Whales in the waters surrounding Ireland encounter a fresh hazard
In the cold, expansive waters surrounding Ireland, a fascinating narrative of recovery and challenge unfolds for the region's once-threatened marine life.
Back in the early 1990s, Charles Haughey, the then taoiseach, declared Europe's first Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary in Irish territorial waters, marking a significant milestone in the protection of these majestic creatures. However, the road to this sanctuary was not without its hardships.
The historical whaling operation in Ireland came to a halt in 1914 due to the outbreak of war, but it was briefly revived in the 1920s and 1920s at Ely Bay, catching an additional 202 whales. The most numerous quarry species comprised fin whales, but it is hard to believe they managed to catch 66 blue whales, rarely seen in Irish waters but now gradually increasing again in the Atlantic.
The remains of an industrial whaling station can still be found on the island of South Inishkea off Co Mayo, where two whaling stations operated from 1908 to 1914, killing a total of 693 whales of six species. The historic operation ended when the last whaling station was destroyed by fire in 1923, and the demise of this local industry was probably hastened by the replacement of whale oil with fossil fuels.
Fast forward to the present day, and the story takes a more optimistic turn. Fin and sperm whale populations may also be recovering, and grey whales, once extinct in the Atlantic, are now recolonizing due to climate change. Dr Simon Berrow, a marine biologist and the founder of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), suggests that humpback whale populations are increasing due to an end to killing them and possibly climate change.
However, these recovering populations face new challenges. Humpback whales, one of the giant visitors to Irish waters, could be under threat due to overfishing of their main food source, the sprat. The unrelenting fishing of sprat in Irish waters may be more than the giants of the ocean, such as humpback whales, can survive, potentially threatening their populations.
To address this issue, the Government has resolved to impose a ban on the trawling of sprat in Irish inshore waters by vessels over 18 metres in length, starting from October 1st. This move is seen as a positive step by whale conservation groups, but they continue to push for stronger regulations on the industrial fishing of forage fish to support whale populations.
The sprat overfishing has led to a decline in "world-class whale-watching" experiences. Colin Barnes, a west Cork skipper, established one of Ireland's first whale-watching businesses over a quarter of a century ago. However, the decline in sprat populations has made it harder for whales to be spotted, negatively impacting Barnes' business and the tourism industry as a whole.
Common dolphin numbers in Irish waters have increased significantly due to a shift in their distribution rather than a population increase. Dr Berrow suggests that whales are moving farther north in Irish waters due to changing fish distribution, a phenomenon likely influenced by climate change.
The Northern Right Whale species is considered extinct in Irish and European waters since early 20th-century intensive whaling and lack of sightings since then, highlighting long-term human impact on whale populations in the region.
In summary, the government is beginning to address the issue with restrictions, but conservation groups advocate for more robust measures to manage fishing and protect whales amid the broader challenges posed by climate change and ecosystem disruption. The future of whale populations in Irish waters remains a complex and evolving story, one that requires continued vigilance and action from all stakeholders.
[1] Berrow, S. (2019). Whales and Climate Change in Irish Waters. IWDG Report. [2] Fairley, J. (2008). Irish Whales and Whaling. Belfast: Blackstaff Press. [3] IWC (International Whaling Commission). (2021). Status of Whale Populations. Retrieved from https://iwc.int/status-of-whale-populations [4] IWDG (Irish Whale and Dolphin Group). (2021). Humpback Whales in Ireland. Retrieved from https://iwdg.ie/species/humpback-whale/ [5] O'Connor, F. (2019). Clonakilty Protest Against Uncontrolled Sprat Fishing. The Irish Times. Retrieved from https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/clonakilty-protest-against-uncontrolled-sprat-fishing-1.3988801
- The recovery and increase in whale populations, such as fin whales, sperm whales, grey whales, and possibly humpback whales, in Irish waters may be attributed to environmental-science efforts like the Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary, as well as climate change, which could be impacting fish distribution.
- In the financial sector, the sprat overfishing issue has led to concerns within the energy industry, as whale populations could be negatively affected by the declining sprat population, potentially threatening whale-watching tourism and the tourism industry as a whole.
- The Government's decision to ban trawling of sprat in Irish inshore waters is a step towards ensuring the sustainability of whale populations, but it also underscores the need for stronger regulations on industrial fishing, as advocated by whale conservation groups, to mitigate the effects of climate change on the overall health of marine ecosystems.
