24-07-2025
Pod of dolphins spotted close to Wexford coast
On Wednesday, July 23, a local fisherman, Damien Burke, spotted the mammals along the Arthurstown area of the county, which created great excitement. 'They're just beautiful to see,' he said.
"They came right up to the boat. I spotted them first on Wednesday and they were still there this morning (Thursday),' he added.
Mr Burke identified the dolphins as the Common Dolphin, which feed on horse mackerel, sauries, herring, lantern fish and squid and are approximately between 1.5 m to 2.7 m in size.
These dolphins are the most regularly sighted in Ireland and a spokesperson from the Irish Dolphin and Whale Group, Cian Ó Nialáin warned that 'while they're very interesting creatures, people shouldn't go out after them for their social media'.
"We've a code of conduct that we ask people to adhere to, because often times common sense goes out the window when there's pretty dolphins swimming around the river,' he continued.
"We ask that anyone on the river reduces their boat speed down to below seven knots, if possible; Limit your encounters with the dolphins to 30 minutes, and take special care when calves are present, never come between a mother and a calf.
"Maintaining a steady course parallel to the animals is also important and don't corral them between boats either. Let them approach you,' Mr Ó Nialáin said.
In the case where a dolphin is spotted 'swimming frantically around in shallow water' or starts 'getting worryingly close to the shore in the shallow water' without an easy return to the deeper levels, contact should be made with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group's hotline.
This emergency hotline is only for animals stranded alive and can be contacted on (097) 28118.
