Up to 100 basking sharks sighted off Kerry coast

WITH several reported sightings of whales, dolphins and sharks, now is an ideal time for spotting these magnificent creatures off our coasts.

The seas off Cork, Kerry, Clare and Waterford are among the best for the purpose and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) yesterday confirmed it is investigating reports of a large number of basking sharks being seen off Valentia Island in Co Kerry.

Local observers have reported that upwards of 100 sharks are in the area.

Padraig Whooley of the IWDG said the continuing spell of settled weather over the bank holiday weekend had produced a plethora of basking shark, dolphin and even whale sightings from all waters.

He stressed, however, that the Valentia sightings had still not been confirmed and were being investigated.

“These sharks are the second largest fish in the world and Irish waters are among the best areas for seeing them,” Mr Whooley said.

“This is a very productive time of the year in the sea, with plankton blooms in the water off the south particularly. The sharks follow the plankton, which rises to the surface at certain times of the day.

“While the sharks might appear to be basking, they are actually feeding on the plankton. Calm seas also make it easier for people to see the sharks,” he said.

Whales, meanwhile, have been sighted off Dublin and Risso’s dolphins off the Wicklow coast. Basking sharks have also been seen at other sites, with confirmed reports of more than eight, off Glasheedy, Inishowen, Co Donegal.

* People are asked to report all cetacean sightings to the IWDG via the website, www.iwdg.ie.