Irish checklist:
No up to date checklist, but a recent list of all known Irish marine mammals in: National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2008. The status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland. NPWS, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin.
Number of marine mammal species:
24 cetaceans + 2 seals
Primary sources of distribution data:
- Irish Whale and Dolphin Group: cetaceans
- European Seabirds at Sea (maintained by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee): seal and cetacean databases. ESAS cetacean sightings 1980-2003* are available through Biodiversity Maps.
- The Coastal and Marine Resources Centre, Cork: seal and cetacean databases
- National Parks and Wildlife Service: seal data*
An All-Ireland Marine Mammals Database is compiled and managed by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and will be made accessible through Biodiversity Maps.
*Databases held by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and made accessible throughBiodiversity Maps.
National conservation assessment:
Article 17 reporting – all 26 species listed in EU Habitats Directive: National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2008. The status of EU Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland. NPWS, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin.
Monitoring or repeat surveys in place:
- Land-based monitoring (IWDG under contract to the National Parks and Wildlife Service)
- Seal counts (NPWS rangers)
- Ferry Surveys (IWDG)
