We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
A SPECIES OF Whale that is near extinction has been spotted off the coast of Donegal.
It’s the first time the North Atlantic Right whale has been spotted in Ireland since the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group was established in 1990.
After a probable sighting by a local last month, an American tourist from Massachusetts made similar claims, saying he watched a whale - ”which he was certain wasn’t a humpback and believed it to be a Northern right whale” – from the shore in the bay between Lower Cruit Island and Arranmore, Co Donegal, at a range of around 500m.
The man had 40 years experience of whale watching as he sees this species quite often from his Cape Cod home.
He did not get a photo of the whale, but the IWDG says his account was compelling.
“This is an exceptionally rare record for the Eastern Atlantic, where this species has been largely absent for decades, if not longer. We can make a convincing argument that the last positive identification of this species in Ireland dates back to 1910.”
There remains only a remnant population of these whales – between 350 and 400 – and almost all of these exist along the east coast of the United States.
“The outlook for their survival isn’t a good one, as both ship strike and entanglement in fishing gear remove individuals from a dwindling population annually,” Pádraig Whooley, IWDG Sightings Officer says.
“We know that historically this species once existed in Irish waters, how many we don’t know.
“IWDG has no monopoly on whale records in Ireland, but as the largest cetacean data holder in the country, one would reasonably expect that if they were out there, even in low numbers, that at least one would have appeared among our records.”
The IWDG is asking observers in northwest waters and Donegal in particular to be extra vigilant and to report any unusual whale sightings either on www.iwdg.ie or through the group’s reporting app.
It has promised a complimentary IWDG hoodie along with a year’s free membership to the next person to confirm with photographic evidence of the presence and whereabouts of this pioneering right whale.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Ssshhhh….don’t tell the Japs!
Four of the first five reports on this page CLOSED to comments, What’s the point in Publishing ? ? ?
@vxQ6cYzh: maybe I’m taking a wild guess here, but perhaps people are not that interested in the comments these days.
@vxQ6cYzh: Or they delete them if it doesn’t suit their narrative
@Kush OMeara: out of interest, what is their narrative ?
Was it a right Whale, or a far right Whale??
I saw the Loch Ness monster last week, but unfortunately I didn’t get a photo,
Was it the 1st star trek film ? About the whale ? Absolutely brilliant ! The Japoneese and sushi eaters should be really ashamed of themselves.
@offside again: Why can’t people eat sushi due to whaling?(Am I missing satire and/or a reference?)
@offside again: That would be Star Trek 4, The Voyage home
@Diarmuid Hunt: because they have a whale of a time.
@Diarmuid Hunt: I’m a bit drunk sorry.
Never tried sushi, doesn’t appeal to me
@Ger Whelan: you’re right, thanks Ger !
This species of whale gave large amounts of whale oil for its size. Not only that but after it was harpooned and killed it floated, so it could be marked with a buoy and collected later. So this poor beast was the right one to go for. The Right Whale.
have your say