CE0914 Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Marine Mammals Observations Survey

The main objective of the survey was to conduct a habitat specific survey of deep diving cetaceans, particularly the beaked whale species. The survey area covered waters over the Porcupine Bank, Porcupine Slopes and Irish Shelf and slopes to the west of Mayo.

The survey vessel travelled at an average speed of 8 knots while on transect, except in heavy swell. The ship spent from 08:30 – 20:30 each day on visual and acoustic transect, and from 20:30 – 08:30 altered between steaming at 8 knots and being stationary while conducting Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD), water sampling and plankton hauls. Both visual observations of cetaceans and acoustic surveys took place (using a Towed Hydrophone Array, Deep C-Pods and ABCD Hydrophone Array).