Whale and Dolphin Project;

Recently the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group Secretary, Padraig Whooley (77 Westland Square, Pearse St., Dublin 2. Telephones: Home 01 6798351, Work 01 2044524), sent out a questionnaire in which he sought information about the level of interest among members of the group to actively become involved in whale and dolphin rescue. People would be asked to contribute money, or time to raise money, for rescue equipment at suitable locations in Ireland.

Dr. Bill Crowe replied and stated that I would be delighted to take part in whale / dolphin rescues in the Sligo / North West region. He pointed out that Pontoons and other stranding equipment need to be purchased for several regional centres, which would be manned by a network of trained personnel in the region. Sponsorship could be sought from local companies and tourist boards e.t.c. I stated that I would be willing to search for sponsors in my region.

The proposer, Dr. Bill Crowe is a Marine Biologist, a Member of the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group and has a Marine Mammal Medic Certificate, from their recent workshop. He is also

For the North West region, equipment could be stored in a locked room in the Sports Hall / Aula building at the Institute of Technology: Sligo. A location for hosing down gear would be provided nearby. The manager of this building is willing to allow this next year, when more space becomes available. He is also sympathetic to the cause, being an ex-diver. Environmental Science, lecturers, technicians, and students in the Institute of Technology: Sligo. Sub Aqua Club could provide the bulk of the volunteers and could help maintain the gear. The club is in the process of setting up a web site linked to the Irish Underwater Association, and other marine, environmental, weather, and rescue sites. On this site we intend keeping information on local dive sites, marine invertebrate and vertebrate animal sightings and photographs, and hopefully in future, Marine research project work. Dolphin sightings and or strandings for the Sligo region could easily be added, and eventually linked to the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group dolphin data bases or sites, or other ones. The Irish Whale & Dolphin Group should supervise and co-ordinate all activities.

The Dolphin Project web-site would contain links to the following sites:

• useful telephone numbers and addresses of club members involved in rescue, or other people or organisations involved in rescue;
• past historical rescue or stranding records (including measurements);
• current Cetacean events or news;
• Information and photographs useful for identification;
• links to other sites for further information and photographs, including such things as prevailing weather conditions during a stranding;
• results of data analyses of rescues or recently dead strandings undertaken by the group;
• information posted in by the general public on rescues or recently dead strandings they have noted;
• information for the general public on what to do when there is a stranding in progress or after the animals have died.