Marine Connection is pleased to report that Water Safety Clare at White Strand, Ireland, has decided to temporarily suspend the use of an acoustic pinger that was due to be deployed to discourage the solitary, sociable dolphin Dusty from entering a designated area during water safety training for children aged 8 to 14. A recent meeting was well attended by those both in favour of and opposed to the use of the acoustic device. It was acknowledged and agreed that everyone present shared the same fundamental objective: safeguarding the welfare of Dusty while also ensuring the safety of children participating in lifesaving training, an important community activity. The pinger, which emits a low-frequency sound with a source level of approximately 145 decibels, was used last year, but deployment was halted because the necessary authorisation from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) had not been obtained. A licence has now been secured.
Dusty, a female bottlenose dolphin, has been a familiar presence along the Clare coast for decades. She first became well known to local communities at several beaches before spending time around Doolin Pier. Around 2014, she moved to Inis Oírr in the Aran Islands, but in recent years she has returned to White Strand Bay.
Marine Connection remains concerned that a sound source of around 145 decibels is capable of provoking behavioural responses in dolphins and could potentially cause significant disturbance or discomfort to Dusty. Given her long-term residency and familiarity with the area, Marine Connection believes that exposing her to such a device would be unacceptable and welcomes the decision to suspend its use while alternative solutions are considered.
Learn more about our solitary sociable dolphin project
