Upcoming Events

Mayo | Environment

no events match your query!

New Events

Mayo

no events posted in last week

Blog Feeds

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
Promoting Human Rights in Ireland

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Lockdown Skeptics

The Daily Sceptic

offsite link Starmer?s ?Deterrent? Fails as 400 Cross Channel in First Two Days of Migrant Returns Deal with Fran... Sat Aug 09, 2025 15:00 | Will Jones
More than 400 small boat migrants have arrived in the first two days of Labour's returns deal with France, making a mockery of claims it would be a "new deterrent".
The post Starmer’s “Deterrent” Fails as 400 Cross Channel in First Two Days of Migrant Returns Deal with France appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Reclaiming the Beauty of the Spheres Sat Aug 09, 2025 13:00 | Dr David Bell
AI is a distraction from what it means to be truly human, says Dr David Bell. We should aim for far greater things, find again the vastness of the jewelled sky and the light that only shines in another's eye.
The post Reclaiming the Beauty of the Spheres appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Three Top Hotels Yards From Bournemouth Beach Being Used as Migrant Accommodation Sparking Fury From... Sat Aug 09, 2025 11:00 | Will Jones
Three top hotels yards from one of Britain's favourite beaches are being used as accommodation for asylum seekers during the peak ?summer season, sparking fury from tourists and locals.
The post Three Top Hotels Yards From Bournemouth Beach Being Used as Migrant Accommodation Sparking Fury From Tourists and Locals appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link Why Are the Irish Media Ignoring an Apparent Islamist Knife Attack? Sat Aug 09, 2025 09:00 | Andrew Devine
When a man in Dublin stabs a police officer while shouting "Allahu Akbar" you can be pretty sure it's not the work of an indigenous Irishman. So why are the media at pains to pretend it is, asks Andrew Devine.
The post Why Are the Irish Media Ignoring an Apparent Islamist Knife Attack? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

offsite link BAFTA?s Campaign to Transform Every TV Show into Unwatchable Climate Propaganda Has Stepped Up a Gea... Sat Aug 09, 2025 07:00 | Steven Tucker
British TV grows more and more unwatchable with each passing day. That might be because BAFTA is on a mission to transform every TV show into climate propaganda ? and it's just stepped up a gear, says Steven Tucker.
The post BAFTA’s Campaign to Transform Every TV Show into Unwatchable Climate Propaganda Has Stepped Up a Gear appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.

Lockdown Skeptics >>

Voltaire Network
Voltaire, international edition

offsite link Will intergovernmental institutions withstand the end of the "American Empire"?,... Sat Apr 05, 2025 07:15 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?127 Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:38 | en

offsite link Disintegration of Western democracy begins in France Sat Apr 05, 2025 06:00 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?126 Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:39 | en

offsite link The International Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism by Amichai Chikli and Na... Fri Mar 28, 2025 11:31 | en

Voltaire Network >>

Dolphins dodging Shell in Broadhaven Bay

category mayo | environment | news report author Tuesday August 17, 2010 12:34author by JM Report this post to the editors

Shell contracted vessels ignore safety procedures once again on the proposed Corrib gas project.

Several times a day there is a mini convoy that shoots back and forth between Ballyglass and Rossport, and this traffic intensifies at knocking-off time in the evening.
Dolphins in Broadhaven Bay
Dolphins in Broadhaven Bay

Early risers in Glengad last Sunday morning (15/08/2010) were greeted by about two-dozen dolphins frolicking in the glorious sunshine. Several groups of porpoise and bottlenose dolphin are regular visitors to the Bay – a marine Special Area of Conservation – and they were making the most of the spell of good weather at the weekend, much to the delight of locals and assembled tourists.

After several hours of mostly peaceful playtime, however, the usual disturbance from Shell-contracted vessels disrupted the scene. A Marine Mammal Code of Conduct is supposedly in operation on the ongoing – but often interrupted – borehole drilling in Rossport strand, but there was no evidence of that on Sunday.

As Broadhaven Bay lies between Sruwaddacon estuary and Ballyglass Pier, it sees all the marine traffic associated with the current works. The Shell plans submitted to Minister Gormley’s Department of the Environment outlined five to seven vessels – including the two jack-up rigs – would be required for the drilling operations, with the modest number designed to “minimise traffic”. Anyone that has observed the area recently will have counted closer to twenty vessels of various sizes (not counting the Gardai) clogging up the channel… and they don’t go slow either.

Several times a day there is a mini convoy that shoots back and forth between Ballyglass and Rossport, and this traffic intensifies at knocking-off time in the evening. During Sunday several Shell boats had re-routed in Broadhaven to get much closer to the Dolphins - a regular tactic designed to frighten off any animals that could potentially disrupt pipeline works – and at eight o’clock the mass exodus began.

Virtually all of the boats crossed Broadhaven at the same time, many of them clearly racing each other in what had all the appearances of a staggered Grand Prix event. This huge volume of traffic tore though the exact area occupied by the dolphins, which thankfully managed to avoid collisions with the RIBs, tugs and boats. The bay then returned to its previous tranquil state, but the dolphins were not seen again.

002.jpg

003.jpg

004.jpg

005.jpg

 #   Title   Author   Date 
   Marine traffic     JM    Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:42 
   More traffic     JM    Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:47 
   Foreshore application     JM    Tue Aug 17, 2010 12:54 


 
© 2001-2025 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy