In a remarkable event, a humpback whale has been spotted in the Shannon Estuary, Ireland, marking the first occurrence of this species in an Irish river. The immature whale has been seen feeding near Moneypoint Power Station, raising concerns about potential ship strikes due to high vessel speeds.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has urged ships to reduce their speed to 10 knots (19 km/h) to protect the whale. Simon Berrow from the IWDG emphasized the risks of collisions, stating that ships traveling at higher speeds may not allow the whale enough time to evade them.
This unprecedented sighting is significant as the humpback is likely to remain in the estuary for at least a month before embarking on a 4,000 km migration to breed off West Africa. The IWDG is monitoring the situation closely and using drones to track the whale's movements.
Historically, humpback whales have been spotted off the coast of Ireland, particularly around West Cork and Loop Head, but this sighting in the Shannon Estuary is entirely new. The IWDG aims to identify the whale by capturing images of its unique tail patterns.
As humpback populations have been increasing in Irish waters over the past two decades, this sighting highlights the changing marine ecosystem, likely influenced by climate change and shifts in fish distribution.