#Tourism - ‘Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands’ is the new tourism brand for the Midlands region, with a particular emphasis on its inland waterways. More than 10,000 consumers gave their put to Fáilte Ireland on the development of the brand, which hopes…

#MarineNotice - Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) will be carrying out scientific sampling using bag nets and sentinel cages in Killary Harbour and surrounding waters.  Similar to last year’s operation, the bag nets will start at the shore and extend into…

#IslandNews - A new pier for Inis Oírr in the Aran Islands is now on the cards, as Galway Bay FM reports. Minister of State Joe McHugh announced funding of €330,000 to appoint consultant engineers for the design and construction…

Bray Municipal District has agreed a plan and to provide funding for the rejuvenation of Bray Harbour on foot of a proposal made by The Bray Harbour Joint Development Committee. The proposal involves providing protection of the harbour from East/Northeast…

#MarineScience - The Marine Environment and Food Safety (MEFS) team of the Marine Institute has made the list of finalists for the Irish Laboratory Awards 2018. The MEFS team performs environmental monitoring and related laboratory services managed by four integrated…

The Marine Institute’s Research Facility in Furnace, Newport, Co Mayo will open its doors on Saturday 14 April from 11am to 4pm. The open day is for all, and visitors will have the opportunity to view the facility for studying…

#MarineScience - A new survey sampling Nephrops larvae from the area west of the Aran Islands is currently being conducted for the first time aboard the RV Celtic Voyager. “Nephrops are more commonly known as Dublin Bay prawn, Norway lobster…

#MarineNotice - Marine Notice No 14 of 2018 advises that as part of the Donegal Group B Sewerage Scheme, remedial works are being carried out this week by Norfolk Marine at the Bundoran outfall in Donegal Bay. These works were…

#MarineScience - One of Ireland’s deep water coral reefs is changing at a rate of some 20% over four years, faster than previously thought. That’s according to new research published by Dr Aaron Lim of the Marine Geology Research Group…

Important dredging work at Hafan Pwllheli marina in North Wales has been scheduled for 2018. The plan to dredge the harbour entrance and the main channel to maintain its design depth has already been agreed. Work on clearing the entrance…

#CoastalNotes - During Afloat's visit to Wicklow Port this day last week, seemingly Sammy the Seal made a fleeting appearance when alongside a departing cargoship, writes Jehan Ashmore. The departure that afternoon of Burhou-I involved the curious 'Sammy' or a…

#MarineScience - New research raises questions over “significant disruption” to microscopic marine wildlife by seismic surveys — leading to calls for the Government to take notice. According to The Irish Times, Lorcán Ó Cinnéide of the Irish Fish Processors’ and…

#Microplastic - Using data collected by Volvo Ocean Race team Turn the Tide on Plastic, marine scientists have identified 75 particles of microplastic per cubic metre in waters near Hong Kong and 87 per cubic metre along the coast near…

Marine Notice No 12 of 2018 advises that the Marine Institute was scheduled to deploy a bottom-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) on the Aran prawn ground today, Monday 26 March. The ADCP will be recovered in May and will…

#IslandNews - Residents of Tory Island have voted in favour of a compromise proposal in their dispute with the State over a new ferry contract. As previously noted on Afloat.ie, people living on the island off the Donegal coast feared…

#MarineScience - Liverpool city region according to Maritime Mersey, could reap the benefit of a massive expansion in the UK offshore wind sector between now an 2030. In partnership with the Government the UK offshore wind industry has unveiled plans…