Dolphin activity spurs call for special area of conservation

An expert group is to recommend to the Wildlife Service an extension of a special area of conservation (SAC) for dolphins from the Shannon estuary into two of Kerry’s bays.

Dr Simon Berrow, founding director of the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group (IWDG), said his organisation had been carrying out a study of dolphin activity in the Tralee and Brandon bays and discovered significant numbers of the creatures.

This week, an IWDG team aboard the Celtic Mist sailing boat (donated in 2011 to the charity by the Haughey family) spotted a pod of more than 60 bottlenose dolphins in the bays. “We recognised a large number were dolphins which are usually in the Shannon estuary. We know this because of the unique markings on their dorsal fins which are like fingerprints.”

He said it was likely the Shannon dolphins were in Tralee and Brandon bays more often than originally thought. “We have put down acoustic devices as well so we can do an assessment of the actual number of dolphins in those areas.”

The IWDG survey is being funded by the North East Kerry Development (NEKD) with the hope it will end up generating more eco-tourism in the region.

“I definitely think there is potential for this type of tourism in the area and it would be an economic boost for the region. North Kerry doesn’t have the same amount of tourism as other parts of the county,” Dr Berrow said.

He said locals were now joking “the Brandon dolphins spend a bit of time in the Shannon”.

“We propose to recommend to the Wildlife Service that they extend the Shannon SAC to include Tralee and Brandon bays,” Dr Berrow said.