Twelve dolphins have been rescued from shallow water in Blacksod Bay, north Mayo. Some of the dolphins, identified as common dolphins, were stranded on the sandbanks, according to Mr Pat Cowman of Belmullet Sub-Aqua Club, who assisted in the four-hour rescue operation, which was co-ordinated by Duchas. "We launched our boat and waded into the shallows where we lifted the dolphins into the vessel and brought them back out to sea," said Mr Cowman. "Some of them were actually grounded on the sandbars and unless they were helped they would not have survived."