In this episode of Balance with the World, Liz Montalvo spoke with Cian Ó Nialáin, Education and Outreach Officer at the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG). Cian shared how Ireland’s waters are home to an extraordinary diversity of marine life, from playful bottlenose dolphins along the coast to majestic fin and humpback whales crossing the Atlantic on their migrations.

He described the mission of the IWDG: to monitor, study, and protect these species while raising public awareness about the many threats they face, including bycatch, ocean noise, pollution, and climate change. Cian also highlighted the power of citizen science, encouraging listeners to report sightings, support conservation efforts, and make everyday choices that help ease the pressure on our seas.

Protecting whales and dolphins, he stressed, is not only about safeguarding iconic creatures, it’s about ensuring the health of our oceans, which are essential to the well-being of people and the planet.

The conversation closed with a moving reminder that even small daily actions – reducing plastic use, backing conservation campaigns, or supporting groups like the IWDG – can build into a powerful collective force for ocean protection.

The episode ended with the haunting voices of whales and dolphins, evoking the truth that the ocean is alive, intelligent, and filled with songs and stories of survival, connection, and the delicate balance of life beneath the waves.