Dingle to Mizen Head IMMA

Criterion B: Distribution and Abundance

Sub-criterion B2: Aggregations

Common minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) are often recorded in large numbers within the IMMA, sometimes more than 20 in a single feeding group, and there are records of aggregations of up to 80 recorded ((IWDG 2023). The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group data shows minke whales recorded in aggregations of 3 or more from mid-March to the end of October in the years 2013 to 2022 inclusive. Larger aggregations of 10 or more minke whales have also been recorded from April to October over the same period. These larger aggregations are likely to be related to feeding and/or reproduction as feeding has been noted during many sightings and pulsed calls believed to be associated with mating have been recorded in this area (Lyne, 2023) during periods of minke aggregations in April. While the OBSERVE aerial surveys (Rogan et al, 2018) reported no minke sightings in this IMMA  in 2015 due to the fact there were no transect lines in this area, 2016 saw transect lines (339,377 km² aerial survey coverage in 2016) added for coastal areas of the west coast and as a result large summer concentrations of minke whales were recorded. OBSERVE identified this section of the Irish EEZ as having the largest summer concentration of minke whales in Irish waters, with an overall abundance estimate of 6,578.7 (CV 49.96) in the summer 2016 (Rogan et al, 2018). This number compares with an abundance estimate of 12,417 from the SCANS IV surveys (Gilles et al, 2023) which covered much of the remaining minke whale habitat in the North East Atlantic (1,467,358 km² aerial survey coverage, 270,684 km² ship survey coverage). Indicating that this is potentially the most important area on a seasonal basis for minke whales in the North East Atlantic with repeated recordings of unusually large aggregations (IWDG, 2023).

Criterion C: Key Life Cycle Activities

Sub-criterion C1: Reproductive Areas

There is one important breeding area for Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus atlantica)  and two for harbour seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) seals in this IMMA both of which are defined as SACs, though the seals may breed in small numbers throughout the area these three sites are recognised for their importance for these EU Habitats Directive ANNEX II species and are listed as qualifying interests for the SAC.

An estimated 314 grey seal pups were born in the Blasket Islands SAC in 2011 (Ó’Cadhla et al, 2014). Cronin et al (2013) suggests that grey seals in the southwest of Ireland forage closer to haul-out sites during the summer months. The corresponding minimum population estimate for the site numbered 1,099-1,413 grey seals of all ages (O’Cadhla et al, 2014). A total of 1,574 grey seal pups were estimated to have been born in the Republic of Ireland during the 2005 breeding season (Ó’Cadhla et al 2007). While numbers are not as high as many parts of the UK, grey seal numbers (Banga et al, 2022) in the Blasket colony is significant with 20% of the Irish grey seal population.

The southwest of Ireland appears to be a significant stronghold for harbour seals in Ireland, with 33.6% of the total population. Within the southwest, County Cork and particularly Bantry Bay stand out as the most significant local populations. The two SAC’s for harbour seals are the Kenmare River SAC and Glengarriff Harbour SAC both of which have harbour seals as a qualifying interest and are two of thirteen SACs with harbour seals as a qualifying interest in the Republic of Ireland. Cronin et al (2008) found that tagged harbour seals in the Kenmare River rarely moved outside of the SAC and therefore appear to be largely resident in the SAC and within this IMMA. An aerial survey conducted in 2012, which counted 3,489 harbour seals in Ireland, and an 18.1% increase in numbers since 2003 (Duck and Morris, 2013). Population assessments have been made semi-regularly on a local level in Bantry Bay (Glengarriff Harbour SAC) since 1985, and between 1985 and 2005, a steady linear increase in numbers was seen from 135 to around 400 (Heardman, Donnell, and Mcmahon, 2006).  Foraging trips out to sea may extend 60 km from haul-out sites, but most trips are less than 24 hours and 5 km (Thompson et al., 1996; Cronin, Kavanagh, and Rogan, 2008).

Sub-criterion C2: Feeding Areas

Feeding activity by baleen whales is regularly recorded in this IMMA with sightings of fin whales (Balaenoptera physallus), minke whales and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) (Whooley et al. 2011; Berrow and Whooley 2021). These sightings are often associated with common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and with important sandeel (Ammodytidae) concentrations in spring, and sprat (sprattus sprattus) in summer and autumn which appear to be an important food source for many cetacean, seabirds and other species in the area including bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus),  and sharks.

Humpback whales are known to regularly visit high latitude feeding grounds in the western (U.S., Gulf of Maine; Eastern Canada including Nova Scotia, Labrador, Newfoundland and Gulf of Saint Lawrence and West Greenland) and eastern (Iceland, Norway and Svalbard) North Atlantic during the summer (Katona and Beard, 1990; Palsbøll et al., 1997; Stevick et al., 1999). The low probability of occurrence in winter is consistent with this migratory pattern as animals would migrate out of the IMMA during colder months towards their breeding grounds in the south. Thanks to photo-identification, these migratory movements have been demonstrated with humpback whale matches between Ireland, Cabo Verde and the Dominican Republic and some individuals have been reported in other areas further north, such Iceland and Norway (Berrow et al., 2021).

High resighting rates of some individuals (Berrow et al., 2021), would support the existence of a small group of humpback whales with high site fidelity to coastal Irish waters that use this area as a feeding ground (Blazquez, in press).  Blazquez et al (in review) suggest humpback whale presence was always more probable in waters close to the shore off the coast of Ireland, especially in west Cork and west Kerry, with movement northwards from spring to winter and largely within 50km of the coast or less. Humpback whales are known to feed on small schooling fish such as herring and sprat in Irish waters (Fariñas-Bermejo et al., 2023; Ryan et al., 2014), and humpback whale individuals have  high resighting rates and residency times of up to 186 days (Berrow et al., 2021; Berrow and Whooley, 2022), which suggests that Ireland is not just a mere stopover in their migratory routes but a relevant area for the species. Humpback whales returning to Irish waters are remaining for an average of 7 weeks with 16% for over 3 months (Berrow and Wholley, 2022). It is plausible that some individual humpback whales prefer to exploit Ireland’s inshore waters as a feeding ground, given the high resighting and site fidelity rates observed (Blazquez et al, in review). Inter-annual site fidelity has also been observed (Ryan et al., 2015) with the same animals identified using photo-id returning to the same locations over a number of years.

Bubble netting by humpback whales is also commonly recorded during the summer months as well as lunge feeding and the IWDG (2023) database reveals that 71% of all 461 sightings of this species in this area from 2013 to 2023 were recorded as exhibiting feeding behaviours.

Criterion D: Special Attributes

Sub-criterion D2: Diversity

The IMMA contains year-round populations of common (Delphinus delphis) and common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) as evidenced by land-based  sightings data reported to the IWDG from vantage point effort surveys and validated opportunistic sightings from the public, as well as aerial survey data (Rogan et al, 2018). Seasonal populations of fin (Balaenoptera physalus) (IWDG,2023), humpback and minke whales, along with Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) are sighted in this area from March to September (IWDG, 2023) during effort-based vantage point surveys, and opportunistic sighting data (IWDG, 2023). The 2016 estimate for Rissos dolphins by the OBSERVE aerial survey area, covering most of the western and southern Irish waters to the 200 nautical mile limit, was 2,629 (CV 40.78) (Rogan et al, 2018) and this compares with a SCANS IV abundance estimate of 13,854 for the larger part of the remaining North East Atlantic (Gilles et al, 2023), implying a high concentration or Risso’s dolphins in waters off the west coast of Ireland. The OBSERVE aerial survey reported the highest density of Risso’s dolphins in the summer of 2016 in stratum 8 covering the coastal zone from the Dingle peninsula, in the north of the IMMA to Carnsore Point in the southeast corner of Ireland, with two primary areas of concentration one within the IMMA off the Beara peninsula and the other outside the IMMA to the north off County Wexford, in the south eastern corner of Ireland (Rogan et al, 2018).

Year-round abundance of harbour seals, grey seals, harbour porpoises (Phocena phocena),  common bottlenose, and common dolphins indicate an important resident population of these species which feed, breed and reside in this area, while other species including minke whales and Risso’s dolphins are seasonally present.  Humpback whales occur in the spring to early autumn and fin whales during summer and autumn. This marine mammal diversity is supported by high productivity in coastal waters enriched by strong coastal tidal currents and summer geostrophic currents.

The Blasket Islands SAC at the western end off the northernmost Dingle Peninsula in the IMMA has harbour porpoise as well as grey seals as qualifying interests . Harbour porpoise densities within the SAC have declined significantly over the last decade (O’Brien and Berrow 2022) and dropped down to just 0.08±0.03 porpoises per km²  (CV=0.41 and 95% Confidence Interval of 0.03 to 0.18) which is a decline of 71% on that reported in 2018 and an 88% decline on that reported in 2014  (O’Brien and Berrow 2022). Harbour porpoise have been recorded throughout the area and declines within the SAC may simply reflect the fact that the SAC at 227 km² is not large enough to cover all suitable habitat for harbour porpoise and IWDG (2023) data suggests that harbour porpoise may be found widely throughout the area of the IMMA which is over 4000 km².

Lastly over the last thirty years the IWDG (2023) has received many sightings in this area of killer whales (Orcinus Orca), long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) and more recently northern bottlenose whales (Hyperoodon ampullatus). All sightings have been validated and in many cases with photographic evidence but it is not thought this area represents critical habitat for these species.