#BantryBay - A final approval from the Government has been given for a contentious large-scale kelp harvesting project in Bantry Bay despite strong opposition from local residents. As the Green News.ie writes the license granted to Tralee-based biotechnology company BioAtlantis covers…

#Doonbeg - Irish surfers have reiterated their concerns over proposed coastal defence works at US President Donald Trump’s golf resort in Doonbeg. TheJournal.ie reports that submissions from surfing groups are among dozens from environmental groups and some local residents to…

#MarineWildlife - Islanders’ attempts to rescue a seal pup stranded on Achill in Co Mayo recently were sadly not successful. But the incident has galvanised a local group set up amid growing concerns over marine wildlife strandings, who will train…

#MarineScience - Millions of tiny particles of plastic have been detected in European waters in groundbreaking scientific research conducted as part of the Volvo Ocean Race. Using data collected by Turn the Tide on Plastic, which features Ireland’s own Annalise…

#StarWars - Tourism Ireland’s latest ad campaign for the Wild Atlantic Way has gone literally stratospheric, as RTÉ News reports. Skellig Michael is front and centre in what Irish tourism chiefs are calling their ‘first space tourism campaign’, which saw…

#Weather - Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow gale warning on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea in effect from 5am this morning (Wednesday 6 December). Gusts of up to 110km/h are expected along all coastal…

#MarineWildlife - Two common seals were released off the North Coast last week after being nursed back to health at the Exploris aquarium in Portaferry. According to The Irish News, the seals named Hans and Albert had been with the…

#IslandNews - A new five-year ferry contract from residents on the Aran Islands has been welcomed, as the deal will guarantee daily services to each of the three islands. Details of the Public Service Obligation contract reports RTE News were…

#MarineWildlife - A team of scientists on board the RV Celtic Voyager got more than they bargained for during a recent survey to understand the habitat use of elusive beaked whales. That’s when they encountered four separate groups of breaching…

#MarineScience - A new planning application is set to be submitted for the proposed ‘marine innovation park’ in Connemara, as Galway Bay FM reports. Páirc na Mara is envisaged as a low-carbon marine industry hub over nine hectares, with a…

#MarineScience - Following on from the successful conferences in Keele (2014) and Stirling (2016), the Marine Institute in Galway will host the third meeting of the European Association Of Fish Pathologists (EAFP) on 11-12 September 2018. ‘Connecting academia with industry…

#MaritimeMuseum - A decision by the Department of Infrastructure (Dfi) to finally approve plans for a Maritime Museum at Ebrington will hasten the completion of a major tourist draw in the heart of Derry, according to local politicians who have…

#LoughNeagh - After two decades as warden of Coney Island in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland’s ‘Robinson Crusoe’ has sailed on, as the Belfast Telegraph reports. Peter McClelland won out over 400 applicants in 1998 for the prize position of caretaker…

#MarineWildlife - Twitter user Derek Byrne was bemused by the sight of a large seal being chased from the door of a fishmonger’s as he drove through Wicklow town on Wednesday afternoon. But for the townsfolk, Sammy the Seal has…

#MarineScience - Marine Minister Michael Creed has announced the awarding of €3.3 million grant funding through the Marine Institute to research projects in specialist marine equipment and ocean law. Some 19 funding grants in total have been made in the…

The INFOMAR programme, jointly managed by the Marine Institute and Geological Survey Ireland and funded by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment held its annual seminar in Cork (15th – 16th November), highlighting the impact and value of…