ObSERVE Programme

In October 2014 a major marine scientific programme was established by the Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment in partnership with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Called the ObSERVE Programme, its main aim is to greatly improve our knowledge and understanding of protected offshore species and sensitive habitats through high quality, state-of-the-art data collection across Ireland's EEZ. Information generated and analysed under the programme will feed into the sustainable management of offshore activities and appropriate marine conservation strategies.

Two new strategic projects under the ObSERVE Programme have now been completed: ObSERVE Aerial, which consists of a series of high quality aerial surveys for whales, dolphins, seabirds and other marine life, and ObSERVE Acoustic, which tapped into the array of underwater sounds made by more than 20 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises, in order to learn more about their occurrence, distribution, abundance and migration habits, particularly those species that are rarely seen.