MacDara Conroy
MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business
#SAFETY AT SEA - How do you use weather forecasts to plan your leisure time on the water? The RNLI asks all water users in the UK and Ireland to take a quick 10-minute survey by the UK's Met Office.…
#MCIB - The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has reiterated the importance of forward planning and safety before going on the water after the drowning of a man off Donegal Point in Co Clare on 5 November last year. The…
#SEA KAYAKING - Outdoors Ireland are running night-time sea kayaking trips on Kinvara Bay on Friday evenings over this winter and spring. Beginning at 6pm each Friday, you can savour the sights, lights and sounds of Kinvara right on the water…
#FERRY NEWS - Celtic Link Ferries have announced their best ever ferry deal between France and Ireland to coincide with The Gathering 2013. On Friday 15 March 2013 - in time for the St Patrick's Weekend festivities - all vehicles…
#MCIB - Bilge alarms in compartments below the water line have been recommended for fishing vessels in the official report into the sinking of the FV Amy Jane off Donegal last year. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the six-man crew…
#SPEED RECORD - Weymouth-based sailor Paul Larsen and his crew have laid claim to a new world record in speed sailing, as BBC News reports. The team say they achieved an average speed of over 59 knots - with a…
#MCIB - The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) has recommended the use of man overboard recovery systems on board fishing vessels after the death of a crewman on the MFV Mark Amay II off Achill Island last year. Cathal McDaid…
#SURFING - The Irish Examiner reports on the "little economic miracle" that is Ballinspittle in Co Cork, a village that's "bucking the national economic trend" via its plethora of local businesses - and its close proximity to quality surf. The…
#RNLI - The RNLI has warned the public in Donegal to keep on the lookout after reports that a man in a Santa Claus outfit was falsely claiming to be collecting for the lifeboat charity at the weekend. A spokesperson…
#TITANIC - The Irish Times reports that a hand-drawn plan of the Titanic will go on display at the visitor's centre dedicated to the tragic vessel in Belfast. The enormous 10-metre drawing was used during an inquiry into the Titanic's…
#FUNGIE - He was the subject of rumours of his demise earlier this week - but the people of Dingle say their most famous resident, Fungie the dolphin, is alive and flipping. A spokeswoman for Dingle Dolphin Boat Tours confirmed…
#BELFAST LOUGH - Inappropriate actions by the bridge teams of two vessels contributed to their collision in Belfast Lough earlier this year, according to the official report into the incident by the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MIAB). BBC News…
#MARITIME TV PROGRAMMES - Footage from the rescue of the only survivor of the Tit Bonhomme tragedy in West Cork last January will feature in the first of a new series of Ireland's Search and Rescue tomorrow evening on RTÉ…
#COASTGUARD - Campaigners for the Clyde coastguard station in western Scotland have suffered a blow with the news that all calls are now being routed to Stornoway and Belfast as of last night. BBC News reports on a document leaked…
#FISHING - Marine scientists working in the Celtic Sea have discovered a natural refuge for the critically endangered flapper skate. Many elasmobranchs (sharks, rays and skates) are highly vulnerable to over-fishing, but a new paper in the open access…
#WATERFRONT PROPERTY - New to the market is an impressive two-bed townhouse adjacent to Galway Bay Sailing Club in Oranmore, which should appeal to anyone with dreams of sailing out west. As highlighted in the Galway Independent, 15 Renville Court…
Sea Lice Pose Significant Threat to Wild Salmon Says New Research
15th November 2012 Inland Waterways
#ATLANTIC SALMON - About 39% of salmon mortalities were attributable to the impact of sea lice on wild salmon fisheries, according to a new international study. The research, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, involved experts from Inland…
#MARINE NOTICE - The latest Marine Notice (No 61 of 2012) from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) advises that J Murphy & Sons, on behalf of Dublin City Council, will construct a 600mm emergency overflow pipe from…
#WATERFRONT PROPERTY - Anyone thinking of retiring to the country life should be more than a little tempted by Poppy Lane, a residential farm on the southern shore of Galway Bay now on the market. Irish Independent Farming reports on…
#COASTGUARD - An MLA for East Londonderry has sought the support of Northern Ireland's Minister of State to protect the Irish Coast Guard station at Malin Head from closure. Inishowen News reports that the SDLP's John Dallat MLA contacted Mike…
