Minke Whale Killed by Ship Strike in Galway Bay – IWDG
A tragic discovery was made on Monday, when a minke whale washed up in Rusheen Bay, Co. Galway, bearing the unmistakable marks of a ship strike — deep propeller wounds along its back.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) confirmed the whale was alive when hit, based on injury patterns and posture.
Minke whales are seasonal visitors to Irish waters, feeding from spring to autumn — and their small size and stealthy nature make them especially vulnerable in busy shipping lanes.
While rare in official records, ship strikes in Irish waters are happening — past victims include dolphins, porpoises, a sperm whale, and even basking sharks, one of which arrived into Dublin Port stuck to a ship’s bow.
The IWDG is calling for better reporting and mitigation. As part of two EU-funded projects, they’re testing thermal cameras on ships and have launched a new reporting app to alert mariners to whale sightings and floating hazards in real time.
