Dear Colleagues, I would like to inform you of a new publication in the Irish Naturalists' Journal (published in December 2022, details below). Please email me with any questions or enquiries. Best wishes, Conor Ryan
Ryan, C. (2022) Insights into the biology and ecology of whales in Ireland 100 years ago from archived whaling data. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 39: 24-35. https://irishnaturalistsjournal.org/whats-new-in-the-inj/ Abstract: Whaling in Ireland began in the 14th century and ended in 1976. This paper focuses on industrial shore-based whaling carried out from two stations in Co. Mayo (Iniskea and Blacksod) from 1908 to 1922. Archive landing records (n = 894) were analysed providing coarse but important baseline information on diet, sex ratios, pregnancy rates, and seasonal occurrences of Blue, Fin, Humpback, Northern Right, Sei and Sperm Whales. Catches were skewed in favour of females in Blue Whales and males for Sei and Sperm Whales. Right and Sei Whales arrived in the whaling ground in May-June followed by Blue and Fin Whales in July-August. Right Whales appear to have been driven locally extinct by whaling, while Humpback Whales were apparently already scarce by 1908. Whaling had a profound and enduring impact on the numbers of Blue, Right and Sei Whales in the former whaling ground.
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