Coinciding with the National Biodiversity week in Ireland, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group just launched a new app to report dolphins and whales. In an effort to improve and support the national survey effort in Irish Waters, the app allows a wide audience of citizen scientists, researchers, boat operators, wildlife enthusiasts and whale watchers to share their sightings of dead or alive cetaceans in an accessible manner. It also provides offline mode, drafts for unfinished data, and addition of pictures. The reports will be validated and added to a database for research, conservation and welfare.
Besides the usual whales, dolphins and porpoises, basking sharks are also a big focus for this project. By the beginning of last week, over 2000 people had signed an online petition calling for legal protection for basking sharks in Irish waters. The endangered species has historically played a big role in national fishery, so they do not (yet) enjoy the same protection in law as whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seals in the Irish sea. The bill may make it illegal for anyone to intentionally injure, disturb or harass basking sharks in the world’s oceans. These animals can now also be monitored and reported in the new app.
For more details on the app and where to download it, see here: IWDG Reporting App| Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
