Impact Assessment

Fin whale in the waters off West Cork, September 2019. Photo by David Edwards of West Cork Charters.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT

ORCA Ireland recommends that prior to new cetacean-watching activities commencing, stakeholders should make a formal assessment of their potential impact on the favourable conservation status of cetaceans to the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS), a division of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Advice relating to how to conduct such an assessment may be sought from ACCOBAMS and the Ocean Research & Conservation Association of Ireland (ORCA Ireland). Threats to cetaceans will be assessed for significant impact on the behavioural patterns or physiological well being of cetaceans, and no new whale and dolphin watching operations should be authorised until a formal impact assessment is complete.

If no significant impact is predicted from the assessment, the authorities should re-evaluate conditions under which wildlife watching activities may be established. Impact assessments should be repeated on a periodic basis every five to ten years.