Blog Post

*Updated Post: Fin whale sighted in Dublin Port!

admin admin • Oct 06, 2019

A whale which was identified by marine biologists at Ocean Research & Conservation Ireland (O.R.C.Ireland) as a juvenile fin whale has been found swimming around in Dublin Port. This animal is likely sick or injured and it is advised to give it space as it may have come in to strand.

The whale was sighted by the Stena Line Berth, along the River Liffey, Co. Dublin on Wednesday the 2nd of October. Given it's small size this animal may be easily confused with a minke whale (Ireland's smallest baleen whale), and it had many naturalists and members of the public asking, what kind of whale is this?

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) in Dublin Port yesterday. We confirm spp. I.D. based on the tall blow, the blowholes and the dorsal fin are not visible at the same time as with a minke and, has chevrons and glimpse of white lower right jaw @ObserversApp https://t.co/RKjF4I4xJA
— Ocean Research & Conservation (O.R.C.) (@ORCireland) October 3, 2019

We put this question to bed the first night this animal was seen, it was a juvenile fin whale! How did we know? Well there were a few tell tail signs, including the distinguishable lower right hand jaw, tall blow or spout and prominent ridge leading from the tip to the back of the rostrum.

The fin whale is a rare sight in Dublin Port and is likely a sick or injured animal. It is thus advised that we give this animal space and hope it goes back out to sea soon! If you do see this animal please make sure you send us a report and contribute to citizen science through the Observers App available to download free on Google Play.

Now that we have cleared up what species of whale this is, we can laugh about the fact that RTE weren't even sure it was a whale and some of the best tweets in response to their comment "There is believed to be a whale in Dublin Port" lol.

****Update: Whale Stranded in Dublin Bay.

A fin whale which was observerd swimming around Dublin Port on the 2nd of October has been been found stranded on Dollymount Strand, Bull Island, Co. Dublin. Passengers and crew on the Irish Ferries vessel Ulysses spotted the corpse of the fin whale floating in the water as the vessel left Dublin Port on Friday. The dead whale was regarded as a hazard to shipping so its remains were towed further out to sea by a Dublin Port vessel where it was expected to sink after a few hours. The whale's carcass had been dragged back out to sea, however returned to land, as they can often do with drift and wind conditions.

This highlights the need for a better stranding response plan to be in place for large whales such as fin and humpback whales. Little information is currently available to local authorities about the best course of action for dealing with an animal as large as a fin whale washing ashore or dying in a busy shipping port.

Fin whale stranded on Bull Island, Co. Dublin. Photo by Mark Collins.

© Ocean Research & Conservation Ireland (ORCireland) and www.orcireland.ie , est. 2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Ocean Research & Conservation Ireland and www.orcireland.ie with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

< Older Post Newer Post >

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

TAKE ACTION: Ban Pair Trawling in Inshore Irish Waters

By ORCA SciComm Team • 10 Apr, 2024

The Urgent Call to Protect Our Marine Life: Stand Against Pair Trawling in Irish Waters ORCA SciComm Team | 10th of April 2024 In the diverse waters surrounding Ireland, a battle for the future of marine conservation is being waged—a battle that calls for your voice and action. As a leading marine conservation NGO, ORCA Ireland are at the forefront of advocating for the protection of our oceans and the incredible life they harbor. Today, we stand united with other leading organisations around the country against a grave threat: pair trawling within the 6 nautical mile zone, a practice that endangers the rich biodiversity of our coastal waters.

New Research on Distinct Species of Killer Whales

By Emer Keaveney • 30 Mar, 2024

New Research on Distinct Species of Killer Whales Emer Keaveney/ ORCA SciComm | 29th March 2024

Ocean Noise Pollution - Episode 2 - Impacts on Marine Wildlife

By Kiera Mc Garvey Sears • 16 Jan, 2024

Ocean Noise Pollution - Impacts on Marine Wildlife Kiera Mc Garvey Sears I 16th January 2024 Marine noise pollution can have significant negative impacts on marine mammals, including increased stress levels, tissue damage, hearing loss, and even death, and researchers are studying how individual responses to noise can affect the overall population.

URGENT need for an International Fossil Fuel Non-Expansion Treaty

By ORCA Scicomm Team • 15 Dec, 2023

URGENT need for an International Fossil Fuel Non-Expansion Treaty. ORCA Sci-comm Team I 15th December 2023.

Are Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) developments just a “quick-fix” money-making scheme by greenwashing energy companies?

By ORCA SciComm Team • 01 Dec, 2023

Are Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) developments just a “quick-fix” money-making scheme by greenwashing energy companies? ORCA SciComm Team | 1st December 2023

COP28 Controversies: The Urgency of Action and Accountability

By ORCA SciComm Team | 30th November 2023 • 30 Nov, 2023

COP28 Controversies: The Urgency of Action and Accountability ORCA SciComm Team | 30th November 2023 COP28 represents the UN's most recent series of international climate negotiations taking place from November 30th to December 12th, 2023. This year, it is hosted by the UAE in Dubai and is expected to be attended by 167 world leaders, among them the Pope and King Charles III. As the first day of COP28 begins, the critical climate conference taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), we at ORCA Ireland find ourselves reflecting on the paradox that frames this event. The UAE, a nation with an economy that is built on oil and gas production, is hosting a summit aimed at mitigating the very crisis exacerbated by fossil fuels. This juxtaposition is not lost on the global community, particularly in light of leaked documents suggesting an agenda to boost oil and gas production rather than reduce it.

Ocean Noise - Part 1 - Episode 1

By Kiera McGarvey Sears I ORCA Scicomm Team • 21 Nov, 2023

Ocean Noise Pollution - Part 1 - Episode 1 20th November 2023 I Kiera Mc Garvey Sears - ORCA Scicomm Team ORCA Ireland is delighted to present a new educational series focusing on Ocean Noise Pollution. Written and produced by ORCA Ireland's Educational Officer, Marine Biologist - Kiera Mc Garvey Sears, this episode explores some of the sources of noise in our oceans, including biophony, geophony and anthrophony. Dive in and learn about this unseen but not unheard threat to marine wildlife in our oceans. Ocean noise, both natural and human-introduced, has a significant impact on marine life and ecosystems. Here is why:

Remembering Lolita: The Tragic Death of a Captive Killer Whale

By ORCA SciComm Team • 21 Aug, 2023

Lolita, also known as Tokitae, was a killer whale who was captured from the wild in 1970 and has been living in captivity ever since. She was the last surviving orca from the infamous capture of the Southern Resident killer whales in Penn Cove, Washington. For over 50 years, Lolita has been living in a small tank at the Miami Seaquarium, where she has been performing for crowds and living a life that is far from natural.