For the first time, a humpback whale has been spotted in the Shannon Estuary. The juvenile whale was seen near Moneypoint by a ferry passenger traveling between Tarbert and Killimer. Experts from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group expressed concerns about potential ship strikes in this busy shipping corridor and have urged ships to slow down. Humpback whales are becoming more common in Irish waters, with 92 individuals identified since 1999, often returning annually to the same areas.