Dataset Details - ObSERVE II Aerial Surveys for Seabirds and Cetaceans in the Irish Atlantic Margin
Visual detections of Cetaceans made during Aerial Surveys using aircraft based visual observers, conducted by University College Cork as part of the ObSERVE II Project 2021 - 2023
11/03/2026
11/03/2026
To assess the occurrence, distribution and abundance of seabirds, cetaceans and other marine megafauna in the Irish Atlantic Margin
Visual detections of seabirds, cetaceans and marine megafauna by obervers during line transect surveys (for cetaceans) / strip transect surveys (for seabirds) conducted from aircraft
Irish Atlantic Margin
2021 - 2023
Surveys followed standard line-transect methodology for aerial surveys. The target weather and sea conditions for aerial survey work were broadly prescribed as requiring a surface wind strength of Beaufort Force 3 or less, with good visibility (1km or more). Flying speed over the ground was 90 knots (167km/hr) at a survey altitude of 600 feet (183m) above the sea surface. Observers recorded all sightings of marine megafauna seen from the air including cetaceans, seabirds, seals, turtles, sharks and fish. Summer 2015 surveys were conducted using observers with considerable aerial survey experience. These experienced observers also trained and assessed Irish based observers who then undertook the remaining surveys.
Complete
Restricted (Data can be viewed on the mapping system but is not available for download)
Department of Climate, Energy & the Environment, ObSERVE II Aerial Surveys for Seabirds and Cetaceans in the Irish Atlantic Margin, National Biodiversity Data Centre, Ireland, accessed 14 March 2026, https://maps.biodiversityireland.ie/Dataset/442
N/A
Dataset species distribution
Terrestrial Map - 10km
Terrestrial Map - 10km
Distribution of the number of species recorded within each 10km grid square (ITM).Marine Map - 50Km
Marine Map - 50Km
Distribution of the number of species recorded within each 50km grid square (WGS84).Dataset record distribution
Terrestrial Map - 10km
Terrestrial Map - 10km
Distribution of the number of records within each 10km grid square (ITM).Marine Map - 50Km
Marine Map - 50Km
Distribution of the number of records within each 50km grid square (WGS84).Dataset Contacts
Eoin MacCraith
N/A
N/A
Records per year
Species per year
Date Statistics
| Resolution | No. records |
|---|---|
| Day | 41318 |
2021
2023
Record Statistics
41318
0
59
2
| Resolution | No. records |
|---|---|
| 100m | 41318 |
| 1km | 0 |
| 2km | 0 |
| 10km | 0 |
| 50km | 0 |
Surveys
| SurveyId | Title | Data Capture Period | Species | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Dataset Attributes
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Abundance | Measure of abundance of the organism recorded |
| Altitude | Altitude (m) at which specimen was captured |
| Behaviour | A description of the type of behaviour observed |
| Record comment | A comment associated with any individual record |
| Survey name | Name of survey if the record was made as part of a specific survey (including collections of casual observations and other loose assemblages of data) |
Recorded Species
| TaxonId | PrefnameTaxonId | Name | Authority | Group | Rank | Records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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