_________________________________________________
Ananova
:
Renewed
Interest in Whale Watching in Ireland
IRELAND -
Whale spotters are training their binoculars on seas around Ireland
in the hope of spotting a glimpse of the country's largest visitors.
The organisers of
the country's first WhaleWatch Day have set up six watch sites around
the coastline of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Dr Simon Berrow,
of the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group, says Ireland is one of the most
important places in Europe for cetaceans whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Following the recent
visit of three killer whales to Cork Harbour which drew crowds from
around the country, there is renewed interest in the mammals.
With almost a quarter
of the world's whale species having been spotted around Ireland, the
government designated the 200 miles around its coast a whale sanctuary
in 1991.
Arctic species of
whales travelling south and Mediterranean species moving north can both
be seen around the Irish coast.
The most frequent
sightings are of minke whales and fin whales.
Dr Berrow added:
"People in Ireland can make a real contribution to
the conservation
and welfare of cetaceans in Irish waters by adopting their local headland
as a whale-watching site.
"In doing so
they can build up a better understanding of what creatures inhabit their
the sea in their neighbourhood."
A watch is being
mounted at the Old Head Kinsale, Co Cork, Loop Head, Co Clare, Kilcummin
Head, Co Mayo, Ramore Head, Co Antrim, Howth Head, Co Dublin and Hook
Head, Co Wexford, from 2pm to 5pm.
click
here to return
to the NFTS main page
