Marine Mammals
In 2010, as part of the initiative to review the State of Knowledge on Ireland’s Biological Diversity the National Biodiversity Data Centre produced an inventory of sources of biodiversity data. The inventory was developed by inviting recognised national experts to identify the state of knowledge.
Long-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melas) – Dave Wall
Irish checklist
Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) – Dave Wall
Number of marine mammal species
26 cetacean species and six seal (pinniped) species have been recorded in Ireland. Eurasian otter also inhabits coastal and estuarine habitats and may do so exclusively.
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) – Dave Wall
Primary sources of distribution data
- Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
- IWDG Casual Cetacean Sightings*
- IWDG Cetacean Strandings Database*
- IWDG Constant Effort Cetacean Sighting Scheme*
- IWDG Ferry Survey Sightings*
- IWDG Ship Surveys Sightings*
- IWDG Heritage Council Surveys 2004*
- IWDG ISCOPE Surveys 2005 – 2009*
- IWDG non-effort related sightings 2003 – 2015*
- IWDG PRECAST Surveys 2003 – 2011*
- European Seabirds at Sea: seal and cetacean databases
- University College Cork
- National Parks and Wildlife Service
- NPWS Seal Database 1960 – 2013*
- NPWS Seal Database 2014 – 2024
- Otter Survey of Ireland 1982*
- Otter survey of Ireland 2004 – 2005*
- Otter Survey of Ireland 2010 – 2012
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, University of St Andrews.
- SCANS Survey Data (1995)
- SCANS II Survey Data (2005)*
- CODA Deep Water Survey (2007)
- SCANS III (2016)
- SCANS IV (2022)
- Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
- ObSERVE Aerial Surveys (2015-2017)*
- ObSERVE Towed Passive Acoustic Surveys (2015-2017)*
- ObSERVE Visual Ship-based Surveys (2015 – 2017)*
- ObSERVE Aerial Surveys (2021-2025)
*Databases held by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and made accessible through Biodiversity Maps
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) – Dave Wall
National conservation assessment
- Article 17 reporting – 24 cetacean and 2 seal species assessed in NPWS (2019). The Status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland. Volume 3: Species Assessments. Unpublished NPWS report. Edited by: Deirdre Lynn and Fionnuala O’Neill.
Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) – Dave Wall
Monitoring or repeat surveys in place
- Land-based effort monitoring (IWDG)
- Seal haul-out counts (NPWS)
- Ferry based cetacean surveys (IWDG)
- Ship-based cetacean surveys (NPWS/Marine Institute)
- OBSERVE Aerial surveys (DECC/UCC)
- National Otter Survey (QUB/NPWS)