Marine Environment, Science, wildlife, weather & Ocean energy
Croghaun Cliffs at Dooagh on Achill, Co Mayo
The Marine Institute has announced a call for proposals for a Senior Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Ocean Ecosystems and Climate for a duration of five years. This fellowship is designed to provide the link between current climate change research, on international…
Aerial view of Ballyliffin Golf Club
A golf links which hosted the the Irish Open in 2018 is one of a number of amenities on the Inishowen Peninsula that faces threat from coastal erosion. As RTÉ News reports, local communities fear that it may only take…
Dingle Oceanworld in Co Kerry
A Dingle-based marine wildlife sanctuary and aquarium which has recently reopened fears having to close for good without State funding to help cover its bills, as the Irish Examiner reports. Dingle Oceanworld says it is down more than €200,000 in…
Shellfish Pickers Warned Over Toxicity Levels
The public has been warned against against recreational gathering of shellfish such as mussels, clams, cockles or oysters over increased levels of illness-causing toxins. Routine shellfish monitoring by the Marine Institute along South West and West coasts detected increased levels…
The wind farm on Arklow Bank in the Irish Sea: under the Government’s Climate Action Plan, 70% of Ireland’s electricity will be generated from renewable energy by 2030
Public consultation on developing a network of offshore wind farms to meet Ireland’s climate targets has been extended by three weeks. An original deadline of July 1st for the public’s views on how offshore wind energy should be modelled has…
Little Skellig off the County Kerry coast
Little Skellig– the inaccessible sister crag to Skellig Michael - was long thought to have been inhabited only by gannets, fulmars and other seabirds. However, as The Sunday Times reports today, archaeologist Michael Gibbons and a group of climbers have…
Disappointed - Outgoing Gaeltacht minister Sean Kyne
Outgoing Gaeltacht minister Sean Kyne has expressed disappointment at the Government decision to approve early re-opening of offshore islands to visitors from Monday (June 29). The Attorney General had advised the Cabinet that there could be legal consequences if it…
File image of Dún Mór Head on the Dingle Peninsula
RTÉ News is reporting that a body has been found in the search for a missing man on the Dingle Peninsula. As previously noted on Afloat.ie, was last seen early on Saturday, 20 June, and locals believed he may have…
Inis Mór in the Aran Islands
It’s been confirmed that tourist travel to offshore islands will be permitted from next Monday under the next phase of lifting coronavirus restrictions, which was announced last night (Thursday 25 June). RTÉ News reports that the move was recommended by…
File image of RV Meteor, which will conduct operations at the Goban Spur next week
Two scientific deep-sea moorings deployed at the Goban Spur off the southwestern continental shelf last year will be recovered and redeployed next week. German research vessel Meteor (Callsign DBBH) will be involved in the redeployment on behalf of the University…
Marine Institute Recruiting For Temporary Roles In Marine Spatial Planning
The Marine Institute is recruiting for a number of temporary roles relating to marine spatial planning and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). These eight positions include three team leader roles, in environmental data reporting and co-ordination, data services co-ordination,…
Some 50 per cent of wipes labelled as “flushable” are not biodegradable and contain microplastics
Increased use of wet wipes during the Covid-19 pandemic is already exacerbating the “plastic crisis” in oceans, an NUI Galway (NUIG) team says. Some 50 per cent of wipes labelled as “flushable” are not biodegradable and contain microplastics which are…
The Aran Islands - one confirmed case of Covid-19
The Irish Islands Federation has called on the Government to provide “clear guidance and protocols” on the safe re-opening of islands to visitors. The federation, Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, has also called on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET)…
The Baltimore Ferry to Sherkin Island in West Cork
Coastal Communities are the focus this week on the Marine Institute’s Oceans of Learning series. The Marine Institute and partners are celebrating our world’s shared ocean and our connection to the sea in a 10-week series, sharing news and offering…
Popular Transatlantic port-of-call. Horta with its friendly harbour on Faial in the Azores makes for a handy destination for cruisers crossing the Atlantic. Beyond that sheltering neck of land, it’s clear water all the way to the Caribbean
The autonomous Azores islands, administratively linked to Portugal and 800 miles westward of Lisbon in the midst of the Atlantic, have become European pace-setters in controlling and eradicating COVID-19. And in doing so, they have been able to provide a…
A survey conducted by the co-op on the Aran island of Inis Óirr (above) last week indicated that 92 per cent of residents and businesses oppose re-opening for the remainder of the summer due to fears over the spread of Covid-19
Gaeltacht Minister Sean Kyne says he opposes the National Public Health Emergency Team’s (NPHET) decision on an early lifting of travel restrictions to and from offshore islands. The decision to allow travel to and from offshore islands to resume from…