Members of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group have set sail on a scientific expedition to learn more about the passage of humpback whales in the north Atlantic.
The 45 foot schooner, Anna M, left from Baltimore, Co Cork, yesterday for the Cape Verde islands, where its crew hope to locate and record the mammals. They also hope to make video and sound recordings and obtain genetic samples of the whales.
The expedition is being carried out by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) in collaboration with Saoirse SeaSports and Ergo Films. Over the last 12 months the IWDG have obtained images of humpback whales off Ireland, with each individual whale being identified by the unique pattern on the underside of its tail fluke.
The expedition will follow the natural migration route of the whales to Cape Verdes in an attempt to track these whales through their journey from Cape Clear to Cape Verde. Genetic samples will be used to compare with breeding populations elsewhere in the world.
Sightings in Irish waters have been rare in the past, but are increasing, according to the IWDG, which says that the mammal may have inspired the famous Irish air, Port na bPucaí.
"Up to recently we had no idea that humpback whales actually occurred regularly in Irish waters," Dr Simon Berrow of the IWDG said yesterday. "We have already shown that these whales are returning to the same area off West Cork each year and now we want to know where are they heading to breed. We suspect they breed in Cape Verdes but nobody really knows."
The expedition can be followed through regular satellite uplinks with the research vessel, enabling tracking of the cruise on-line through a dedicated website. The whole expedition will be recorded through a full- length film documentary, which the team hopes to bring to air on completion of the voyage.
Dr Simon Berrow will be responsible for the science programme, while the skipper of the Anna M is Mr Joe Aston, a retired fishing skipper. On the crew is film-maker Tony Whelan who will be accompanying the expedition to make a documentary. The Anna M website is www.gannetsway.com.