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. In 2021, in excess of 632 tests and a total of 1,870 measurements were carried out on 120 samples of farmed finfish for a range of residues. Implementation of the Aquaculture 2021 Plan involves taking samples at both farm and processing plant: *80 target samples taken at harvest: 70 farmed salmon and 10 freshwater trout. *40 target samples were taken at other stages of production: 30 salmon smolts and 10 freshwater trout. All 2021 samples were compliant. For target sampling of farmed fish, a summary table of the residue results from 2005 - 2021 is outlined in Table 1. Overall, the outcome for aquaculture remains one of consistently low occurrence of residues in farmed finfish, with no non-compliant target residues results for the period 2006-2014, 0.11% and 0.10% non-compliant target residues results in 2015 and 2016 respectively and no non-compliant target results for the period 2017 to 2021.

The Marine Institute is the national agency for marine research, technology, development and innovation. It seeks to assess and realise the economic potential of Ireland’s marine resource, promote sustainable development of marine industry through strategic funding programmes and essential scientific services, as well as safeguard Ireland’s natural marine resource through research and environmental monitoring. Ireland has a marine area of approximately 880,000 km2 under the sea, which is over 10 times its land area, representing an enormous seabed and marine resource. The Marine Institute promotes the sustainable development of this vast resource through research, the application of new technologies and by providing credible science-based advice to industry, the Government and the EU.

The Marine Institute issued a tender for the Supply of Vertebrate Necropsy and Sample Recovery Services Tender (2017-2018). The results are presented in this report. These tenders required i) the recovery and standardised necropsy of three cetacean species with associated case history reporting, ii) the provision of sampling kits to be used for the recovery of tissue samples collected from bycaught animals (birds, seals and cetaceans) by observers on commercial inshore and offshore fishing vessels in Irish waters in order to provide additional data to the MI’s existing catch sampling programme and iii) the storage and subsequent delivery of all samples and associated databases to the client. Recovery of 24 animals from two geographical lots was the target for the initial contract (2017) and was achieved. The contract extension (early 2018) required the collection and necropsy of a further 16 animals, which was exceeded as 19 animals were collected. A target of 30 animals to be recovered was required in the second contract (2018) and was also successfully reached. These 73 animals comprised 53 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), ten striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) and ten harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Forty-one of the 73 (56%) individuals were recovered from Lot 1 from counties Clare to Donegal, while 32 (44%) individuals were recovered from Lot 2 from counties Wexford to Kerry. Thirty-five sampling kits were assembled and delivered to the Marine Institute, and additional kits were prepared and available upon request for distribution to their panel of fishery observers. Between 24 July and 14 December 2017, two adult male grey seals were incidentally captured in tangle nets and reported to the Project Coordinator. Results from these tenders will inform the development of a long-term strategy for necropsy of stranded cetaceans and recovery of tissue samples for further biological studies. Samples requiring long-term storage at -20°C, including those for virology, were transported in a portable refrigerator to the IWDG office in Kilrush, Co. Clare and stored at facilities on site. Formalin fixed tissues, such as reproductive organs and adrenal glands, were stored at the RVL in Cork. All samples have been delivered to the Marine Institute in Oranmore, Co. Galway along with a detailed database of samples collected.

The Explorers Ocean Champions School Project provides, teachers and children with the tools to develop their own collaborative school project within their school and community. With support and guidance provided by the Explorers outreach team, the aim is to inspire children to become marine leaders and ocean champions.

In this lesson children will learn about climate change and its impact on the ocean through learning about the words associated with climate change. This lesson is suitable for 4th to 6th Class.

Explorers The Good, The Bad + The Ugly: The Ugliest of Them All Poster displays the most ugly thing in the sea: plastic pollution

Explorers The Good, The Bad + The Ugly How Deep is the Ocean Around Ireland? Poster visualises the depth of the ocean surrounding Ireland

Explorers The Good, The Bad + The Ugly: Ocean Basins Poster illustrates the major ocean basins

Learn more about the Great Explorers of space, mountains and the deep-sea and develop Creativity & imagination, Critical thinking & problem solving, Communication, and Collaboration skills. This lesson ties in with English (Myself/Stories) but can be linked with science.

Learn more about coding and technology and build critical thinking and problem solving skills. This lesson ties in with Maths (Data) but can be linked to English.