North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) in Irish Waters: 1300-1987

Abstract

North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) once occurred seasonally in Irish waters but in recent decades their presence has declined. This study reviews the existing literature to develop an understanding of the past distribution of North Atlantic right whales, their abundance, temporal occurrence, interspecies associations and apparent use of Irish waters. Ancillary information supporting these core aims was investigated to provide a context for the historical misidentification of North Atlantic right whales and the development of Irish whaling to evaluate the presence of this species in Irish waters. Records of the species within the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), between 1300—1987 were validated based on the available data to three confidence levels: definite, probable and possible right whales. Seventeen records comprising at least 42 individual whales exist (including probable Basque whaling effort from the fourteenth century to the sixteenth century). Of the records available, 52% were considered ‘definitely’ right whales with eight comprising 22 individuals from two early twentieth century and two mid-seventeenth century commercial whaling stations operating in the northwest of Ireland. Six ‘probable’ right whale records involving 15 individuals were identified, including two sightings from the late twentieth century while two ‘possible’ records of five individuals were also noted. The previous importance of Ireland's north western coastline as a potential early summer feeding area in the Northeast Atlantic for migrating right whales, along with the apparent extirpation of the species in the region are also discussed.