Now showing items 1-20 of 60

    • New Connections IV: Exploring Ireland’s International Marine Research Partnerships

      Marine Institute (Marine Institute, 2022)
      This report presents the Irish participation in European Union (EU) funded and co-funded collaborative marine-related projects from 2014–2020. For the purpose of this report, the following programmes were analysed: Horizon 2020, Interreg V, European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST), Erasmus+, LIFE and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund3 (EMFF). Over the 2014–2020 period, Irish organisations (see Annex 2) participated in 314 marine-focused collaborative projects resulting in over €158 million total grant-aid for Irish organisations4.
    • Demystify - A collection of Artworks produced for the BlueFish Project

      Donnelly, Felicity (Marine Institute, 2021)
      The BLUEFISH project (2017 to 2021) focused on the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea region and set out to provide region wide adaptation strategies for the benefit of coastal communities, with a focus on fisheries and aquaculture. BLUEFISH assessed and disseminated knowledge on the risks and opportunities for commercial fish and shellfish under climate change scenarios. It has provided options that will help coastal communities adapt to climate change in the area of food security and the Blue Economy. BLUEFISH developed a series of targeted work-packages (WP) with stakeholders. WP2 focused on developing our understanding of the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea ecosystem in order to provide a framework for forward looking climate adaptation guidelines. Linking art and science to portray and explain these ecosystem goods and services and to depict plausible climate change impacts was an integral part of WP2. This compendium presents the various forms of artwork that were produced for the Marine Institute as part of the outputs from WP2. The climate change issue demands considerable public investment to reverse. This investment will only arise if the general public is supportive and this support is only likely if climate change issues are widely understood. The use of art to connect with people may be an effective way to change attitudes and win support for the societal actions required to reverse the impacts of climate change. The art forms presented in this compendium portray the importance of the ocean to the economies of coastal communities. This art also shows the potential impacts of climate change on these communities in a powerful way. The images can create anxiety about the future but the intent is to provide a deeper understanding of climate change and that the solutions presented for our coastal communities, expressed through the medium of art, will stimulate a long overdue debate and provide hope and inspiration for the future. The art outputs from WP2 also include the “Demystify animation” which can also make a valuable contribution to the debate in Ireland and in Wales. While the oceans are in a parlous state they also provide hope. If the ocean is managed more sustainably, species and ecosystems could revive, and could become better sources of sustainable food, energy, materials, livelihoods and, ultimately, planetary well-being.
    • Joined up Thinking from Joined up Data.

      Currie, D.; Gault., J. (Marine Institute, 2020)
      The primary aim of this project was to develop and implement a strategy which would integrate and enable data interrogation across all data sources used by the Marine Institute's Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Services (FEAS) group.
    • Industry-Led Awards 2018, Floating Solar Hybrid Energy Project

      Howlin, E. (Marine Institute, 2020)
      SolarMarine Energy Ltd (SME) applied under the Marine Institute’s Industry-Led Awards Call 2018 and was awarded grant-aid funding to research the design of a floating solar energy (FSPV) structure and evaluate how hydrogen could be produced using power from the floating solar plant. This was essentially a ‘Power to Gas’ (PtG) project model where we designed a floating solar plant, specified the H2 electrolyser and designed the interface between the two. Our engineers’ extensive experience across the marine industry from the initial design stage to final installation enabled us to take on this challenging marine renewable energy project. We believe that a floating solar/wind/hydrogen hybrid energy plant has the potential to be a disruptive innovative technology as it leverages the technical advantages of photovoltaics and energy storage without the environmental and cost disadvantages of competitor technologies.
    • Industry-led awards 2018. Marine Institute Grant Awards in Support of the Marine Economy.

      Marine Institute (Marine Institute, 2019)
      Innovation 2020, Ireland’s strategy for research and development, science and technology states that despite the importance of research and innovation for firms, firms under-invest in research. Therefore there is a strong case for the state to encourage firms to undertake research by providing co-investment. However, this investment must be targeted at areas of commercial opportunity that are strategically important. This is the underpinning rationale of Research Prioritisation (2018-2023), which identifies 6 Themes and 14 Priority Areas that present particular market opportunities for Ireland. The first goal of Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth is “A Thriving Maritime Economy”, which focuses on the marine opportunities to achieve economic recovery with socially inclusive and sustainable growth. The Development Task Force Report developed a strategic framework identifying three interventions to drive growth across five thematic areas and create economic growth opportunities for the marine sector. In May 2018, the Marine Institute launched the Industry-Led Call, designed to provide funding for SMEs to raise the maturity levels for their research theme across these three dimensions (human capacity, infrastructure and networks & relationships). The call aims to fulfil national strategic objectives as follows: National Marine Research and Innovation Strategy 2017-2021 - Implementation of Action 8 Increase opportunities for SMEs to participate in marine research. Innovation 2020 - Action point 2.4 Optimising Enterprise RDI Supports. The funding aims to: Support research and innovation costs for the development of innovative technologies, products and services from existing or new marine-based business. Help marine companies to develop capacity, capability and their networks & relationships. Support “novel” marine research that has not previously received funding to create new knowledge or a new product, process or service or to substantially improve existing products, processes or services.
    • Beaufort Marine Award: Economic and Social Research related to Development Dynamics of the Marine Sector in Ireland (BEAU/ECON/04)

      Hynes, S.; Corless, R.; Vega, A. (Marine Institute, 2018)
      The vision for this project was the creation of a unit that would underpin the development of the marine sector in Ireland as elaborated in the Sea Change Strategy; a unit that would contribute to the EU marine socio-economic research agenda and that would strengthen marine research in general through providing a complementary socioeconomic element into scientific projects and that would be involved in the transfer of tacit knowledge to marine industry, thereby enhancing innovation and raising its competitiveness. The Beaufort work programme was comprised of three major blocks: • Marine socioeconomic research capacity building • Constructing data bases and monitoring the evolution of the marine sector • A research programme which consisted of a number of key research topics: o The impact of policy and regulations on the development of the marine industry in Ireland o The economic and social impact of the marine sectors in Ireland o Valuing ecosystem service provision from marine resources in Ireland o Economic data collection and reporting on Ireland’s ocean and coastal economies Underpinning Research The “Economic and Social Research related to Development Dynamics of the Marine Sector in Ireland” Beaufort project involved research on a variety of marine related issues associated with the economics of fisheries, marine energy, shipping and other marine sectors as well as research that valued the marine environment and that examined issues surrounding the rural development of coastal communities. In particular it involved examining the economic utility of the marine environment (e.g. transportation, recreation) and the ecological value (e.g. fisheries, aquaculture) derived from the productivity of associated ecosystems. The coastal and contiguous marine environment surrounding Ireland and the EU in general provided the geographical focus for the research. Consideration of the human dimension in the management of marine ecosystems was also a critical component of the research programme. A key element of the project involves the compilation of information in relation to economic and social patterns in Irish coastal communities as well as the economic activity taking place in the seas surrounding Ireland. The project was also very successful in terms of the first element of the Beaufort work program: Marine socioeconomic research capacity building. The project team leveraged over NDP Marine Research Sub-Programme 2007-2013 €2 million in additional funding over the life of the Award, which included funded projects such as: • Horizon 2020. Project Title: ATLAS: A Trans-Atlantic Assessment and deep-water ecosystem-based spatial management plan for Europe - In association with 24 other European research organisations. • Horizon 2020. Project Title: MERCES:Marine Ecosystem Restoration in changing European Seas - In association with 25 other European research organisation. • Norwegian Research Council Funding Programme. Project title: AquaAccept: Developing novel socio-environmental indicators and management tools for a sustainable aquaculture • Environmental Protection Agency Science, Technology, Research & Innovation for the Environment (STRIVE) Programme 2014 Award. Project Title: Marine Ecosystem Service Valuation A full list of additional funding secured in the area of marine socio-economic research by the project team is provided.
    • Beaufort Marine Award: Sensors and Communication System for Marine Environments (BEAU SENS 2007)

      Regan, Fiona (Marine Institute, 2018)
      EU decisions 1600/2002/EC laying down the Sixth Community Environment Action Programme and EU Directive 2008/56/EC of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) emphasise that: “The marine environment is a precious heritage that must be protected, preserved and, where practicable, restored with the ultimate aim of maintaining biodiversity and providing diverse and dynamic oceans and seas which are clean, healthy and productive.” The same directive also required that:
“Each Member State should therefore develop a marine strategy for its marine waters which, while being specific to its own waters, reflects the overall perspective of the marine region or sub-region concerned. Marine strategies should culminate in the execution of programmes of measures designed to achieve or maintain good environmental status.” In response to the EU directives to promote sustainable use of the seas and conserving marine ecosystems, the Republic of Ireland via the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources launched ‘The Beaufort Marine Research Awards (BMA)’ in June 2007. This Beaufort Award ‘Sensors and Communication Systems for the Marine Environment’ aimed to develop deployable marine analytical platforms with wireless communication capability to perform autonomous sampling for extended periods of time. This multidisciplinary Beaufort team includes skillsets of chemistry, sensing, separation science, molecular biology, engineering and image analysis contributing to six research sub-programmes or workpackages. The BMA project started in 2007 at DCU. In 2010 the Marine and Environmental Sensing Technology Hub (MESTECH) was established as a result of the growing expertise in marine sensing technology and monitoring in DCU. A MESTECH website was developed (www.mestech.ie), and MESTECH actively engaged with social media technologies such as Twitter to significantly increase the international and national profile of our marine research and the BMA. The project has published >70 peer-reviewed papers. BMA members have presented >70 conferences and workshop papers or posters, >10 invited talks and several visits to other marine research laboratories have taken place. Collaborations with other marine research institutions and with industries operating within marine sector across EU, US and Asia have been formed. These national/ international collaborations facilitate technical and knowledge exchanges that are important in promoting the research capability of Ireland, and would facilitate Irish companies in accessing new technologies to contribute towards building the future economy. These collaborations are also the basis of forming international consortia for 10 future non-exchequer funding applications. In addition to the academic achievements and growing network of collaborators, the outputs of the research include novel chemical and biosensing platforms, a significant long-term dataset from a variety of sites, data analytics platforms for decision support tool development and novel materials for marine and other applications. Despite these successes, there is still much to do to achieve the ultimate goal of promoting Ireland as a leading marine research nation and more resources (both financial and human resources) are required to bring the current work forward to sustain long-term, high-quality research. The Beaufort PIs and management team have been very active in funding applications. Greater than €5 million funding was secured since the start of the BMA programme from agencies including FP7 programme, QUESTOR and national agencies such as IRCSET, SFI, EI, HEA and EPA leveraging the success of the BMA programme.
    • Marine Functional Foods Research Initiative (NutraMara)

      Troy, D. J.; Tiwari, B. K.; Hayes, M.; Ross, P.; Stanton, C.; Johnson, M.; Stengel, D.; O’Doherty, J. V.; FitzGerald, R. J.; McSorley, E.; et al. (Marine Institute, 2017)
      NutraMara – Marine Functional Foods Research Initiative: The goal was to create new research capacity and build the capabilities required to maximise the potential of Ireland’s extensive marine bioresources. By supporting a strong interdisciplinary research team, capable of exploring marine animals and plants as a sustainable source of materials for use as functional ingredients and foods, the vision for NutraMara was to position Ireland to the fore in use of marine bioresources as health beneficial ingredients.
    • Aquaplan: health management for finfish aquaculture

      Ruane, N. M.; Geoghegan, F.; Rodger, H.; Murphy, K.; O' Sullivan, C. (Marine Institue, 2015)
      The AquaPlan project brought together key stakeholders from the finfish aquaculture industry and state agencies with the aim of drafting and implementing a national strategic plan for fish health in Ireland. Many countries already have well established comprehensive strategies for managing aquatic animal health which are deemed necessary for the sustainable development of the industry. A range of deliverables were produced by the project which are all essential components of the strategic plan for fish health management.
    • Desk Study Report: National, International and EU Legal Instruments Relevant to the Development of a Marine Spatial Planning Framework in Ireland

      Slater, Anne-Michelle; Kennedy, Alison; Grist, Dr. Berna; Barnes, Jerry; Berne, Sybil (Marine Institute, 2014-11)
      This study reviewed all international, European and national law relevant for the development of a framework for marine spatial planning (MSP) for Irish waters. The report details the identification of a range of options for MSP for Ireland and the criteria for testing these options. It explains the process of refining and developing both the options and the criteria in conjunction with the Enablers Task Force (ETF) to form preliminary conclusions.
    • QUB Report: Review of Marine Spatial Planning Best Practice of Relevance to Ireland

      Flannery, Wesley (Marine Institute, 2014-11)
      This aim of this project is to contribute to the development of an appropriate Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Framework for Ireland by reporting on MSP relevant to Ireland. This report details case study selection, evaluation and presentation of case study findings. The report also focuses on outlining how the lessons learned could be transferred to the Irish context.
    • New Connections II: A Review of Irish Participation in EU Marine Research Projects 2011-2013.

      O’Reilly, Elizabeth; Molloy, Eoin; O’Sullivan, Geoffrey (Marine Institute, 2014)
      New Connections II (2011-2013) complements its predecessor New Connections (2007-2010) published in 2011, and together they record the success of the Irish marine research community in competitive EU funded programmes such as FP7, INTERREG-IV, LIFE+, COST and the Lifelong Learning Programme. Over the period 2007-2013, 111 Irish marine research groups (including SMEs) participated in 210 marine related EU funded marine projects winning grant aid of over €70m.
    • Biological Effects and Chemical Measurements in Irish Marine Waters

      Giltrap, Michelle; McHugh, Brendan; Ronan, Jenny; Wilson, James; McGovern, Evin (Marine Institute, 2014-08)
      The overall aim of this project was to increase Ireland’s capacity for the generation of integrated monitoring of biological effects and chemical measurement data and for the completion of a pilot scale assessment of the quality of the Irish marine environment at a number of selected locations.
    • AZASPIRACIDS – Toxicological Evaluation, Test Methods and Identifcation of the Source Organisms (ASTOX II)

      Kilcoyne, Jane; Jauffrais, Thierry; Twiner, Michael J.; Doucette, Gregory J.; Aasen Bunes, John A.; Sosa, Silvio; Krock, Bernd; Séhet, Véronique; Nulty, Ciara; Salas, Rafael; et al. (Marine Institute, 2014)
      Since the Irish monitoring program was set up in 2001 azaspiracids (AZAs) have been detected in shellfish above the regulatory limit every year with the exception of 2004. The south west coast of Ireland is especially prone to the onsets of AZA events. Over this period a number of poisoning incidents associated with this toxin group have occurred, all related to Irish shellfish. In 2003 the Marine Institute was awarded funding for a research project named ASTOX. This project was very successful in producing a range of reference materials (RMs, which are essential for accurate detection and monitoring, and which up to this point were unavailable. The project also examined the toxicity of AZAs, primarily using in vitro cell assays but some in vivo studies were also performed. The overall aims of the ASTOX 2 project were to strengthen knowledge on the causative organism and toxicity of AZAs. The project aims were grouped into three areas: ecology, chemical support and toxicology.
    • EU Atlantic Action Plan (2014-2020) & InterRegional Funding Opportunities

      O'Reilly, E.; O'Sullivan, G. (Marine Institute, 2014-03)
      The purpose of this brochure is to (a) outline the aims and objectives of the EU Atlantic Action Plan (2014-2020) and (b) flag the future InterRegional Cooperation Programmes (2014-2020) that may provide grant-aid to support its implementation. To encourage you to look seriously at these programmes, a list of successful projects with Irish participation in the relevant INTERREG-IV Programmes (2007-2013) is included.
    • Technical Report: Review and Simulate Climate and Catchment Responses at Burrishoole (RESCALE)

      Fealy, R.; Allott, N.; Broderick, C.; de Eyto, E.; Dillane, M.; Erdil, R.M.; Jennings, E.; Hancox, L.; McCrann, K.; Murphy, C.; et al. (Marine Institute, 2014)
      This report demonstrates that the projected changes in the climate conditions of the Burrishoole catchment, if realised, will have wide ranging implications for all aspects of the catchment system, including water temperature and quality, stream flow hydrology, soil processes, and most notably the well-being of its aquatic environment. While the projected changes in climate and their implications, outlined in this report, are specific to the Burrishoole, they are illustrative of likely changes in similar characteristic catchments along the west coast of Ireland.
    • Ireland's Ocean Economy, Reference Year: 2010

      Vega, A.; Corless, R.; Hynes, S. (SEMRU, NUI Galway, 2013)
      In 2013, the Socio Economic Marine Research Unit (SEMRU) began the extensive task of data collection and analysis of Ireland’s ocean economy. Marine socio-economic data are not readily available in Ireland; however, it is essential in determining the value of the ocean economy in order to realise its full potential. This report is part of a series of economic reports and it provides an accurate and realistic monitoring of the ocean economy over time. It presents a complete and comparable sectoral profile, which allows us to observe progress on the targets set out in the Government’s Integrated Marine Plan (IMP) for Ireland - Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth (HOOW) (2012). The reference year of this report is 2010.
    • Blue Growth and Horizon 2020, competitive marine/maritime research funding opportunities in the Horizon 2020 programme (2014-2020)

      O’Reilly, E.; O’Sullivan, G. (Marine Institute, 2014)
      The EU Blue Growth Strategy (2012) is the EU’s long term strategy to support sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors. The Blue Growth Strategy recognises that the European seas and oceans are central to the European economy with great potential for innovation, economic growth and job creation. The Blue Growth Strategy is the Integrated Maritime Policy’s contribution to achieving the goals of the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Implementation of the Blue Growth Strategy, including sea-basin strategies such as the EU Atlantic Action Plan (2014-2020)2, can be supported by EU co-funding programmes such as Structural and Cohesion Funds (e.g. INTERREG, Smart Specialisation, etc.), Horizon 2020, European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), etc. Horizon 2020 (2014-2020)is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe’s global competitiveness. The €80 billion Horizon 2020 Programme (2014-2020) for research and innovation is part of the drive to create new growth and jobs in Europe. Horizon 2020 will tackle societal challenges by helping to bridge the gap between research and the market by, for example, helping innovative enterprise to develop their technological breakthroughs into viable products with real commercial potential. This market-driven approach will include creating partnerships with the private sector and Member States to bring together the resources needed.
    • Marine Mammals and Megafauna in Irish Waters - Behaviour, Distribution and Habitat Use- Final Summary Report.

      Berrow, S.D.; O’Brien, J.; O’Connor, I.; McGrath, D.; Wall, D. (Marine Institute, 2013)
      Irish waters are internationally important for cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), with 24 species recorded to date. These range from the harbour porpoise, the smallest species in European waters, to the blue whale, the largest animal to ever have lived on Earth. All cetaceans and their habitats are protected under Irish and international law. The research termed Marine Mammals and Megafauna in Irish Waters – behaviour, distribution and habitat use was delivered under six Work Packages. The deliverables under this project will provide data which could be used to address a wide range of issues, and will contribute to developing policy advice on meeting Ireland’s statutory obligations.
    • Marine Mammals and Megafauna in Irish Waters - Behaviour, Distribution and Habitat Use- WP4 Research into Ecosystem Links and Habitat Use between Cetaceans and Fisheries in the Celtic Sea

      Healy, H.; Minto, C.; Wall, D.; O'Donnell, D.; O’Connor, I. (Marine Institute, 2013)
      Visual line transect survey data for cetaceans were simultaneously collected during synoptic acoustic sampling surveys of small schooling pelagic fish, i.e. herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus) in the Celtic Sea, off the south coast of Ireland, from 2004 to 2009. These data were used to investigate the interactions of cetaceans with biological and environmental variables in the survey area. Geographic information systems and generalized linear and generalized additive models were used in this study.