On behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM), the Marine Institute carries out monitoring of chemical residues in finfish for aquaculture sector. This monitoring is set out in the annual National Residue Control Plan, which is approved by the European Commission, and is an important component of the DAFM food safety controls and is implemented under a service contract with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Since 1999, the Marine Institute has implemented the National Residues Monitoring Programme for aquaculture. This is carried out on behalf of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, which is the responsible organisation for residue controls on farmed finfish. The outcome for residues levels in farmed finfish during 2016 remains one of consistently low occurrence. In 2016, in excess of 691 tests and a total of 1,933 measurements were carried out on 136 samples (i.e. 126 target samples & 10 suspect samples) of farmed finfish for a range of chemical substances, including banned and unauthorised substances, various authorised veterinary treatments and environmental contaminants.

Coordination of the survey was initiated in the meeting of the Working Group on International Pelagic Surveys (WGIPS) and continued by correspondence until the start of the survey. During the survey effort was refined and adjusted by the survey coordinator (Norway) using real time observations. The survey design was based on methods described in ICES Survey design Manual (2015). Overall weather conditions were mixed with periods of poor and good weather. All vessels experienced some downtime due to poor weather conditions. The entire survey was completed within 20 days, below the 21 day target threshold.

This review presents information on the status of selected shellfish stocks in Ireland. In addition, data on the fleet (<13 m) and landings for all species of shellfish (excluding Nephrops and mussels) are presented. The intention of this annual review is to present stock assessment and scientific advice for shellfisheries which may be subject to new management proposals or where scientific advice is required in relation to assessing the environmental impact of shellfisheries especially in areas designated under European Directives.

The Creature Features and Chemosynthesis Presentation is a simple PowerPoint presentation about life in the hydrothermal vent ecosystem. The presentation introduces students to some of the unique creatures that live there and how the vents provide energy for them to survive through the process of chemosynthesis.

The lesson provides students with an opportunity to learn about people and places in Ireland. With a focus on marine science, the students will learn about the type of work marine scientists are involved with and the environments they work in. By using the famous VENTure expedition where the Moytirra hydrothermal vents field were discovered in the Mid-Atlantic, the students will investigate, record and communicate their findings about scientists such as Dr Andy Wheeler, the chief scientist of this survey. Students can also learn about the people he works with on the research vessel, the RV Celtic Explorer.

The lesson provides students with an understanding of the physical features of the world – under the ocean. Students will learn about tectonic plates and underwater features such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The students will discover how physical features such as hydrothermal vents form in this natural environment, deep under the ocean.

This lesson provides students with an introduction to the process of life learning about photosynthesis and chemosynthesis. It also introduces students to the hydrothermal vent ecosystem deep under the ocean. Students will also learn about some of the unusual creatures that inhabit this extreme environment highlighting the variety and characteristics of living things at the bottom of the ocean.

The lesson allows students to explore the effects of solids in hot and cold liquid by conducting a range of experiments mixing different materials in water solutions.

The lesson introduces students to the naming of the Moytirra hydrothermal vents in the mid-Atlantic. The students will learn about how the name that was given to the largest hydrothermal vent was inspired by the Irish legend and story about Balor and the Battle of Moy Tura. The students will learn through readings of myths and legends from Irish culture.