Killer whales were among the myriad marine creatures sighted off the north Kerry coast last year, a series of studies aimed at encouraging eco-tourism has found.
However, the Kerry coastline potential comes with a health warning. Codes of conduct for dolphin boats along with a "leave no trace" motto for land-based whale and bird watching are strongly advised by those involved in the study.
The research was carried out by scientists and personnel from the zoology, ecology and plant sciences department and from the coastal and marine resources unit at UCC.
It was funded by Tuatha Chiarraí Teo under the National Rural Development Programme.
Nature-related coastal tourism is now a key growth area here and globally the whale-watching business alone is worth more than $1 billion a year, the studies say.
But Fungi the Dingle dolphin is not the only show around, it seems. Dolphin-watching on the Shannon Estuary, which forms part of the north Kerry coastline, is recognised as "one of the mainstays of Ireland's marine eco-tourism business," the study states.
Because of its resident population of 120 or so bottlenose dolphins, the only sizeable resident population of bottlenose dolphins in Ireland, and one of only six such in Europe, the Shannon Estuary is now a candidate SAC (special area of conservation).
The Kerry shores of the outer Shannon Estuary were "ideally suited to developing visual and acoustic shore-based facilities" for those attracted to dolphins, the study says.
An acoustic survey of dolphins showed "high activity" off Ballybunion, with dolphins "logged" on 22 of the 28 days. The dolphins were in fact noisier at night.
Field studies were carried out over a 3½-month period, between mid-July and October last year, and there was an extensive trawl through literature, studies and reports, including old whaling records.
Harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins from the 120 or so stationed in the Shannon Estuary, Risso's dolphins, along with 24 species of whales have been documented.
Surveyors sighted a school of three killer whales on a track between Brandon Point and Kerry Head. Studies in 2002 also spotted the mammals.
Auks, gulls, shearwaters, cormorants and waders were among the hundreds of seabirds spotted.
The baseline data indicated "great potential" for nature-based tourism in Tralee Bay, with boat tours to view wildlife, rugged coastal scenery and "the rugged beauty of the many islands" strongly recommended.
Land-based tourism for bird watches at "a respectful distance to birds at their breeding site" is also recommended.
The cliffs north of Ballybunion and on Tarbert Island were identified as the most suitable for land-based dolphin watching sites.
And listening to whales and dolphins in darkness is also available to Kerry visitors, the studies conclude.
Tom O'Donnell of Tuatha Chiarraí said the studies would provide "a new perspective" for the development of tourism in the north Kerry area.
