Sponsored by Inis the Energy of the Sea, researchers on this voyage of discovery will use photo identification to gain further insight into the growing whale population between the two island nations.

Once hunted to the brink of extinction, humpback whales have been sighted in increasing numbers in the waters surrounding Ireland.

While uncertain information about past population levels make it hard to access the recovery of the humpbacks, further study of them in the summer feeding grounds between Ireland and Iceland will help scientists to better understand and protect these magnificent marine mammals.

For nearly 30 years, The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) have studied whales, dolphins and porpoises around Ireland. They have recently confirmed, through photo identification catalog matching, that several whales have been observed in both Icelandic and Irish waters.

With the now established fact that Ireland and Iceland share a whale population, this expedition aims to build on these findings.

For more information please visit www.seathebeauty.net

The ocean is a place of wonder and magic, its energy is the inspiration for Inis the Energy of the Sea. Since 2001, it has been our honor to be the core funder of the Irish Whale & Dolphin Group – dedicated to the protection. conservation and better understanding of whales and dolphins in Irish waters and around the world. Their work helps ensure that the seas of the world will continue to be a source of delight and joy for generations to come.

Please join us in helping to conserve and protect our oceans and their amazing inhabitants. For more on ocean awareness and easy, everyday ways to help protect our oceans, please visit www.seathebeauty.net

Apart from our normal commercial activity it is important for us to help to protect the environment and so several years ago we decided to focus our efforts on the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), which is a natural fit due to Inis’ connection with the sea; thus we have been an IWDG “core funder” for several years now.

We have also been the main sponsor for “Whale Watch Ireland” each year (which normally takes place on a selected date during August) and have pioneered resources in support of this event. We feel that business has a key role to play in promoting awareness of environmental issues and helping to solve them and are really pleased with our long term association with the IWDG which has grown from strength to strength since our collaboration began in 2001.

“Core funding is really important to charities and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) like the IWDG, as these monies provide an essential buffer against an increasing array of hidden costs incurred in running a growing NGO & charity. Although IWDG has been successful in receiving “ring-fenced” funding for specific research projects, it is very difficult to receive funding to cover day to day expenses like Insurance, postage, professional fees, administrative expenses and expenses such as travel.

Without this support we can not function as effectively as we do. Core funding therefore requires a “leap of faith” by the funder as they don’t necessarily get their corporate logo on a high profile piece of equipment, nor are they linked to an important piece of research that makes some earth shattering new finding. Such altruism in corporate circles today is refreshing. Inis’ Core Funding support for IWDG since 2006 has been an important part of the IWDG success story.