The Marine Institute is marking 70 years of scientific research at its Newport Research Facility in Burrishoole, Co Mayo. Located between Lough Feeagh and Lough Furnace beneath the Nephin Beg mountains, the facility is one of Ireland’s longest-running marine and freshwater research stations.
Originally established in 1955 as the Salmon Research Trust of Ireland, the centre has become internationally recognised for fisheries science, climate monitoring and biodiversity research.
Marine Institute chief executive Dr Rick Officer described Newport as “one of Ireland’s great scientific centres”. “Its global reputation is built not only on the uniqueness of the long-term datasets it has produced, but on the generations of leading scientists and staff it has developed,” he said.
The facility’s fish monitoring system has continuously tracked salmon, sea trout and eel populations since 1970 using the Salmon Leap Trap and Mill Race Trap.
Scientists say the unbroken biological and environmental dataset is one of only a handful of its kind worldwide. Research carried out at Newport has informed EU fisheries management, climate policy and conservation planning for decades.
Dr Ciaran Kelly, Director of Fisheries and Ecosystems Advisory Services, said Newport’s legacy of environmental data was “globally unique”. “As we look ahead, we are leveraging this incredible foundation to pioneer aquaculture research and innovation and lead vital work in nature restoration,” he said.
The centre also operates advanced aquaculture and fish rearing systems, including a modern Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS). Its salmon ranching programme has helped scientists better understand the long-term genetic impacts of stocking rivers with farmed fish.
Newport researchers are also using telemetry and genetics to track species, including bluefin tuna, basking sharks, skates and rays.
The facility’s climate record is equally significant. Long-term weather and lake temperature monitoring at Lough Feeagh now provides key evidence of how climate change is affecting freshwater ecosystems. A new monitoring buoy installed at Lough Furnace in 2025 forms part of the Marine Institute’s Sentinel Site network, measuring physical, chemical and biological indicators.
Research from Newport also contributed to the transfer of 4,800 hectares of forestry land into Wild Nephin National Park in 2021 as part of restoration efforts in the Burrishoole catchment.
Scientists at the facility achieved another milestone this spring by successfully captive-breeding juvenile freshwater pearl mussels, one of Ireland’s most endangered species.
Dr Russell Poole, Section Manager at Newport, said the research station remained committed to delivering critical environmental science into the future. “We are enormously proud of this legacy and committed to ensuring Newport continues to deliver critical science for decades to come,” he said.
The Newport Research Facility also supports school visits, research partnerships and bursaries for early-career scientists.
