REVIEW OF CETACEANS STRANDED ON THE IRISH COAST, 1901-95

Published records of cetaceans stranded on the Irish coast during the period 1901-95 are reviewed. In this review the number of stranding ev ents has been used in the analysis and includes both live strandings a nd those animals washed up dead. There were 529 records involving 21 s pecies. The Harbour Porpoise (27%) was the most frequently reported sp ecies, followed by Common Dolphins (16%) and Pilot Whales (15%). Minke Whales (8%) were the most frequently reported mysticete. The number o f reported strandings has increased since the 1960s which is thought t o be mainly due to increased observer effort. Cetaceans have stranded on all Irish coasts but mainly along the south coast and along the wes tern seaboard but with no apparent overall seasonal trend. There was a peak in the strandings of Common Dolphins during 1991-92 when 27% (28 records) of all strandings were reported and of White-sided Dolphins when 60% (28 records) were reported, both of which were attributed to possible interactions with fisheries. The number of Striped Dolphins s tranded on the Irish coast has increased steadily since the 1980s and may reflect increasing water temperatures. These stranding records are considered inadequate to determine the status of most species of ceta ceans in Irish waters but are sufficient to identify unusual stranding events such as high mortalities due to fisheries interactions or epiz ootics. More observer coverage is required before the stranding data a re adequate for monitoring the status of most species but a stranding scheme is considered the most effective and efficient method of long-t erm monitoring of cetaceans in Irish waters.