| Photographs by IWDG/Padraig Whooley |
Factfile |
Order |
Cetacea |
Two Main Groups |
Mysticeti (Baleen Whales)
Odontoceti (Toothed Whales) |
79 Species, 31 recorded in European Waters, 24 recorded in Ireland |
South and West Ireland is one of the best Whale watching areas in Europe |
Whaling in Ireland occurred between 1908 & 1915, and 1920 & 1922 |
In 1991 Ireland became the first country in Europe to declare its waters a Marine Mammal Sanctuary, protecting Seals and Cetacea up to 320km off the Irish Coast |
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Species which have been recorded in Irish waters include:
Whales |
Dolphins |
Blue Whale
Humpback Whale
Northern Right Whale
Fin Whale
Sei Whale
Minke Whale
Sperm Whale
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White Sided Dolphin
White Beaked Dolphin
Killer Whale (Orca)
Long Finned Pilot Whale
Risso’s Dolphin
Common Dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin
Harbour Porpoise
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The Whale and Dolphin family are called “cetaceans”, pronounced (set-a-shuns). These are large marine mammals with smooth furless bodies and flippers, and are perfectly adapted to life in the sea.
Of the 79 species of cetacean, 24 have been recorded off Ireland. These range from 5ft long Harbour Porpoises up to the 100ft giant the Blue Whale.
Others include the rarely seen Beaked Whales, which live in the open ocean. Most of what is known of Beaked Whales come from stranded animals and they are probably more common off Ireland than records suggest.
There are two separate whale families: the Baleen whales and the Toothed whales. They vary distinctly in size, diet and behaviour.
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| Baleen Whales |
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These are usually large, solitary whales, which feed mainly on krill and small fish. They take huge gulps of food and water into their mouths and using their tongue, push the water back through the large Baleen plates hanging from their upper jaw, before swallowing the food which has been trapped in the plates.
The Baleen plates are made of chitin, the same material that is the basis for human hair and nails: these stiff hairs have thousands of small gaps and act like a sieve, allowing water out of the mouth but keeping food inside.
Whales from this family include the Blue, Humpback, Fin and Minke Whales. |
| Toothed Whales |
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These are usually smaller and more social than the Baleen whales. These whales catch larger fish and squid using their long stud like teeth. They usually live closer to shore and form tight family groups.
This family includes the Bottlenose Dolphin (e.g. Flipper, Fungi), Killer Whale and Sperm Whale.
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| Whales and Dolphins in Ireland |
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These animals are protected under Irish law: the killing or harm of whales, dolphins and seals are illegal
Thanks to these measures and increased environmental awareness, Ireland now has one of Europe’s healthiest cetacean populations and is a premier whale watching destination.
Having said this, populations of the great whales – such as Blue, Fin and Humpback - are still a fraction of what they were a century ago, with Grey Whales extinct in the Atlantic.
Good whale watching areas in Ireland run along the west coast from Donegal to Waterford, as the gulf stream provides rich feeding grounds with many bays and estuaries to shelter from rough weather. If you decide to do some whale watching from the coast, BE CAREFUL, as good whale watching locations are usually cliffs and headlands and these can be deadly even in moderate weather. Always have a friend with you, and wear a flotation suit or life-jacket: they may save your life!
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| Species you may encounter |
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Here are a few species you may spot in the waters around Ireland…
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Bottlenose Dolphin |
This is to many people the Dolphin, made famous by the T.V. series “Flipper”.
They are highly social and fun loving animals, who hunt and live in family groups called Pods.
They can be found in bays and estuaries all over Ireland feeding on Mackerel, Herring and many other fish species. They can move long distances in search of food and use echolocation to search for food and “talk” to each other.
An adult male can grow to 4m long and weigh 270kg; females about 3.2m and 190kg. These are the second most common cetacean around Irish waters, after the Harbour Porpoise. The Shannon Estuary has a permanent population of around 40 Bottlenose Dolphins, and this number more than doubles during the summer.
When food is very plentiful, they can occasionally form “super-pods” of over 1,000 animals Places to see Bottlenose Dolphins:
Clew Bay, Killary Bay, Bantry Bay, Galway Bay, Shannon Estuary and Dingle Bay.
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Harbour Porpoise (Muc Mara) |
This is Ireland’s most abundant cetacean, and also our smallest.
Females grow to 1.7m long with males fully grown at 1.5m. Weight ranges from 45 to 65kg.
These are typically inshore animals, living within 10km of the coast. Around Ireland they feed mostly Poor Cod and Whiting, as well as members of the Herring family e.g. Sprat. Their population is unknown, but there are thought to be between 30,000 to 50,000 between Rosslare and Galway Bay. They can live for between 15 and 20 years. There is a major nursery area off the South-west coast.
Sadly, between 1,000 and 2,000 Harbour Porpoise are killed each year by fishing nets in the Celtic Sea alone. |
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Orca, Killer Whale (Cráin dubh) |
This is perhaps the most recognisable animal on earth. Despite its name, it is actually a type of Dolphin. It feeds mostly on fish such as mackerel and herring, but also feeds on seals, porpoises and dolphins. The Killer Whale is the only animal on the planet (apart from humans) which attacks and kills other whales. They have been observed chasing and killing the calves of Grey and Fin Whales, before eating just the tongue and lower jaw.
Adult Killer’s can grow up to 9.5m long and weigh up to 9,000kg (9 tonnes). They are extremely social, living in small pods. Like other dolphins, they use echolocation to locate fish and communicate. When feeding, they force shoals of mackerel or herring into tight “bait balls”, and use their powerful tail to slap the fish at the edge of the “ball” to stun them, then pick them off individually. |
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Sperm Whale |
The largest carnivore on earth, these whales can dive to great depths in search of their favourite food, squid
Male (bull) Sperm Whales can grow to 16m in length and 65 tonnes weight. Females are smaller, reaching 11m and 20 tonnes weight.
They get their common name from an oil called spermaceti which is found in the front of their bulbous head; this becomes very dense to aid in diving to great depths. During these dives it is thought that the bull whales engage in titanic battles with giant squid but this had never been recorded on camera.
There are estimated to be 20,000 Sperm Whales in the North Atlantic.
Did You Know?
Ambergris, which is highly valued for cosmetics, originates from the gut of the Sperm Whale. |
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