Whales and Dolphins
Of the 24 cetacean species reported in Ireland, ten species (Harbour porpoise, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, White-beaked dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Common dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, Killer whale, Northern bottlenose whale, Long-finned pilot whale and Sperm whale) are thought to be present year-round
Irish waters contain an array of potential marine habitats for cetaceans, including shallow continental shelf waters (<200 m deep), those overlying the continental slope, deep ocean basins off the western seaboard (c. 2,500-4000 m depth), gullies and canyons along the continental slope and shallow offshore banks (<200 m depth). Shallow continental shelf waters extend up to 200 km from the coast and include the Irish Sea
Irish waters contain an array of potential marine habitats for cetaceans, including shallow continental shelf waters (<200 m deep), those overlying the continental slope, deep ocean basins off the western seaboard (c. 2,500-4000 m depth), gullies and canyons along the continental slope and shallow offshore banks (<200 m depth). Shallow continental shelf waters extend up to 200 km from the coast and include the Irish Sea
