Winter 2020 €4.00 UK£3.45 ISSN 2565-6473 Issue No 4

Strangford Lough Noisy oceans Distinguished contributors Occasional visitors Military sonar The Volunteer Awards FROM THE EDITOR

ISSUE 4 Flukes is the membership magazine of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. The organisation promotes better understanding of Irish cetaceans and their habitats through education and Our cetacean heritage research. Irish Whale and Dolphin Group elcome to this issue of The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is a company limited by guarantee and Flukes, our twice-yearly registered in Dublin. publication and one of Charity No: CHY 11163 a number of media – Charity Regulatory Authority No: ❝ 220029913 including a website, an The twin crises of climate Registered office: Merchants Quay, We-zine, social media and various Kilrush, Co Clare, V15 E762 publications – that the IWDG uses to help change and biodiversity Tel: (065) 905 1763 promote better understanding of Email: [email protected] Website: www.iwdg.ie cetaceans and their habitats through loss are deeply interlinked education and research. In addition, Officers IWDG actions such as Whale Tales and therefore, that the conservation status of Dr Simon Berrow Chief Executive Officer WhaleWatch Ireland, etc, help to achieve almost 50% of our cetacean species is of Trea Heapes the same aims. some concern, as being deficient in data is Group Coordinator no basis for conservation action. & Communications Officer This issue of Flukes has an underlying Pádraig Whooley theme, and that is the stranding of As regards climate change and its Sightings Officer cetaceans. The Irish government declared effects on species’ habitats, it might not Stephanie Levesque be immediately apparent that cetaceans Strandings Officer a climate and biodiversity emergency in Dave Wall 2019. While this decision was welcomed, are affected. A research study published in Conservation Officer such declarations are only as valid as their 2020,1 however, reported cetaceans Sibéal Regan Education & Outreach Officer consequential and systemic actions. outside their “normal” range (e.g. Bryde’s Aman Muttu The twin crises of climate change and Whale) and also in decreasing ranges (e.g. Northern Ireland Officer the white-beaked dolphin, a cold-water Padraic de Bhaldraithe biodiversity loss are deeply interlinked and Irish Language Officer & Editor must be addressed simultaneously. species found in northern Irish waters, now Frances Bermingham The increasing rate of strandings on our restricted to a reduced range and Membership Officer Susanne Matejka coasts is a cause for concern in terms of declining in abundance). Book-keeper biodiversity. The IWDG needs to continue its mission Mags Daly to help conserve our cetacean heritage as Shannon Dolphin Project Officer The IUCN (International Union for Karen van Dorp Conservation of Nature) classifies key species in the ecology of the oceans, Welfare Officer cetaceans in terms of their conservation and to call for an increase in the research Meadhbh Quinn effort on the ecology of the data-deficient IWDG Officer & Consultancy Team status. Of the 25 species that occur in Irish Member waters, three are listed by IUCN as species. Patrick Lyne ‘endangered,’ one is ‘near-threatened,’ two IWDG Officer & Consultancy Team Member are ‘vulnerable’ and seven are ‘data- Padraic de Bhaldraithe, Editor Tony Whelan deficient.’ The rest are classified as of Film-maker ‘least concern.’ One can suggest, 1 www.cutt.ly/whales-range Directors Brendan Quinn (Chair) Conal O’Flanagan (Secretary) Core sponsors of the Irish Dr Nóirín Burke

Photograph: Anne Korff (Padraic de Bhaldraithe) (Padraic Anne Korff Photograph: Whale and Dolphin Group: Fiacc O’Brolchain Frances Bermingham Eamonn Clarke Flukes is published by the Irish Whale Editor and Dolphin Group (IWDG) twice a Padraic de Bhaldraithe year. The material published in Tel: 087 659 1904 Flukes by the editorial team and Email: [email protected] contributors, and the views expressed therein, must not be taken as official Design and layout IWDG policy unless specifically stated. Cóilín MacLochlainn Copy deadline for Spring 2021 issue Email: [email protected] ON THE COVER of Flukes is Friday, March 26th, 2021. Northern bottlenose whale stranded on Rossnowlagh beach, Co Donegal Printing: GPS Colour Graphics Ltd, Advertising PHOTO: FRANCES BERMINGHAM Alexander Road, Belfast BT6 9HP [email protected] Panel photographs, from left: PARTICIPATION AND RISK Readers of Flukes are reminded that Contributors Killer whales in Strangford Lough whalewatching (or watching any Simon Berrow, Nicola Coyle, Padraic de Bhaldraithe, Brian PHOTO: JUSTIN JUDGE cetacean species), at sea or from Glanville, Trea Heapes, Brian Holmes, Justin Judge, Marie Louis, Sowerby’s beaked whale breaching land, is an activity with a danger of Patrick Lyne, Nick Masset, Aman Muttu, Fiacc O’Brolchain, Seán PHOTO: ROSSA MEADE personal injury or death. Participants O’Callaghan, Mick O’Connell, Meadhbh Quinn, Sibéal Regan, should be aware of and accept these Ann Trimble (see story, page 22) risks and be responsible for their own Vincent Ridoux, Karen van Dorp, Dave Wall, Pádraig Whooley PHOTO: GER HOWARD actions and involvement. 2 Flukes Winter 2020 NEWS Stranding Protocol

By Karen van Dorp, IWDG Welfare Officer

In the May 2020 issue of Flukes, the IWDG announced that a Large Whale Stranding Response Protocol was in the making. The IWDG was calling for a coordinated approach to large whale strandings, as a substantial number of stranded cetaceans are large whales and former IWDG guidelines have proven insufficient in these cases. Due to the complications that arise because of the size and weight of large whales, a proper response is complicated in itself, but the lack of a coordinated response – and a division of responsibilities signed off by key partners – make it even more challenging. Therefore, the IWDG is hoping to produce a national protocol that sets out clear roles for all organisations involved in the case of a large whale stranding, a protocol Fin whale live-stranded in Courtmacsherry Bay, Co Cork, January 2009 that aids a considered, coordinated and well-resourced response, in order to ensure minimal stress to the animal been sent to a group of key partner organisations. and, indeed, to people witnessing the event. Excellent input has been received and an adjusted version Last May, we were in the process of identifying key of the protocol is nearly ready for circulation amongst a partners. Fast forward to today and key partner larger number of partners. The IWDG hopes to organise a organisations and their primary contacts have been plenary meeting between all key partners as soon as

Photograph: Pádraig Whooley Pádraig Photograph: identified and a draft issue of the proposed protocol has possible, to finalise the protocol

IWDG comments on marine spatial planning By Dave Wall, IWDG Conservation Officer received as part of that consultation process are currently being reviewed by the Department of Housing, Local The IWDG continues to participate in the National Government and Heritage. Marine Planning Framework Advisory Group, which was The next step will be publication of the final draft of the established by the government to facilitate participation plan for Oireachtas approval before the end of 2020. in the Marine Spatial Planning process by all relevant The IWDG will continue its participation in the National stakeholders from the economic, environmental and Marine Planning Framework Advisory Group to put social pillars. forward, as clearly as possible, the marine conservation The IWDG submitted comments on the Draft National perspective, as the National Marine Planning Framework Marine Planning Framework in April, and all comments enters its final, implementation phase

A conversation about sprat! By Simon Berrow, IWDG CEO cannot be under-estimated. Sprat, address this ruling immediately and especially, is a keystone species. reinstate protection within 6nml. The IWDG regrets the recent High Fishers are not the only stakeholders Separately, the IWDG has written to Court judgment that found that the in this issue. The presence of species the Marine Institute urging it to carry ban on large vessels fishing inside the such as large whales can provide out more work on the ecology of six-nautical-mile limit was void and of significant opportunities for marine sprat in Irish waters, to inform proper no legal effect. This policy required all vessels >18m in length to restrict their ecotourism, especially in peripheral fisheries management. The IWDG fishing to beyond 6nml in order to coastal regions, and this also needs considers that protecting the base of protect inshore fish stocks, which to be considered when making the marine food chain is absolutely provide important food for a range management decisions. essential for a wide range of interests. of predators, from whales and The IWDG has joined with a range of Any measure that provides an dolphins to commercial fish species fellow NGOs and the inshore fishing opportunity for stocks of these and, indeed, to humans. fleet to request the Minister for forage fish to increase has positive The importance of forage fish Agriculture, Food and the Marine to implications for all stakeholders

Winter 2020 Flukes 3 Photograph: Aaron Treanor (Finn, the solitary bottlenose) 4 September 29 Island, Islandmagee, Co Antrim, on reported by the cetacean, T Species roundup Fuengirola.by in thepool would have themselves beensunning a new previous audience whoin years foropportunity IWDG toreach outto was it agreat also validation, have presented around issues uswith of “staycationers.” But while thismay reports from experienced aless cohort receiving proportion ahigher of Perhaps thereason our for is this 248, was upconsiderably on2019. ‘non-species’ to (60%) assigned thosesightings in interesting is the significant increase show anincrease. Butperhapsmost humpback whales bottlenose dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, whales minke whales porpoises, common dolphins 2019 shows of thatsightings records. 324 with August effort-related. month Thebusiest was which 1,229 were casual and 121 were 1,350validated records, sighting of September 30 Over 1 April thesix-month period likely to have some impact on sightings. These Covid restrictions were always welater findourselves another! backin 2 Sightings review of summerandautumn2020 Sightings Officer Finn, the solitary bottlenose dolphin recently bottlenose Carlingford dolphin thesolitary Finn, Co inhabiting Lough, Louth SIGHTINGS he largest aggregation of oursmallest A comparison between 2020 and Flukes remain thesame; however, lockdown andseven months summary duringourfirst wroteI sightings the last 020 hasbeenastrange year. Keith Black Keith harbour porpoise, th th categories, which, at have whilst fallen, , with abest estimate we received and received we and Pádraig Whooley basking sharks basking off Muck off harbour and fin st was to likely tohavelikely beenthesame individual in the River Suir. On April 26 received regular reports of aporpoise where, between May 9 was location Waterford,unusual in of 30 However, individuals. themost records spring/summer in 2020 Table Breakdown 1. of sightings While it’s unlikely he’ll it’s becomeWhile unlikely another and hasbeen recorded regularly since. whotookup residencemale May late in bottlenose dolphin, solitary has beenenjoying Ireland’s newest ofside Carlingford Greenore Lough, acrossjust theborder ontheLouth aresightings from Ulster. Meanwhile, province, almost 40% of bottlenose common. we If break down by sightings rare waters northernIrish in tovery they have gonefrom relatively being remarkableis how thepastdecade in ofsightings was as far upstream asMount Congreve. Basking shark Basking category non-species Other Risso’s dolphin whale Fin Humpback whale dolphin Common whale Minke Bottlenose dolphin Harbour porpoise Species There were memorable There many analyses thesightings bottlenose dolphins th 16 sightings % of 6 15 2 2 3 9 15 16 16 and 22 Finn, th , what was nd , we a and it to expect suchaggregations from the reported toIWDG. But while we’ve come 11 on July 60 minkes northof theSkelligs, Co Kerry, Massett,Nick reported counts of 30-50 individuals. days whenoperators west in Cork the southwest andthere were several yet showed again very well throughout bluefin tuna. even more interesting thearrival of with have exceeded 2,000. got Thespectacle out towards Kedge may which well Island, best estimateof 1,500 dolphins, spread Sea Safari onSeptember 20 bysighting of 100-300+ common dolphins, buta There nothing aboutestimates is unusual numbers thesouthwest. of in species this received many reports of impressive andsoit’s thatwe nosurprise look, numbers of are whales agoodplace to common dolphins, like whether visitor, he’ll aseasonal bejust takes uppermanent residence or Fungie, stocks our of remains is well under way, as they follow what SeatowardsCeltic the Hookpeninsula eastwardthat their movement the along season. But at time of writing it’s clear ofoutside the southorsouthwest this record finwhale stands outastheonly League, Bay, Donegal onAugust 8 record was off animal of Slieve asingle the minkeswith off Howth, thestand-out andwestBeara peninsula Kerry. Butas Cape Clear, asmattering with off the between and Headof theOld Kinsale followed came also from west Cork, ofthe majority the47 records that recorded off Toe HeadonMay 12 • • • • season’s results big are asfollows: hasgrownindividuals, to109. Sothe 97 startedtheseasonwith which humpback whale onJune10 Co Dublin, report of 5-7minkes off Howth Head, Conal Duffy’swith O’Flanagan andBrian produced theseason’s stand-outrecord, southwest, was it theeastcoast which Our smallest rorqual, the youIf want tofindlarge numbers of The season’s first We’ve enjoyed another record from Bay. Dingle catalogue, 20 onJuly to theIrish HBIRL100 toCabolink Verde HBIRL73 on November 7 HBIRL38 HBIRL35 Nimmo it will be interesting to see ifhe th . This is the highest count thehighest is ever This . Mícheál CottrellMícheál outside Galwayoutside Docks! – – – – 2 4 1 however, reported herring herring st a symbolic 100 a symbolic nd th match to Shetland, and 3 Icelandic match year andthecatalogue, th then areas large with fin whale th . and rd confirmed Irish minke whale, sprat th Winter 2020 Winter of Baltimore of was suggests a th addition th th circa and – th , this SIGHTINGS Analysis of an Effort Watch

By Pádraig Whooley, conditions, using good optics. However, Sightings Officer this isn’t something elitist, as anybody can carry out effort watches. o, you wish to report a sighting To qualify as an “effort” watch, the Ann Trimble on effort watch to the IWDG. The first question recorder usually sees a weather is whether this is a “casual” or window in the coming days and makes results, albeit a negative one. a “constant effort” sighting. a decision to carry out a watch, with no You should report the results of all SThe rule of thumb is that if you have to expectation of the likely outcome. This effort watches; yes, even those without even think about it, your sighting is last part is critical, because if your sightings, as the effort and almost certainly a casual sighting and decision to carry out a watch at a environmental data is important; and should be reported as such. specific location and at a given time it’s just as relevant that we know when The vast majority of sightings (>95%) has been influenced by information animals are absent, as present. are casual and comprise opportunistic you’ve heard through the grapevine or So, to be clear, if there is local sightings made while: whale-watching on social media, you’ve then introduced activity which you hear about and from land or boats, sea-watching, a bias in favour of sightings, which will based on this you decide to carry out a angling, sailing, surfing, diving, beach- skew your encounter rates. So, in order watch, then even if you – combing, coastal-walking, etc. These for your effort watch to have a strong • have lots of field experience sightings are critical as they provide us scientific value, your decision to carry • use the best optics (spotting scope) with the all-important “big picture” as out a watch must be random. • record your start and end time to which species occur where and Effort watches require that you • have excellent environmental when. They highlight important coastal record your start and end times, so we conditions (sea state, swell, areas that would benefit from more can establish how many minutes you’ve visibility) targeted research and regular spent watching. This is critical, as it’s – we will still treat the actual sightings monitoring. your effort that enables us to derive as casual. In a nutshell, the essence of encounter rates and relative an Effort Watch is that the sighting So, what is an “effort” abundance estimates. It’s also essential must flow from the effort, not the sighting? that you record the environmental other way round Relatively few sightings qualify as conditions, so that we can be satisfied “effort” sightings, which are typically your watch was carried out in suitable FIND OUT MORE If you’ve any carried out by experienced observers weather conditions. There is little point questions• regarding the IWDG Constant who conduct regular watches during all in your carrying out a watch in anything Effort Sighting Scheme, please don’t seasons, typically from a local headland other than good sea conditions, as hesitate to drop me an email on

Photograph: Ger Howard (Ann Trimble) or vantage point, in favourable sea these will again introduce a bias in your [email protected].

Sightings and strandings mobile phone app

By Trea Heapes of our site visitors use app in remote areas without mobile devices. We also know mobile coverage. The app ood news! No more that over a third of records stores the report and soggy notebooks! are submitted to the synchronises later. The user IWDG is developing National Biodiversity Data experience will be intuitive, a mobile app, Centre via a reporting app. with as few steps as possible, Gallowing the public to easily Our new app provides a without compromising data report a sighting or stranding. user-friendly channel for validation. Currently, the reporting citizen scientists. This will The IWDG is working element of our website best boost our sighting and closely with Compass suits a desktop environment. stranding records, Technologies to deliver this The app is designed to contributing to the national app in early 2021. Thanks to simplify the reporting process, and international Clare Local Development without losing the complex conservation effort. Company (CLDC) and detail required for validation. No coverage? No LEADER for their continued We know that more than half problem! You can use the support Photograph: Trea Heapes (mobile phones) Trea Photograph:

Winter 2020 Flukes 5 Photographs and graph: Anna O’Kane (northern bottlenose whales), Mick O’Connell (graph), Adriana Slovakova (Cuvier’s beaked whale)

Two of thenorthernbottlenose thatstranded Rossnowlagh, whales in Co onAugust Donegal, 19 Strandings review Strandings 14 yearsofservice)commentsonrecordsrecent Strandings Officer 6 subject ofsubject increased strandings, andthe severallast years have beenonthis shores thosefive in years our on cetaceans dead recorded more year per 239 there were 1,197 recorded, anaverage of the five years between 2015 and2019, (an average of 135 peryear), while, in Ireland in strandings cetacean recorded five years of 2006-2010, there were 675 Asabrief comparison,normal.’ the in to whatnow appears tobea‘new got you” behind andnumbers hadrisen the words of Floyd, Pink years “10 had in –andthen, to whathadbeennormal and eachyear was I waiting for areturn maybe thatwas year oneunusual just increase, asmall with seemed that it months of theyear. First noticed 2011 in F STRANDINGS Most articlesthat 100 140 Common strandings 2006-2019 dolphin 120 40 80 60 20 0 Flukes 2006 especially during thefirst during fewespecially have beenontherise, Ireland in strandings cetacean or around tenyears now, 2007 – or, bluntly, toputit 522 2008 I’ve written inthe 2009 Mick O’Connell (see graph). 2010 2011 2012 this canbeputdownthis to increased are 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. years more with than200 strandings the IWDG strandings database, the only recorded strandings exceeds 300. On be thefirst year thatthetotal of record, anditissafe tosay thatthiswill surpassed this, 284 with strandings on ofmiddle November, 2020 hasalready year, with273 records but,even by the total of all species stranded in a full ten years previously. thanwouldanimals have beenexpected average of 96 peryear and348 more common strandings –an dolphin Between 2015 and2019, there were 482 strandings (arounddolphin 27 peryear). there were 134 recorded common Betweenstrandings). 2006 and2010, involving beaked whale mass dolphins focus beenon hasgenerally 2013 The first question usually is whether is The first usually question 2018 currently annual hasthehighest (who isstandingdownafter 2014 (with some exceptions 2015 2016 2017 common 2018 2019 th Levesque onto it passing be more correct tosay thatIam ormaybestrandings hat, would it years orso, am upmy hanging I record’ over articles 10 thelast time. same the northeastAtlantic ataround the eventssimilar other in countries of Irelandin have beenmatched by andbeakedof whales deep-diving recentthat in years mass strandings certainly of is concern It Donegal. atRossnowlagh, died) which Co northern bottlenose whales liveunusual stranding of seven and August 2020 saw avery few thelast beaked in whales years, numbers of mass strandings of extent, we have seenincreased also species. proportionall compared toother strandings havedolphin out of risen and there nodoubt is thatcommon would bespread across species all recorder effort, butIthinkthat to aquiet email inbox! years16 orso, forward looking I’m photos of over deadthings thelast after countless thousandsof from me, needabreak I from – it Strandings Scheme needsabreak confess thatasmuch asthe coming down must theline. I already thatis technology here or upwards andtoembrace thenew all recording scheme onwards and someonehelm, topushthe Scheme tohave new energy atthe begood for theStrandings will it on news thefuture. in articles think I so there might beadifferent slant Stranded Cuvier’s beaked whale, AnTrá Sligo Bhuí, So, getting backtomy ‘broken To worrying butnoless alesser at thestartof December, Stephanie Winter 2020 Winter (all of STRANDINGS Sowerby’s beaked whale live-strands in Wicklow

By Meadhbh Quinn, IWDG Officer and Consultancy Team Member

n July 4th, 2020, the IWDG was alerted to the presence of a beaked whale in Wicklow Harbour. It was identified as a male Sowerby’sO beaked whale, due to the presence of two triangular teeth mid-way along the lower jaw. Little is known about beaked whales, but we do know that they are normally found far offshore, have been known to dive to depths of over 1,500 m and are extremely vulnerable to acoustic trauma. The Sowerby’s beaked whale in Wicklow Harbour on July 4th To see them in a coastal setting, let alone in a harbour, was highly unusual. who liaised with the group in order to in Ireland, there is still a need for further While every stranding is different, the facilitate a necropsy of the whale (post- specialist training here, particularly welfare of the cetacean is always the mortem) at the DAFM Regional Vet Lab. with regards to the determination of priority, in addition to human safety During the necropsy, the whale was not acoustic trauma. concerns. In this case, due to the factors found to be emaciated and had a The numbers of deep-diving offshore involved, it was considered in the best moderate blubber thickness; there was species stranding dead or alive on the interests of the whale to allow it to die evidence also of quite recent feeding. Irish coast are growing and are a cause naturally and to minimise stress and Unfortunately, despite extensive for increasing concern. Increasing our disturbance to it in its final moments. examinations, it was not possible to knowledge of the life of these animals As an NGO, IWDG welcomed the establish a definitive cause of death in and their pathology is important to gain involvement and support of the this case. Despite considerable insights into their lives and the hazards National Parks and Wildlife Service, experience in marine mammal pathology they face Mass stranding of northern bottlenose whales

By Nicola Coyle palliative care was the only thing we whale, covering it in damp cloths once could do for this whale. Other volunteers again. We hoped to reduce the animal’s was called to action by the IWDG to arrived to see the rising water beginning stress and suffering as much as possible. assist in the largest mass stranding to cover the last surviving whale. As the The last whale died later that night. event of northern bottlenose tide rushed in, so did the whale’s Over the next few days, I was lucky to whales in Irish history. I had instincts. Pushing itself to the surface to assist Mags Daly, Sibéal Regan, Simon completed a live-stranding course breathe, we all watched, cautiously Berrow and Frances Bermingham as Iin January 2020, but it could not have optimistic. they gathered vital data and samples prepared me for an event as unique as Northern bottlenose whales are a from the seven whales this. Seven whales were stranded on a deep-diving species, found sandbank in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal, typically in waters reaching on August 19th 2020. When I first arrived depths of 800-1,800 m, at the beach that day, it was surreal to and therefore should not see their enormous silhouettes in the be in the shallow waters of distance. Four whales were almost inner Donegal Bay. submerged by the incoming tide, Although the animal got a showing no signs of movement. Two short burst of adrenaline others had died before I arrived. My and tried to swim back out attention was captured by the last to sea, it soon veered off individual, lying upright on his belly, track and re-stranded. looking at me, alive. Once the tide had A group of guards and some receded, a group of concerned walkers greeted me, and helpful observers and I together we covered the whale with returned to the beach and cloths soaked in seawater, to help cool it tried to create a quiet and calm environment for the Northern bottlenose whale stranded in Rossnowlagh

Photographs: Hannah Keogh (Sowerby’s beaked whale), Frances Bermingham (northern bottlenose whale) (northern bottlenose Bermingham whale), beaked Frances (Sowerby’s Hannah Keogh Photographs: down. I knew from my training that

Winter 2020 Flukes 7 Images: Jim Wilson (book cover), Sibéal Regan (live-stranding course in Galway) EDUCATION &OUTREACH Free copyforfirst500juniormemberswhosubmitadrawingofwhale,dolphinorporpoise ‘Ireland’s BlubberBook’launched ■ 8 • around group’s of Ireland.Alocal theisland is: mission working together toachieve of thegoals theIWDG IWDG local groups IWDG localgroups youhelp onyour way. are bookcan this marine mammal anaspiring scientist, become more environmentally aware citizens, you orif inspire andencouragehelp questions thechildren to talented by programme was created tosupportIWDG’s andoutreach education scientists, resourceeducational for young marine mammal aspiring toannounce therelease delighted IWDG is of anew Primary schoolteachers can use this new schoolteachersPrimary canusethis resource to membership.” locality through activi their in conservation anddolphins whales of Irish “To create furtherinterest, awareness and News roundupfromEducation&OutreachOfficer Flukes John Joyce Ireland’s Book. Blubber Sibéal ReganSibéal are groups of people like-minded and ties, courses andIWDG advantage and media of social 2020. in memberships increase new in andrenewed the IWDG hasseena40% year,to thesame last period respective Compared localities. and create interest our within continuing toraise awareness we have responded well by to thecoronavirus pandemic, due members IWDG many for year andchallenging difficult Jim Wilson. Jim Banding togetherBanding andtaking hasbeena it Although and illustrated byand illustrated the This newThis resource • below: whofollow steps the biologists the first 500 marine junior an worth thepurchase with of €12 away giving IWDG is afree copy Ireland’s Book, Blubber To celebrate of thelaunch ocean Then giants? how you canbecome anocean hero protect tohelp our interesting, funfactslearn like how they andeven sleep know where Ireland? toseethem in Anddoyou want to waters? Irish are in Wouldand porpoises living you to like • • Sibéal Regan Sibéal county, contact please get more involved ortocreate anew group local your in • groups throughout 2021 engagement from andenthusiasm members andlocal on walks. experiences andeven recent out made while sightings group alive, for example by of stories sharing past unprecedented time tokeep of themission thelocal working together strange this and during groups are example aprime of how members have been new local groups in foropportunities fieldwork. has continued throughout 2020, even limited with appreciation andlove for andporpoises whales, dolphins Zoom, we have stayed connected, andourmutual Inis Do you want toknow of whatspecies whales, dolphins With any luck, we will keep building on this The IWDG welcomes therecent of establishment two WANT TO GET MORE INVOLVED? IWDG Junior membership Junior IWDG can findatemplate on Draw apicture of orporpoise awhale, dolphin when it arriveswhen it too You could share aphoto of your your bookwith friends tagging channel, share your onyour image favourite media social youIf are spread media, love onsocial theblubber and your name address andpostal full yourEmail picture toIWDG at has kindly sponsored newhas kindly this resource. educational Sibéal Regan at [email protected]. Ireland’s Book Blubber #iwdg #flukeyfriday. #blubberbook Dublin Dublin – Education andOutreachEducation Officer that would bevery cool! the iwdg.ie/junior-section and to Louth. [email protected] If youIf would like to These two local is for you! Winter 2020 Winter – you with CELTIC MIST

Looking forward to 2021 By Fiacc O’Brolchain So August rolled around and what could we do? ust when we were doing so The word went out and, well... the winter refit with a slow start, we sailed programme on Celtic Mist was three days a week out of running perfectly; a new Poolbeg Marina for six Jcooker, new water heater, new weeks during August and lazarette hatch and draining system, September. The crews new plumbing in the galley, were mainly in pods that refurbished mattresses and aft cabin developed around various doors, were all on the way. All these, skippers – thanks are due and more, plus the expertise gained to all of these for keeping over the last few winters, meant that the show on the road. rust surprises were now a thing of the While many of the past and the crew knew all the participants were the usual painting tasks and tricks necessary to crew, there were also some keep the vessel in top condition. new faces, which is always The plan was to lift in Howth for ten very welcome. We also had days and scrub, paint, replace anodes Clowie Russell testing and do any other work that needed to some equipment out in be done. After that, the Floating Dublin Bay, to monitor Classroom and cruise programme marine mammal activity on could begin. It was well worked out the Burford Bank. and filling fast. We are now waiting to And that was the end of that. re-enter the Basin. We Luckily, we were still in Grand Canal have permission, but the lock gates • Regular bulletins emerge on the Basin in Dublin, where Mark Clarke, await regulation inspection and it is activities and these are sent to the Dock Master, could keep an eye unclear when this might happen. those on the Celtic Mist email list. on Celtic Mist during the lockdown – Currently, the plan is to restart the Anyone who wishes to join this many thanks to him and Máirín Ó maintenance programme in early crew should send me an email at Cuireáin of Waterways Ireland for this. January, all things being equal. fi[email protected]

Celtic Mist – plans for Floating Classroom 2021

Celtic Mist as a Floating Classroom will begin in platform to deliver Howth, Co Dublin, and then sail interactive along the Northern Irish coastline, educational finishing in Ballycastle, Co Antrim. workshops to Supported by IWDG core primary

Conal O’Flanagan (Floating O’Flanagan Classroom) Conal funders Inis, schools will receive schoolchildren copies of IWDG's new publication, between the ages Ireland's Blubber Book, allowing of 9 and 12. students to continue their journey Floating

(Celtic Mist), (Celtic to become marine mammal Classroom 2020 biologists and ocean heros after was cancelled due the Floating Classroom workshop. to Covid-19. However, the IWDG If you are a teacher or an Floating Classroom aboard Celtic Mist in 2019 is cautiously interested student living in a optimistic that we coastal community, particularly along the coast of Northern By Sibéal Regan will be able to deliver Floating Classroom to a variety of schools Ireland, who would like to be he Floating Classroom during 2021, with sufficient safety involved in this project, please initiative is a unique procedures in place to mitigate any contact Sibéal at educational and outreach risk of Covid-19 infection either to [email protected] for more programme using the IWDG’s schools or to the IWDG team. information Photographs: Wouter Jan Strietman Jan Strietman Wouter Photographs: T Winter 2020 Flukes 9 Photograph: Michael Linehan RESEARCH Drift modellingisanewtechniquebeingusedtohelplocatetheoriginofmortalityorstrandingevent Big stridesmadeindriftmodelling L’Université deLaRochelle andbodycondition. date andlocation carcass will make landfall and where. and direction of andwhether drift the These factors influence thespeed may up.it then floatasgasesbuild tide. totheeffectssubjected of and wind behaved afterdeathandbeing reconstructing how acarcass has maydolphins have occurred atseaby BerrowBy Simon D From skinsamplestoevolutionarystories What wecanlearnfromDNAsampling 10 structure of infer butalso thehistories more precise inferences aboutgenetic the genome, andwe cannot make only of generates markersas it millions across markers, microsatellite as such methods mammal populations. recent this applying tomarine technique now are we but costs, and complexity evolutionary history, becauseof its WGRS was usedtoinfer human only sequencing of skin using population’s from history thattiny piece evolution. We are toreconstruct able a genetic structure, adaptation and history, usaboutpopulation cantell skin France, Wales andtheUSA. stranded from animals Ireland, Scotland, extracted from and of theskin biopsied across theworld. We are DNA using adaptsspecies tonovel environments La Rochelle, France Biologiques de Chizé, Université de Louis,By Marie Centre d’Études I Stranding schemes record stranding may ordolphin sink; A deadwhale WGRS differs from genetic traditional DNA extracted from alittlepiece of European coastal waters, andhow this bottlenose dolphin investigating theconnectivity between partners,other international we are theIWDG and n collaboration with Flukes large mortality oflarge or mortality whales where toidentify aims a It stranding events.unusual used toexplorebeing increasingly is modelling rift (WGRS). For along time whole genomere-whole populations in populations has along Ireland andFrance by a sequencing around populations Britain, dolphin connectivity among coastal bottlenose IWDG is collaborating) is investigating al et al populations geneticscale structure among coastal andfurtherfine- populations pelagic differentiation between coastal and weIWDG, have shown strong genetic markers, the collaboration with andin control region and14-25 microsatellite fragmentsmall of themitochondrial genetic methodspopulation suchasa bottlenose traditional dolphins, using Forexample,genetic health. for adaptationpopulations, their andtheir funded by theUK government, they ofAssociation Marine Science strandings data tothe provided TheIWDG Ireland. than in occurred later Scotland, in alittle northwest coasts. event Asimilar beaked whales unprecedented numbers of following 2018 in records stranding results of thesestudies. our interpretation comes from the they float and sink over time. Much of to asurface torecord mooring, how depth recorders todeaddolphins, tied make andhasfixed landfall, time- atseatoseewhatproportiondolphins France. hastaggedbycaught It understand stranding patternsin of workhistory pioneering totryand One of ourcurrent projects (onwhich 2014, 2014, Drift modelling was modelling firstDrift used onIrish – 2019, 2019, what recentgenomicmethodscantellusaboutcetaceanpopulations Molecular Ecology,Molecular Aquatic Conservation. – see, for example, Louis Louis example, for see, washing upalong Scottish and Nykanen Cuvier’s and, et IWDG Scheme Scottish Marine Animal Stranding by led the are ongoing, ations still cannot thecauseof identify mortality. event may have occurred, thoughit anareaidentify where mortality this forhabitats Cuvier’s beaked whales. Acoustic area known is from the Trough the stranding event, was the the prevailing before andtides wind attempts, thebestprovidence, given area.particular After anumber of could have from originated a whether thepatternof strandings thedatatotryandidentify modelled data for population genomicanalyses,data for population in previous in coastal andpelagic studies. Scotland, by the SRUC, Ireland, by in andin collected theIWDG, used samples from stranded animals the world. FortheNorth-eastAtlantic, we from tocoastal across habitats pelagic mechanisms are adaptation their driving tounderstandobjective is what novel environments. Specifically, ourmain how adapted bottlenose dolphins to Atlantic at andNorth-eastPacific, tolook the North-eastAtlantic, North-west ecotypebottlenose dolphin pairs from samples from coastal andpelagic WGRSusing datagenerated from great precision. structure andmigration parameters with us todetermine population fine-scale parts) of genomes. their allowing is This reduced representation (i.e. random * evolution of populations their many interesting discoveries aboutthe application to cetaceans will likely lead to constant development, andits methodsevolving in analytical with field toaccessdifficult andbiopsy. for offshoreparticular species, are which Scotland’s Rural College For this stranding event, investig- So, was modelling to able drift Strandings are aninvaluable source of another projectIn ongoing we are Population genomics is arapidly Population is genomics off northwest Ireland. This in collaboration with the study toprovide good * and identified as and identified ObSERVE- Winter 2020 Winter Rockall RESEARCH

Whale trails Fin whale in the Porcupine Seabight

Seán O’Callaghan reports on fresh insights into fin whale migration and where they might breed

igration is one of the At time of writing, this technique had whales were tagged in Svalbard, in wonders of whales – it’s a paid dividends once again, after Nick Arctic Norway, in the month of word synonymous with Massett noticed that a whale September, between 2015-2019. species such as the previously catalogued off the Irish Fifteen of these whales had left the Mhumpback whale or the coast had been photographed in area by the month of November and gray whale, which have been Scotland: this added to what we know steadily moved southwest to Jan regularly filmed moving between their already about our humpbacks. Mayen Island or down to Greenland or tropical breeding grounds to However, this technique is not Iceland. However, two moved much temperate foraging grounds. These practised as regularly on other large further south, passing through huge movements, spanning baleen whales, which either do not offshore Irish waters, with one making thousands of kilometres, highlight the show their tail flukes regularly when a pit stop on the Goban Spur length that species will go to to diving or are not very distinctively southwest of Ireland before access rich feeding places and safe marked. The fin whale is one such progressing down to Morocco in birthing grounds. species, and other methods have December, where it stayed for eleven In Ireland, we have begun to put been used to see where they go, since days before moving north again, when some pieces together on how “our” almost nothing is known about their its tag stopped transmitting after 96 humpback whales slot into the wider life-cycle away from feeding grounds. days attached and >5,000 km Atlantic picture, with initial matches to The use of satellite tagging has travelled! The brief stay off Morocco northern Norway and the Netherlands provided some insights into these may have been at a breeding ground, and repeat matches of animals to leviathans, but not without a cost. Iceland. But in recent years southern Tags that will remain with the whales but time and more work will have to matches to Gibraltar, and three to the must be embedded in their blubber tell if this presumption is true or not breeding ground in Cape Verde off (potentially reaching the muscle West Africa, have revealed where at layer) after being fired from an least some of these whales, which use air-pressurised gun. FIND OUT MORE Lydersen, C, Vacquié- Garcia,• J, Heide-Jørgensen, MP, Øien, N, Irish waters as a feeding area, go to Sixteen fin whales have been Guinet, C and Kovacs, KM (2020) Autumn breed. tagged in the Azores, an archipelago movements of fin whales Balaenoptera These matches have come about by along the mid-Atlantic ridge, some physalus, Svalbard, Norway, revealed by satellite the well-used and non-invasive 1,300 km off the Portuguese mainland. tracking. Scientific Reports 10, 16966. research technique of photo- Those whales either stayed around Pérez-Jorge, S, Tobeña, M, Prieto, R, identification, where images of each the islands or moved almost straight Vandeperre, F, Calmettes, B, Lehodey, P and individual’s tail fluke or dorsal fin are north to Greenland and Iceland, Silva, MA (2020) Environmental drivers of large-scale movements of baleen whales in the taken and shared between catalogues between March to July, after tagging. mid-North Atlantic Ocean. Diversity and Distributions Photograph: Patrick Lyne (fin whale) Lyne Patrick Photograph: in the Atlantic for potential matches. Much further north, twenty-five fin 26(6): 683-698. US Navy ships crossing the Atlantic to take CONSERVATION part in Exercise Joint Warrier in March 2014

Noisy oceans: military sonar

■ Conservation Officer Dave Wall reports on the potential conservation impact of military active sonar on cetaceans in Irish offshore waters etween August What could be causing heart rate to rise and Warrior naval exercises. and September these mass mortalities? In resulting in animals suffering The environmental risk 2018, more than 2020, due to a lack of the bends (where air bubbles assessment for these naval seventy dead funding and resources, no form in the whales’ blood exercises bans the use of BCuvier’s beaked post-mortems were and tissues), ultimately military active sonar inside whales, Sowerby’s beaked conducted on the seven leading to their deaths. the 50 m depth contour, whales and northern whales that died in Donegal While the Irish Naval due to the risk of exposure bottlenose whales washed Bay. In the other events, Service does not possess or to human divers. However, ashore on the Atlantic the advanced state of use military active sonar, our no such grace is proffered coasts of Ireland and decomposition of the waters are frequented by to whales, dolphins or Scotland. All of the animals animals meant that a vessels from other navies porpoises in one of the were in an advanced state definitive cause of mortality which do possess such most biodiverse regions for of decomposition, indicating could not be established. technology. Twice every year cetaceans in UK or Irish they had died offshore and However, investigations by a flotilla of NATO warships waters. Source levels of up spent a considerable time UK and Irish researchers gathers off the west coast to 211 dB (decibels) are drifting at sea before being have indicated military of Scotland, to the north of permitted, and may be washed ashore. Alarm bells sonar to be a strong Ireland, for the Joint exceeded in some instances, went off in both the suspect, as the mortalities IWDG and UK strandings occurred over short recording programmes, as time-spans and in this mortality rate was far relatively discrete areas. higher than the average of less than 10 beaked whales Is military sonar per annum for Ireland and the problem? the UK combined. So, how likely is it that August 2020 again military sonar could be saw mass strandings or causing these mass near-shore sightings of mortalities of beaked 29 northern bottlenose whales? We have known for whales and Sowerby’s decades that military sonar, beaked whales in Ireland, specifically mid-frequency Scotland, the Faroe Islands active sonar (in the range of and the Netherlands. This 4.5-5.5 kHz), has been linked included the live stranding to mass strandings and subsequent death of of beaked whales in the seven northern bottlenose Mediterranean, Caribbean whales in Donegal Bay. and Canary Islands. The A further mass mortality ability to dive deep for long of 27 beaked whales and periods in beaked whales is 29 long-finned pilot whales linked to their physiology, was recorded in Ireland and including a very slow heart Scotland in 2008, and rate. It is thought that the another, of fifteen Cuvier’s noise from military active beaked whales, in sonar frightens deep-diving Sowerby’s beaked whale breaching

Photographs: Lacordrick Wilson (US Navy ships), Rossa Meade (beaked whale) (beaked Meade ships), Wilson Rossa (US Navy Lacordrick Photographs: December/January 2014/15. beaked whales, causing their

12 Flukes Winter 2020 and such noise exposure for Irish waters could be study published in 2012 of military active sonar in may last for up to eight checked for active sonar found that only 8% of dead Canary Islands waters. Since hours a day for the eleven detections. SAM arrays bycaught dolphins tagged that ban, there has been no days of each exercise. permanently mounted on and released offshore were recorded mass strandings of Outside of these known the seabed as part of subsequently recovered beaked whales. training exercises, we know marine monitoring ashore. Thus, the 70 dead Ireland could certainly little or nothing about the observatories could beaked whales washed adopt that approach and use of active military sonar certainly broaden our ashore on Irish and Scottish ban the use of military within the Irish Whale and knowledge of active sonar coasts in 2018 may have active sonar within the Irish Dolphin Sanctuary (which use in the Irish EEZ and represented a mass Whale and Dolphin extends to 200 nm off our perhaps even link mortality of up to 875 Sanctuary. However, it is not shores). Foreign naval detections to subsequent beaked whales, or upwards at all clear whether current vessels are not required to mass stranding events. of 8-20% of the estimated national or international notify the Irish government So, why should we be total beaked whale legislation allows the Irish of their activities within the concerned by these population for the region government to restrict Irish exclusive economic mortalities? Research by in 2007. foreign naval vessel activity zone (EEZ) once they are GMIT and IWDG in 2015 in this way, nor how any beyond our 12 nm limit. and 2016 showed that the Can we prevent such ban could be enforced. So, how can we find out to continental shelf slopes to For now, the IWDG can what extent military active the west of Ireland are whale deaths? only dread the next mass sonar is being used in the home to year-round If military active sonar is stranding and continue to Irish Whale and Dolphin populations of Cuvier’s and causing the deaths of push for adequate Sanctuary? One way of Sowerby’s beaked whales dozens, if not hundreds, of resources and funding to monitoring its use is via and are used seasonally by beaked whales within the identify the causes of such static acoustic monitoring northern bottlenose Irish Whale and Dolphin mass strandings, when they (SAM), which can detect and whales. These populations Sanctuary, how are we to do occur. We will also record active sonar. We are not large: the total prevent future deaths? continue to ask the know that active sonar use numbers in the region were In 2004, following research government to find a way to has already been detected estimated to comprise only into a mass stranding in the prohibit the use of military during some SAM a few thousand animals Canary Islands linked to active sonar inside the Irish monitoring projects, and during a 2007 EU-funded NATO exercises, Spain Whale and Dolphin existing recording datasets survey. However, a French introduced a ban on the use Sanctuary

Winter 2020 Flukes 13 INTERNATIONAL NEWS Fin whales stranding in unusual numbers Emaciated fin whales have been stranding in unusually high numbers along the French Atlantic and English Channel coasts. Vincent Ridoux and Willy Dabin of Université de La Rochelle report

stomachs were empty and whales irrespective of their all organs had a normal body length or sex. In the appearance, except the past, similarly emaciated fin lungs, which showed edema, whales were observed in congestion and 2004 (seven individuals), haemorrhaging. 2017 (two individuals) and Complete sampling was 2018 (two individuals), but conducted on five out of six no relationship with possible whales (the remaining one environmental processes could not be accessed and could be explored. examined earlier than 10 Given the large days after death) for geographical spread of the subsequent biological autumn 2020 strandings of (reproduction, genetics, fin whales along the French toxicology, food) and coast, it is likely that similar pathological events also occurred in (histopathology, virology, neighbouring countries. bacteriology) investigation. Collaboration between At this stage, the most national stranding schemes Bryde’s whale stranded in Normandy in October striking feature was the will be key to unravelling the extremely poor body causes of this unusual fin in whales are of the species’ range is condition of all of the fin whale mortality episode regularly reported Macaronesia (Madeira and stranded along the Canary Islands) and the French Atlantic and Atlantic coasts of Morocco. FEnglish Channel The animal was in good coasts. Numbers are usually condition. It had got lower than 10 per year, with stranded in the very shallow an average of about four flats of Baie des Veys, individuals per year over the Normandy, and died after period 1990-2018. None- stranding. At necropsy, no theless, annual figures have pathology was found that been increasing over the could be causative of last 50 years, with maximum stranding. counts of seven to eight All other balaenopterid individuals in recent years. whales were fin whales and In this context, and at showed very similar post- time of writing, the autumn mortem appearances. Most 2020 count had already of them were young to very reached unprecedented young individuals, as levels. From late September suggested by body length to mid-November as many distribution from 8.3-18.40 as seven rorquals were m (or 12.7 m on average). All reported stranded – three of these emaciated to very in the Channel and four in emaciated fin whales live- the Bay of Biscay. stranded but subsequently

Réserve Naturelle Nationale du domaine de Beauguillot, Veys Bay, Normandy, France Normandy, Bay, Veys Beauguillot, de domaine du Nationale Naturelle Réserve Of these, one outstanding died an agonising death. observation of a 9.85- Upon examination, they metre-long female Bryde’s showed no sign of trauma, whale was the first report either external or internal, of this tropical species in suggesting that collision metropolitan France (the with a ship could not have area of the French Republic been the cause of stranding. which is geographically in Their parasitic loads were

Photograph courtesy of Europe). The nearest part not particularly high; their

14 Flukes Winter 2020

POLICY

Windfarm in the Irish Sea off the coast of Cumbria Offshore wind policy

By Patrick Lyne stop and employ further disturbed. noise duration offshore by noise abatement or reduction Further changes to approximately 30%. The he IWDG offshore methods to bring noise levels mitigation are needed to overall aim of the policy is to wind policy sets down below that permitted. cater for the 24-hour recommend that international out a position to Normally companies tend to operation and requirement to best practice be adopted in try and assist exceed the noise reduction start at almost any time, Irish waters. It is hoped with industry to required, but such methods necessary for most activities this to reduce the impact of developT offshore wind in a reduce displacement of offshore. This would seek to wind farms and to measure way that minimises impact on harbour porpoise from over discontinue practices which the impact through cetaceans. There is nothing 20 km to a maximum of 8 km see industry maintaining construction and operation we can do on Earth without from the construction noise-generating activities to decommissioning. It is having some impact on the activity. The reduction in purely to avoid stopping hoped this responsible planet, but we can often, displacement of harbour work, for example at night, as approach will see the wind with relatively small porpoise can be critical to mitigation requirements industry thrive in Ireland measures, reduce this impact ensuring the species prohibit restarting at night. simultaneously with cetacean and conserve the natural continues to thrive, along To date, this has increased populations world which supports us. with others, in offshore Offshore wind is a new Ireland. industry that did not exist 25 The IWDG calls for the years ago, and it is currently continued monitoring, both changing rapidly, with a on and away from wind farm transition from fixed to sites, such that baseline noise floating platforms. The and species distribution can impact of wind farms on bird be measured before and populations has been in during wind farm some instances quite construction and for the life marked, but recent research and decommissioning of the suggests that by simply wind farm. painting one of the blades of While there are EU the turbine black, bird strike requirements to monitor can be reduced by 72%. biodiversity and protected While not all measures are species, which includes all this simple or cheap, the marine mammals in Ireland, construction of wind farms there is also a requirement to should not be at huge monitor environmental noise, expense to wildlife. to ensure this is not There are a number of increasing and having a measures the IWDG is detrimental effect on wildlife proposing, and one of these populations. is to set noise thresholds. It is hoped that mitigation When pile-driving in Germany in Ireland will move away from and other countries in the current practices, which do North Sea, there is a not allow for a shutdown to requirement to limit the noise protect individual animals to maximum threshold values once operations have at 750 m. These are commenced, to one which will measured on calibrated support Article 12 of the EU hydrophones in real time and, Habitats Directive, which should construction exceed requires that individual

Photograph: Andy Dingley Photograph: these values, then it must protected species are not 16 Flukes Winter 2020 WHALETRACK IRELAND

Humpback whale bubble net-feeding off the Kerry coast Major milestone for humpback catalogue

The IWDG has now identified over 100 individual humpback whales in Irish waters. Nick Massett reports

ast summer, we reached and also engaged in this project, was just enough to clarify it as HB surpassed the milestone capturing fluke images from 100, our first three-digit humpback number of 100 humpback opportunistic encounters and on the catalogue! whales documented on the submitting them online to the IWDG Ironically, it was in the company of IWDG humpback catalogue. Sightings Scheme. When carried out another new animal, HB 101 – they ThisL figure is quite extraordinary in accordance with whale-watching were coming thick and fast! In fact, considering where the catalogue guidelines, it’s a perfect application over a one-month period at the stood a mere decade ago – back in of citizen science. Anyone can height of summer we added eleven 2010 the tally stood at just fifteen contribute to the project with a good new animals to the catalogue, from animals. high-resolution tail fluke image, the Cork and Kerry hotspots, The exponential rise in numbers identifying and placing an individual bringing us up to #109. This is since then is a reflection of both humpback in time, adding to its testimony to the long hours put in by observer effort and the continuing sighting history. everyone who contributed to this increase in the number of humpbacks We have built up comprehensive project, providing a good news story visiting our coastal feeding grounds. datasets on some humpbacks – HB in a difficult year. It highlights the The IWDG Whale Track Project has 43, for example, which was first importance of our feeding grounds in been at the forefront of humpback sighted in 2015. This year alone we the ecology of a growing cohort of whale research in Ireland, carrying had 12 documented sightings of #43, North Atlantic humpback whales out dedicated photo-id research between April (off the Cork coast) trips, documenting the identity, and late October (off Kerry). That behaviour and movements of was six months of regular sightings individual humpbacks up and down of #43 as it followed the proliferation our coast. Many hours have been of forage feed up and down the spent at sea, followed by many more southwest coast. in the process of interpreting On the other hand, our symbolic thousands of images and trying to 100th humpback put in just a single, match them. brief appearance, the result of which

Photograph: Nick Massett Photograph: IWDG members and the public have was one oblique fluke image. That

Winter 2020 Flukes 17 AROUND IRELAND

The Dingle dolphin Deilf an Daingin

By Brian Holmes

This is an edited version of a much longer article written by Brian for the IWDG, which can be viewed online at https://iwdg.ie/close-encounters- of-the-dolphin-kind.

My own association with the channel resident, Fungi, began in 1986 when Sheila Stokes and I first came upon this lone male bottlenose dolphin of Dingle harbour, Co Kerry, but we had no comprehension of how long and enjoyable an adventure, for ourselves and later many other people, that good fortune would present. Of comparable importance to us was meeting Paddy Ferriter – and his dog Bok – the equally lone keeper who watched over the fishing fleet from his lighthouse home on the northern shore of the channel. Not a young man at the time, he still had an eye for the ladies, so Fungi it was obvious that Sheila was his preferred companion and I could chop the wood and walk the dog. As time would show, the dolphin was of the same frame of mind. We would often lodge with Paddy on our trips and listen to his tales of a life spent on the sea, and the changing face of Ireland, into the early hours. Paddy did not believe early-to-bed would make him wise and he favoured sitting by his ancient range “thinking” and smoking his treasured pipe. On one summer day he was visited by a schoolboy friend who had emigrated to America many years earlier. They had no contact over that time, so I was intrigued to listen to them for over an hour, discussing pipe tobacco, after which they parted with no other topic required! There was caution on both sides when we first took to the water and presented ourselves to this wild, large marine mammal, but not for long, as it became obvious the dolphin was as keen to meet humans as we were to meet him. Casual underwater approaches were soon replaced by dolphin-instigated energetic, sometimes rough games or quiet, intimate contacts where he would lie still to be stroked and rubbed until our arms ached. It was late autumn when we took the first plunge, so the town was no longer busy with tourist traffic. It being a reasonably sheltered stretch of water, we decided to continue to visit all winter to see how far the relationship could develop. That time of year had the added advantage of early swims being exclusive, with only the passing fishing fleet distracting the dolphin from his human investigations. New wetsuits allowed us to stay in the cold water for several hours, and we knew Paddy would always have a warming cup of tea brewing on the range. The relationship developed very quickly and offered tremendous photo opportunities, except when our fingers were so numb we could not press the camera shutter! Because of Dingle’s remoteness, there were still a couple of years of relatively peaceful sessions with the dolphin, especially early and late in the day. One of these provided a spectacular occasion when the water was full of bioluminescent plankton, so sparks flew off the dolphin’s tail and lit his wake. We remained regular visitors for seven years, travelling on most weekends and holidays, though becoming intermittent visitors after that, Sheila more often than myself, even up to his disappearance. Sadly, it now looks like the Dingle adventure may be coming to an end: the popular aquatic attraction has not been seen for over a week at time of writing. However, I prefer to think he may have finally encountered a pod of his own species who tempted him not to be the hermit by whom so many people had the pleasure of being entertained. His best identifying mark is a nick in his tail fluke, so we must watch out for a friendlier than normal dolphin with this feature showing up at some other location and entertaining new

Photograph: IWDG (Fungi) Photograph: locals

18 Flukes AROUND IRELAND News from the North Our new Northern Ireland Officer, Aman Muttu, introduces herself conservation and welfare. Originally it • to establish a stronger was my plan to work in marine policy, land-based monitoring network having completed a BA in law and in Northern Ireland Spanish at university. However, I made a decision to major in animal • to engage our Northern Irish welfare science at Master’s level and members and public through talks, achieved an MSc from the University events, workshops and online of Glasgow. My research interests training. focus on the relationship between Due to these strange times, I am anthropogenic noise pollution and inclined to focus largely on online cetacean strandings. training videos and educational talks I have undertaken a ‘Living Seas’ on various subjects, e.g. species traineeship with the Ulster Wildlife identification, behavioural ecology, Trust’s marine conservation anthropogenic impacts on cetaceans. y name is Aman Muttu department, and I have participated in These can then be teamed with and I’m the new IWDG ferry surveys between Belfast practical land-based watches and Northern Ireland Officer and Cairnryan. I am an accredited other public events when things get for the IWDG. I’ve had a JNCC Marine Mammal Observer and a bit more back to normal. Mstrong interest in cetaceans for many PAM (Passive Acoustic Monitoring) That’s the plan anyway! I am itching years and have taken steps to direct operator. to get started and am always open my career towards marine mammal My goal over the next year or two is: to new ideas Killer whales pay visit to Strangford Lough Justin Judge dropped everything to catch sight of the two whales that visited briefly in May

s I spend a fair amount of time in Strangford Lough monitoring cetaceans for mitigation purposes, I am used to seeing the usual grey seal population and the occasional bottlenose Adolphin or harbour porpoise. However, on May 15th, a day when I was not working (Murphy’s law), I got a call that there were killer whales in the area, and not just any killer whales – the legendary John Coe and Aquarius! Naturally I dropped everything I was doing, grabbed my scope and camera and set off on the 30- minute drive to the site. The entire journey there I drove as quickly as safely possible, hoping that the famous pair would still be there when I arrived. I pulled in to the car park alongside others who had received similar reporting calls; all eyes were trained on the water in the same direction. My excitement wasn’t prepared to let me stand and just wait in the car park, hoping for a glimpse, so I set off along the shore in the direction the others were looking Killer whales John Coe and Aquarius in Strangford Lough in. This proved one of the best decisions I have made, as I positioned myself directly parallel to these magnificent animals as they passed around 50 metres from me, Witnessing not only the apex predator of the ocean travelling in succession against the slowly flooding tide. right in front of me, but members of such a fragile I will never forget the bellowing sound of their breath as population, with these two likely being the last of their they surfaced from the calm water: it had a distinctly pod, was a truly humbling experience and one I will thinner note than larger cetaceans. Their dorsal fins cherish for the rest of my life appeared somewhat to never end as they slowly emerged and submerged with each dive. I was fully • AUTHOR Justin Judge is an ecologist, Marine Mammal

Photographs: IWDG (Aman Muttu), Justin Judge (killer whales) (killer Judge Justin Muttu), (Aman IWDG Photographs: immersed in this experience on every level possible. Observer and MPA Officer.

Winter 2020 Flukes 19 EFFORT WATCH A VIEW FROM SHORE An east coast whale watcher’s journey: Brian Glanville on his local watch sites in Dublin and Wicklow

y journey into delivered consistent whale watching porpoise sightings, later began back in joined by regular summer M2006 while visitors to the Kish Bank in sitting on a jam-packed the form of minke whales. Luas, heading home from We’ve had great success work in Dublin city centre. with the Whale Watch I noticed an article about Ireland event on Howth whale watching courses Head over the years, with being run by the IWDG on many excited faces being Cape Clear Island, Co Cork. treated to close encounters Next day, I’d roped my of the blubbery kind. Many mate in and, after an attendees have gone on to informative course become keen members. delivered by the IWDG’s own One of the great Pádraig Whooley, I was opportunities that I’ve been equipped with ID skills, lucky enough to be involved passion and, rather in has been the Irish Sea fortunately, a spotting ferry surveys. The surveys scope. Off I went to take up have been supported by a nice cushioned spot on Irish Ferries, who, for one the headland near day a month, grant us the Balscadden, in Howth, Co honour of carrying out Dublin. sightings surveys from the Over the years, Howth bridges of their vessels on Head has proved to be an the Dublin to Holyhead excellent spot for sightings Wicklow Head lighthouse route. I share the survey on the east coast. Justifying duties on a rotational basis its location within the with two very passionate agree that we have the headland) at two locations: Rockabill to Dalkey Island and committed surveyors, SAC (Special Area of support of an excellent Killiney and Wicklow Head; Ronan Hickey and Mark network of volunteer I’ve left Howth Head in the Photographs: Brian Glanville Brian Photographs: Conservation), it has McDowell. I think we can all surveyors. Dave Wall, who dependable hands of Conal oversees the project, has O’Flanagan. Though not far been a great support over from Howth, both Killiney the years, and our work and Wicklow deliver less in contributes to the network the way of sightings, but of ship surveys around our they definitely keep you on coasts and the data they your toes, with sightings gather. earlier this year of These surveys have bottlenose dolphins, for provided the most amazing example, which was a nice of sightings on the east surprise. coast, including enigmatic The east coast headlands common dolphin pods with are perhaps a harder nut to gannets looming overhead; crack in terms of sightings minke whales feeding in and species than our more groups; and countless famous south and west harbour porpoises. We’ve coast counterparts, but even had friends of the dedication delivers some fishy kind too, with wonderful sightings and incredible sightings of memories. Covid-19 has basking sharks and a wreaked havoc, but sitting thresher shark. on Killiney Hill, scanning for Years have passed and I a fin or a splash in the now carry out my effort water, I can almost forget watches (100 minutes of we are living in such unusual Brian Glanville constant effort on a specific times

20 Flukes Winter 2020 A DAY IN THE LIFE...

Common dolphin stranded at Cartúr, Cuan an Fhóid Dhuibh, Co Mhaigh Eo Species profile Minke whale A LIVE STRANDING Balaenoptera acutorostrata An droimeiteach beag

RESPONDER By Pádraig Whooley, Sightings Officer By Gemma O’Connor gently pushing a dolphin for around 400 m, when we hit a sandbank. he minke whale is our smallest rorqual and the rowing up in north Kerry at It tried to turn back to the deeper most frequently reported and widely distributed the mouth of the Shannon water from which we had come and, baleen whale in Irish waters. The long-held view offered me an early thankfully, I could turn it. Once we that Irish whale-watchers needed to travel to the glimpse into bottlenose were around the sandbank I found it Tsouthwest coast to observe them has in recent years been dolphinsGand a draw to marine life quite surreal to be parking dolphins turned on its head, as the IWDG now receives an increasing which never faded. I remember the side by side where they could recover number of minke sightings from the east and north coasts. excitement of my father and as the tide rose. Their size and limited behavioural repertoire have handed brothers running out of the house It was a long day, from arriving on the minke an image problem, which often results in their to see the “sea pigs” spotted near site at 10.30am to seeing the last playing second fiddle to the more exuberant humpback or Meenogahane pier. dolphin swim off at 4.30pm. Over the the much larger fin whale. In their defence, the minke whale I moved to Blacksod, Co Mayo, in following two days the NPWS and I is the only baleen whale that can be seen from headlands in 2008, a time when a lot of marine checked the local beaches in that all Irish waters. biologists were living in the area, area for dolphins – none was found. So how would you recognise one? If you observe most of working on the Marine Mammal Blacksod Bay is large, so they could the following, then you can be fairly confident of getting it Monitoring project in the have stranded again further east right. Firstly, as whales go, they are small, with adults Broadhaven Bay SAC, for the towards Doolough or Ballycroy, ranging from 7-10 metres. Any whale larger than 10 m is not Corrib gas pipeline. though none were reported. a minke whale. They are generally solitary by nature, Last November, I received a call I’ve attended four live strandings although loose feeding aggregations of 10-30 individuals when a group of common dolphins to date on different beaches of the may occur between April and October and trip counts of stranded at Cartúr. Cartúr is one of a same topography, which included a upwards of 50 animals are not uncommon in places like few beaches on the inside of the Risso’s dolphin, common dolphins west Cork and Kerry. Mullet peninsula which, during spring and a bottlenose dolphin. The RNLI As with all whales, their dorsal fin is located two-thirds’ tides especially, are flat for up to 1 has also refloated common dolphins, way along the back. Their blow reaches just 3 m, but is km when the tide is out. It was a sad which occasionally live-strand at rarely visible; it may, however, be audible if the whale sight of 13 dolphins including four Belmullet town, at the top of surfaces close by or in very calm conditions. calves. Friends, the NPWS and the Blacksod Bay. If you observe a whale with a powerful vertical blow, it is Coast Guard helped me that day. I’ve got to know some people more likely to be a fin whale, while a bushier blow is more The tide was going to turn shortly from the IWDG since then and their likely that of a humpback. Minke whales do not lift their tail and a two-wave plan naturally support for IWDG volunteers is flukes out of the water. They may, however, breach for formed. In wave one we righted phenomenal. I now have a local sustained periods on occasion, so don’t assume that every dolphins and kept them wet. As the WhatsApp group in which any alerts breaching whale is a humpback, and always consider basking tide came in, those in wellies and of strandings can be reported, and sharks! If fortunate enough to enjoy a close encounter in boots retreated just as the surfers more local people are interested in good viewing conditions, you may observe their diagnostic arrived in wetsuits. Any dolphins not being trained once the IWDG live- white band marking around their pectoral fins. finding their way out were now gently stranding courses can happen again. Minke whales are typically unpredictable and difficult to pushed out to deep water, while The IWDG has also fund-raised for a observe for prolonged periods. Once seen, they may dive some of the wobblers were just kept wheeled dolphin stretcher, which will for up to ten minutes before reappearing in a very different upright to get their bearings. make rescues here easier and faster location. They tend to be indifferent to boats, but juveniles may be inquisitive and pay a visit.

Photographs: Gemma O’Connor (common dolphins), Pádraig Whooley (minke whale) (minke Whooley dolphins), Pádraig (common O’Connor Gemma Photographs: At one point I was thigh-deep, for both dolphin and person ❖ They can often be seen feeding among aggregations of seabirds like gannets and Manx shearwaters. They have the most varied diet of all baleen whales, feeding on various small forage fish, including sand eels, sprat, herring and codling. In recent years minkes have been arriving earlier each season, with the first detections in late March and a peak between April and July. This is a significant seasonal change and suggests that minkes, in common with humpbacks, are arriving earlier each year. They can be seen in lower numbers through the autumn into early winter Another common dolphin stranded at Cartúr (same day as above) Winter 2020 Flukes 21 AWARDS Distinguished Contributors Awards 2020 These annual awards seek to acknowledge those who have made a significant contribution to the work of the IWDG. Each recipient is selected independently by the Sightings Officer, the Strandings Officer and the CEO of the IWDG, as well as by the Celtic Mist Committee.

✦ Sightings Award I recommend Ann Trimble for this award, based on her dedication to carrying out land-based effort watches, primarily from Ram Head, Ardmore, Co Waterford, over the past 16 years. Ann and her partner Andrew first appeared on our radar as potential trouble-makers when they joined one of our early whale-watching weekend courses on Cape Clear Island back in 2004! Since then, Ann has carried out hundreds of watches, contributing significantly to our understanding of how large whales use Celtic Sea coastal waters later in the season. Pádraig Whooley

Ann Trimble: Sightings Award 2020

✦ Celtic Mist Award ✦ Data Usage Award I would like to nominate Mick O’Meara My nomination is Kim Ellen Ludwig for as Celtic Mist volunteer of the year. In best use of IWDG data. Kim analysed this strange year Mick kept the show 26 years of photo-id data from the on the road, as he always does. His way Shannon Dolphin Project. Despite being of working is quiet and efficient. He locked down in Galway for most of the motivates the team to take on the study period, Kim showed great dirtiest work, often leading by example. resolve and determination to plough Mick is the lynchpin that keeps Celtic through the huge IWDG dataset and Mist together. I believe that the project produce really interesting and would be a lot more difficult without important findings on adult mortality Clare Scott: Strandings Award him. and emigration. Fiacc O’Brolchain Simon Berrow ✦ Strandings Award It’s difficult to choose one among a selection of stalwarts in the strandings network, but this year I would like to nominate Clare Scott in Tramore, Co Waterford. For many years now, Clare has been willing to check out local cetacean strandings around her ‘patch’ and always sends on clear, concise information with great photos and the occasional (and much appreciated) bit of humour!

Photographs: Ger Howard (Ann Trimble), IWDG (Clare Scott), IWDG (Mick O’Meara), IWDG (Kim Ellen Ludwig) Ellen (Kim IWDG O’Meara), (Mick IWDG Scott), (Clare IWDG Trimble), (Ann Howard Ger Photographs: Mick O’Connell Mick O’Meara: Celtic Mist Award Kim Ellen Ludwig: Data Usage Award

22 Flukes Winter 2020 National Parks and Wildlife Service

The mission of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is:

● To secure the conservation of a representative range of ecosystems and maintain and enhance populations of flora and fauna in Ireland ● To implement the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and the Wildlife Acts ● To designate and ensure the protection of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), having regard to the need to consult with the interested parties ● To manage and develop the State’s six National Parks and 78 Nature Reserves ● To implement international Conventions and Agreements to which Ireland is party, relating to the natural heritage

NPWS provides the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group with financial support to undertake:

● The IWDG Cetacean Stranding Scheme

The Marine Mammal work undertaken by NPWS includes:

● The management and funding of regular surveys of the SACs designated for harbour porpoise and bottle-nosed dolphin. See the latest reports here: https://www.npws.ie/marine/marine-reports

● Conservation assessments of all cetaceans recorded in Irish waters. Read the latest conservation assessments here: https://www.npws.ie/publications/article-17-reports/article-17-reports-2007

● Coordination and co-funding, with Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, of the ObSERVE Programme – the most comprehensive offshore survey of cetaceans in Irish waters ever undertaken: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/12374-observe-programme

Harbour Porpoise seen during Blasket Island Survey (Photo: Randall Counihan of IWDG) Northern Ireland Local Group/ Northern Ireland Officer Aman Muttu [email protected]

Contacts Donegal Local Group 086 222 3328

Sligo Local Group [email protected]

Mayo Local Group [email protected]

Celtic Mist Irish Language Officer Pádraic de Bháldraithe IWDG ABR Marine [email protected] Celtic Mist Mammal Ecologist Clowie Russell Galway Local Group [email protected] [email protected]

West Clare Local Group [email protected] IWDG Officer & IWDG Head Office Consultancy Team 065 905 1763 Member Education & Outreach Officer [email protected] Meadhbh Quinn Sibéal Regan [email protected] [email protected]

North Kerry Local Group [email protected]

Conservation Officer Dave Wall [email protected]

West Waterford Local Group [email protected]

Sightings Officer Pádraig Whooley [email protected] Whale Watch Ireland 2021 Live strandings August or September See our website for details National Parks and Wildlife Service closer to the time +353 1 888 3242 Events and courses IWDG Strandings Officer The IWDG runs a number of events and courses Stephanie Levesque throughout the year. For upcoming events, please IWDG Head Office, Kilrush, Co Clare [email protected] see https://iwdg.ie/events