Diesel threat to Fungie the dolphin

A friendly dolphin which frolics amongst tourists off the west coast is at risk from diesel which is spilling from a trawler grounded on rocks.

Maritime experts are trying to keep Fungie the dolphin away from the Celestial Dawn which became trapped on rocks while trying to put to sea during storms at the weekend.

Absorbent booms have been placed around the Spanish boat, and its leaking 39,000 litres of diesel, in a bid to protect wildlife around Dingle Bay, Co Kerry.

But there are fears about the safety of the inquisitive dolphin, which swims alone around the bay after being left behind by her companions many years ago.

"Fungie is a huge tourist attraction around Dingle Bay and in the summer will swim alongside boats and leap out of the water to say hello," said a spokesman from the Department of the Marine.

"But now she has swum alongside the boats that are trying to deal with the grounded trawler to see what all the fuss is about and it is causing some worry.

"Usually people are delighted to see her but right now they want her to swim away - diesel and dolphins don't mix. If any gets into her system it could make her very ill."

He added: "There is some diesel in the water and more is leaking. We have booms in place and we are not facing a major environmental problem."

Marine pollution officials and inspectors from the vessel's insurance company are conducting an overhead survey of the scene to check for pollution and to establish how to move the vessel.

But with bad weather bringing rough seas it was proving difficult to get a line to the trawler.