Our Sea Ireland

Celtic Photography is delighted to dedicate 10% of all profits to Ocean Research & Conservation Ireland (ORCireland), as well as being their dedicated photographer. ORCireland aims to support marine research and fisheries management in Irish waters and to help spread public awareness of the importance of sustainable use and long-term scientific monitoring programs.

Irish waters are cool temperate and rich in nutrients providing important foraging and reproductive habitats for an abundance of diverse marine fauna and flora species, from the marine algae that make up the large variety of seaweeds on our shores and in the shallow waters around our coasts, to Annalids, such as the coiled tube worm (Spirorbis spp.) which favor the fronds of the serrated wrack (Fucus serratus), to commercially important fish species, such as Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).

Ireland has an incredible variety and abundance of biodiversity, from rolling fields, to tall oak trees and yew forests, right to the genetic make up that makes up a species. Irish Wildlife is embedded in our National History. Take for example the pound which had a design of a red deer, or the old fifty pence which had the design of a woodcock.., the natural world plays an important role in Irish Culture.

Worlwide there are estimated to be over 10 million species in the oceans compared to only 1.5 million on land. Irish waters contain an abundance of everything from the smallest microscopic plankton to the largest whales, including the largest animal on Earth, the Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), however the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is more commonly sighted off the south and west coasts and is the second largest animal on the planet.

The marine environment is experiencing serious and accelerated losses of biodiversity, , not only of endangered habitats and species but also species that are common. Threats to whales and dolphins worldwide include loss of food by over-fishing. (supertrawlers), by-catch, pollution (plastics and pesticides), disturbance from boats and collisions with boats, and global climate change.

Why should any of us care about the sustainable management of Irish waters and the life that they support...ORCireland cares because oceans play a vital role in the well being of people of Éire. Oceans create a balance of life on Earth, the ocean's plants such as phytoplankton photosynthesis in the sun, using light and carbon dioxide to make food and produce oxygen as a by-product. Phytoplankton contribute 50 –85% of the worlds oxygen. The oceans provide food for over 950 million people worldwide. The oceans may contain potential medicine, there is economic potential through oil and gas extraction and it also provides economic benefit through recreation and Eco-tourism.

Ireland’s marine territory extends far beyond our coastline up to 220 million acres (approx. 880,000 km2) , an area more than 10 times our land mass.

Within in the Exclusive Economic Zone, 25 species of cetacean (whale dolphin or porpoise), including the most recent addition the arctic bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), 71 species of elasmobranch (shark, skates and rays), including the Mako (Isurus oxyrhinchus), the Thresher (Alopias vulpinus), Six Gilled (Haxanchus griseus), Porpeagle (Lamma nasus) and the Blue (Prionace glauca), 563+ species of marine fish, with 245 inshore ( <200 m depth) (130 inshore exclusively), 435 species offshore (>200 m depth) have been recorded in Irish waters to date.

ORCireland is committed to ocean research, conservation and education for the sustainable management of Irish marine ecosystems. ORCireland aims to conduct valuable research on marine ecosystems through supporting existing long-term monitoring programs and collaborating with Universities and Research Institutes , for example collecting data for the Irish Whale and Dolphin’s sighting and stranding schemes, An Angling monitoring scheme, logging marine fish and shark species caught in Irish waters, tagging shark species and monitoring their distribution in the North-east Atlantic in collaboration with University College Cork. In addition, a cephalopod public monitoring scheme has been established by ORCireland and we request any sightings of octopus, squid or cuttlefish be submitted via ORCireland App with a photograph if available (After September 30th), or via our Facebook page, with any info on location, weather conditions/sea state, sea temp, colour, size or species.

ORCireland is a non-governmental organization and is coordinated through a network of voluntary research scientists and public volunteers and rely solely on donations. ORCireland encourages people to play a part in helping keep our marine environment clean from plastic pollution. We ask you to take a few bits of plastic home with you from your walk by the sea shore. ORCireland will run an Annual Beach Clean Competition. Post a before and after picture from your beach clean to our Facebook Page to add your name to the draw to WIN a FREE Marine Wildlife Tour (Winner will be selected at random at peak of whale watching season).

ORCireland runs FREE Land-Based Whale Watching around the Irish Coasts, where you can learn about the ecology and biology of whales and dolphins in Irish Waters. ORCireland also runs courses for Primary and Secondary Schools (Transition Year Students) on Zoology, Marine Biology and Animal Behaviour (School Donation Required).

Message our Facebook Page to become a member of ORCireland to get our newsletter and keep up to date with the latest in Irish Marine Research and updates on current ORCireland Projects, get 10% discount on events and courses on Wildlife Photography, Marine Biology, Animal Behaviour, Marine Mammal Observing and Sea Angling and Shark Handling. PLUS: Get a Free Poster of the Marine Fauna of Eire when you join.

Annual Membership Fee € 30

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1Mark Cronin

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