which was…

Energy Minister Eamon Ryan will issue a decision "in the coming weeks" on Shell Ireland's plans to complete the Corrib gas pipeline, The Irish Times reports. The news follows yesterday's ruling by An Bord Pleanála which approved revised plans final…

The first ever Air Corps survey of whale and dolphin activity in Irish waters is set to begin today, the Irish Times reports. A survey team accompanied by members of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) were scheduled to…

A lost baby seal surprised workers at a plant hire yard in Strabane, Co Tyrone earlier this month, BBC News reports. Staff at WT Hire were put in touch with a seal sanctuary in Newtownards when the pup was discovered…

Whitecoat seal pups Snowy and Cecil were finally returned to the wild on Tuesday after their original Saturday release was postponed. The two seals, who were reabilitated by the Irish Seal Sanctuary at Courtown Harbour after being found on the…

The Irish Seal Sanctuary celebrated the release of six grey seal pups from two different locations last weekend. Dustin, Phoenix and Sean were released from Courtown Harbour, while Buddy Holly, Louise and Cookie were put into the water in Ballyferriter,…

Marine scientists yesterday welcomed President Mary McAleese on a visit to the Marine Institute headquarters in Oranmore, Co Galway. The President met many of those involved in the SmartBay project, a network of buoys that uses remote sensing technology to…

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has reported the sighting of a humpback whale new to Irish waters. Andrew Malcolm of the IWDG along with Martin Colfer spotted the whale just west of Dunmore East - a year after…

As artic conditions persist throughout the country, another shipment of rock-salt is due to arrive at the port of Cork tonight, writes Jehan Ashmore. The cargo-ship, CFL Prospect with 6,300 tonnes of salt onboard, set sail from the Mediterranean over a…

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group's (IWDG) recent workshop on the post-mortem examination of stranded dolphins and whales is hoped to encourage the building of much needed experience for Ireland's vets. http://www.iwdg.ie/article.asp?id=2430 More than 20 veterinarians from across the country…

Yacht clubs in snowy weather are even odder than snow resorts in summer. But in America's sailing Mecca of Newport, Rhode Island, there was a further inversion at the East Providence Yacht Club on Sunday night after the annual pre-Christmas…

Tourist anglers spent €89.9 million in Ireland in 2008, a marine leisure conference in Co Waterford heard recently. The importance of angling to the Irish economy was highlighted at the Rising Tide seminar in New Ross, an event focused on…

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has posted photos and video of last weekend's expedition to research the fin whales spotted near the coast of Co Waterford. SEE VIDEO BELOW http://www.iwdg.ie/article.asp?id=2429 The group encountered a number of fin whales…

The Heritage Council of Ireland is to face a 47% cut in funding following the budget's announcement on Tuesday. The large-scale reduction in funding the statutory body will decimate the heritage sector and threatens the closure of many small enterprises…

The Heritage Council of Ireland has a diverse range of marine topics that can be downloaded from their website through the Marine publications section. There are publications, reports and presentations available from this area of interest and can be accessed…

The National Road's Authority (NRA) are expecting shipments of emergency salt from Egypt and Morocco to arrive next week, according to a report in the Irish Independent.  Two vessels, the CSL Prospect and Olivia are heading for the Port of…