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Displaying items by tag: Garmin

29th October 2023

Garmin Launch ECHOMAP Ultra 2 Chartplotter Series for Anglers

Garmin, a leading technology company, has launched its ECHOMAP™ Ultra 2 chartplotter series designed with advanced features for inland and nearshore anglers.

Offering a 10- or 12-inch sunlight-readable touchscreen with keyed assist, they put UHD scanning sonar, support for Garmin Navionics+™ and Garmin Navionics Vision+ mapping with an included 1-year subscription for daily updates, wireless networking capabilities and more at an angler’s fingertips.

Expected to be available next month, the ECHOMAP Ultra 2 chartplotters include a quick-release mount for fast and easy mobility, and they are sold with or without a GT56UHD-TM transducer

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5th October 2023

Garmin Named 2023 Manufacturer of the Year by US National Marine Electronics Association

Marine electronics manufacturer Garmin has been named Manufacturer of the Year in the large manufacturer category for the ninth consecutive year by members of the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) in the United States.

The awards were announced at the NMEA’s annual conference and awards banquet held on Thursday 21 September in Orlando, Florida.

The coveted Manufacturer of the Year title is awarded to the most recognised company in the marine electronics industry for excellence in product service and support in the field.

Garmin was also awarded five Product of Excellence awards in the multi-function display (MFD), autopilot, multimedia entertainment, automatic identification system (AIS) and safety categories, for its GPSMAP 8416xsv, Reactor 40 hydraulic autopilot with SmartPump v2, Fusion Apollo RA770 marine stereo, Cortex M1 Hub and flagship handheld GPSMAP 86i, respectively.

These awards are voted on by NMEA dealers who specialise in installing marine electronics, qualified NMEA technicians and other marine electronics manufacturers.

“These awards demonstrate Garmin’s strength as a team, as they exemplify not only the high quality of our products but also our commitment to providing customers and dealers with exceptional service and support throughout our entire organisation,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales.

“We are extremely honoured to again be named the NMEA Manufacturer of the Year and very proud to be a part of this organisation in its mission to enhance the technology and safety of electronics in the marine industry.”

Published in Marine Trade
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14th September 2023

Garmin Unveils New GPSMAP 9000 Series Chartplotters in 4K

Marine electronics manufacturer Garmin has unveiled its flagship GPSMAP 9000 series of all-in-one chartplotters boasting 4K resolution for maximum detail.

Available with 19”, 22”, 24” or 27” touchscreen displays, the new series is powered by a processor that’s seven times faster than previous generations.

For superior clarity and sunlight readability, the in-plane switching (IPS) touchscreen displays provide consistent, accurate colours that can be seen from all viewing angles, even with polarised sunglasses.

And for the first time, anglers can see fish and sonar targets in stunning 4K high definition, too, by adding a Garmin GSD sonar module, Panoptix transducer or LiveScope sonar.

The GPSMAP 9000 series from Garmin

“For decades, mariners have been relying on Garmin’s GPSMAPs to help them navigate waters all over the world,” says Garmin’s Dan Bartel.

“Building on that success, we’re thrilled to unveil the 9000 series with bigger, best-in-class displays, lightning-fast processing speeds and the ultimate connected boating experience on the new Garmin BlueNet network.”

Another key feature is the ability to integrate with onboard computer systems for engine monitoring, camera-assisted docking, entertainment and even helm control.

Expected to be available next month, the GPSMAP 9000 series starts at €10,499.99. To learn more, visit garmin.com/marine.

Published in Marine Trade
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25th May 2023

Navionics Marine Charts Expand Relief Shading Coverage

Garmin, the world’s most innovative and recognised marine electronics manufacturer, today announced expanded and enhanced high-resolution relief shading coverage to Navionics® Platinum+™ premium marine charts for compatible chartplotters. The update from Navionics provides 120% more relief shading coverage for many new coastal and inland waters than previous charts. Combining colour and shadow, relief shading gives boaters, anglers and divers an easy-to-interpret, clearer view of what’s below the surface than contour lines alone—and is now available on more than 40,000 additional lakes.

“Our team is continuously working to update our robust relief shading to provide combined inland and coastal content for our Navionics Platinum+ charts, enhancing mariners’ experience so they can focus on exploring the waters they enjoy most. Additionally, mariners can continue to utilise the same quality content and premium features, such as high-resolution relief shading chart overlays, to support an enhanced navigation experience—whether on the lake or off the coast.” —Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales

Platinum+ provides boaters, anglers and divers access to an exclusive relief shading overlay with availability in lakes and rivers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand1. Platinum+ offers a variety of features — such as daily chart updates, chart overlays and advanced routing technology — that are designed to smoothly guide boaters on the water, or quickly lead anglers to where the fish may be hiding. The expanded relief shading, which was recently made available in the Navionics Boating smart device app, reveals the shape of a lake, river and ocean seabeds in a vibrant new colour palette that provides a better understanding of depth changes at a glance and makes it easier to identify sharp ledges, points or other changes in bottom structure.

A one-year subscription is included with the purchase of a Navionics Platinum+ chart card, offering a quick and easy way to access unlimited daily chart updates via the Navionics Chart Installer, or using the Plotter Sync feature in the Boating app. Charts also feature up to 1-foot depth contours, community edits, depth shading and shallow water shading options for insight into inland and coastal waters.

An even clearer picture

Platinum+ premium charts’ new colour palette and image quality deliver a clear image of bottom detail that uncovers promising fishing spots, navigation channels and more. Multiple shading options aid in shallow water navigation, making it easier to choose depth ranges when searching for the best fishing spots. Additionally, numerous wrecks were targeted for enhancement to assist anglers and divers identify more precise spot-on-the-spot locations.

Daily map updates

With up to 5,000 updates to map content every day, Platinum+ mapping offers fresh insights about covered bodies of water for enhanced situational awareness and peace of mind while navigating. The mapping is revised daily from public and private sources, which include proprietary surveys and Notice to Mariners to give mariners the most up-to-date information available from Navionics. With mapping coverage of coastal and inland waters worldwide, daily updates allow for immediate access to new content and chart data as it is updated. Once the year-long subscription is activated, customers can access unlimited daily map updates using the Navionics chart installer.

Platinum+ premium charts are available now starting at £239.99. The maps come on a microSD/SD card for simplified installation compatible with third-party chartplotters.

Published in Marketplace
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7th February 2018

Marine Electronics Manufacturers End Three-Year-Long Legal Dispute

Marine Electronics Manufacturers End Three-Year-Long Legal Dispute

Navico, parent company to the Lowrance®, Simrad® and B&G® brands and Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), announced today that they have ended a three-year-long legal dispute relating to sonar and auto guidance patents. The agreement includes a broad cross licensing of patents and other intellectual property, which will allow both companies to bring new innovations to the market faster and benefit all marine customers.

“Research and development of game-changing technologies like our DownScan Imaging is the lifeblood of our business and the marine electronics industry,” said Leif Ottosson, CEO, Navico. “We are very pleased with this resolution, which includes guidelines for the future cross licensing of technologies for the benefit of both of our customers.”

”This is an exciting time as new technology is bringing positive change to the marine market,” said Cliff Pemble, President and CEO, Garmin. “This resolution allows us to focus all of our energy to bring even more innovation to our marine customers.”

Published in Marine Trade
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26th May 2011

New GPS Product for Shannon Navigation

New GPS Product for Shannon Navigation
GPS maker Garmin has announced a new Inland Waterways Ireland product, available as a download for boating enthusiasts on the Shannon Navigation.

The Inland Waterways Ireland download is the first boating product developed for the Shannon Navigation compatible with all Garmin mapping compatible recreational and marine devices.

It allows the user to search for points of interest (POIs) as well as build routes automatically or manually on the Shannon Navigation network.

POIs include marinas, geographic named places, lakes and much more. The Inland Waterways Ireland product also features locks, jetties, fishing locations as well as lake and river shorelines.

If you fancy getting this download to explore this beautiful part of Ireland yourself go HERE.

Published in Inland Waterways
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Aquaculture Information

Aquaculture is the farming of animals in the water and has been practised for centuries, with the monks farming fish in the middle ages. More recently the technology has progressed and the aquaculture sector is now producing in the region of 50 thousand tonnes annually and provides a valuable food product as well as much needed employment in many rural areas of Ireland.

A typical fish farm involves keeping fish in pens in the water column, caring for them and supplying them with food so they grow to market size. Or for shellfish, containing them in a specialised unit and allowing them to feed on natural plants and materials in the water column until they reach harvestable size. While farming fish has a lower carbon and water footprint to those of land animals, and a very efficient food fed to weight gain ratio compared to beef, pork or chicken, farming does require protein food sources and produces organic waste which is released into the surrounding waters. Finding sustainable food sources, and reducing the environmental impacts are key challenges facing the sector as it continues to grow.

Salmon is the most popular fish bought by Irish families. In Ireland, most of our salmon is farmed, and along with mussels and oysters, are the main farmed species in the country.

Aquaculture in Ireland

  • Fish and shellfish are farmed in 14 Irish coastal counties.
  • Irish SMEs and families grow salmon, oysters, mussels and other seafood
  • The sector is worth €150m at the farm gate – 80% in export earnings.
  • The industry sustains 1,833 direct jobs in remote rural areas – 80% in the west of Ireland
  • Every full-time job in aquaculture creates 2.27 other jobs locally (Teagasc 2015)
  • Ireland’s marine farms occupy 0.0004% of Ireland’s 17,500Km2 inshore area.
  • 83% of people in coastal areas support the development of fish farming
  • Aquaculture is a strong, sustainable and popular strategic asset for development and job creation (Foodwise 2025, National Strategic Plan, Seafood
  • Operational Programme 2020, FAO, European Commission, European Investment Bank, Harvesting Our Ocean Wealth, Silicon Republic, CEDRA)
    Ireland has led the world in organically certified farmed fish for over 30 years
  • Fish farm workers include people who have spent over two decades in the business to school-leavers intent on becoming third-generation farmers on their family sites.

Irish Aquaculture FAQs

Aquaculture, also known as aquafarming, is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants, and involves cultivating freshwater and saltwater populations under controlled conditions- in contrast to commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish. Mariculture refers to aquaculture practiced in marine environments and in underwater habitats. Particular kinds of aquaculture include fish farming, shrimp farming, oyster farming, mariculture, algaculture (such as seaweed farming), and the cultivation of ornamental fish. Particular methods include aquaponics and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, both of which integrate fish farming and plant farming.

About 580 aquatic species are currently farmed all over the world, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which says it is "practised by both some of the poorest farmers in developing countries and by multinational companies".

Increasing global demand for protein through seafood is driving increasing demand for aquaculture, particularly given the pressures on certain commercially caught wild stocks of fish. The FAO says that "eating fish is part of the cultural tradition of many people and in terms of health benefits, it has an excellent nutritional profile, and "is a good source of protein, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and essential micronutrients".

Aquaculture now accounts for 50 per cent of the world's fish consumed for food, and is the fastest-growing good sector.

China provides over 60 per cent of the world's farmed fish. In Europe, Norway and Scotland are leading producers of finfish, principally farmed salmon.

For farmed salmon, the feed conversion ratio, which is the measurement of how much feed it takes to produce the protein, is 1.1, as in one pound of feed producing one pound of protein, compared to rates of between 2.2 and 10 for beef, pork and chicken. However, scientists have also pointed out that certain farmed fish and shrimp requiring higher levels of protein and calories in feed compared to chickens, pigs, and cattle.

Tilapia farming which originated in the Middle East and Africa has now become the most profitable business in most countries. Tilapia has become the second most popular seafood after crab, due to which its farming is flourishing. It has entered the list of best selling species like shrimp and salmon.

There are 278 aquaculture production units in Ireland, according to Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) *, producing 38,000 tonnes of finfish and shellfish in 2019 and with a total value of €172 million

There are currently almost 2,000 people directly employed in Irish aquaculture in the Republic, according to BIM.

BIM figures for 2019 recorded farmed salmon at almost 12,000 tonnes, valued at €110 million; rock oysters reached 10,300 tonnes at a value of €44 million; rope mussels at 10,600 tonnes were valued at €7 million; seabed cultured mussels at 4,600 tonnes were valued at €7 million; "other" finfish reached 600 tonnes, valued at €2 million and "other" shellfish reached 300 tonnes, valued at €2 million

Irish aquaculture products are exported to Europe, US and Asia, with salmon exported to France, Germany, Belgium and the US. Oysters are exported to France, with developing sales to markets in Hong Kong and China. France is Ireland's largest export for mussels, while there have been increased sales in the domestic and British markets.

The value of the Irish farmed finfish sector fell by five per cent in volume and seven per cent in value in 2019, mainly due to a fall on salmon production, but this was partially offset by a seven per cent increased in farmed shellfish to a value of 60 million euro. Delays in issuing State licenses have hampered further growth of the sector, according to industry representatives.

Fish and shellfish farmers must be licensed, and must comply with regulations and inspections conducted by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Marine Institute. Food labelling is a function of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. There is a long backlog of license approvals in the finfish sector, while the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine says it is working to reduce the backlog in the shellfish sector.

The department says it is working through the backlog, but notes that an application for a marine finfish aquaculture licence must be accompanied by either an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR). As of October 2020, over two-thirds of applications on hand had an EIS outstanding, it said.

The EU requires member states to have marine spatial plans by 2021, and Ireland has assigned responsibility to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government for the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF). Legislation has been drawn up to underpin this, and to provide a "one stop shop" for marine planning, ranging from fish farms to offshore energy – as in Marine Planning and Development Management Bill. However, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine confirmed last year that it intends to retain responsibility for aquaculture and sea-fisheries related development – meaning fish and shellfish farmers won't be able to avail of the "one stop shop" for marine planning.

Fish and shellfish health is a challenge, with naturally occurring blooms, jellyfish and the risk of disease. There are also issues with a perception that the sector causes environmental problems.

The industry has been on a steep learning curve, particularly in finfish farming, since it was hailed as a new future for Irish coastal communities from the 1970s – with the State's Electricity Supply Board being an early pioneer, and tobacco company Carrolls also becoming involved for a time. Nutrient build up, which occurs when there is a high density of fish in one area, waste production and its impact on depleting oxygen in water, creating algal blooms and "dead zones", and farmers' use of antibiotics to prevent disease have all been concerns, and anglers have also been worried about the impact of escaped farmed salmon on wild fish populations. Sea lice from salmon farmers were also blamed for declines in sea trout and wild salmon in Irish estuaries and rivers.

BIM says over 95% of all salmon farmed in Ireland are certified organic. Organically grown salmon are only fed a diet of sustainable organic feed. They are also raised in more spacious pens than traditional farmed salmon. The need to site locations for fish farms further out to sea, using more robust cages for weather, has been recognised by regulatory agencies. There is a move towards land-based aquaculture in Norway to reduce impact on local ecosystems. The industry says that antibiotic use is declining, and it says that "safe and effective vaccinations have since been developed for farmed fish and are now widely used". Many countries are now adopting a more sustainable approach to removing sea lice from salmon, using feeder fish such as wrasse and lumpsucker fish. Ireland's first lumpsucker hatchery was opened in 2015.

BIM says over 95% of all salmon farmed in Ireland are certified organic. Organically grown salmon are only fed a diet of sustainable organic feed. They are also raised in more spacious pens than traditional farmed salmon. The need to site locations for fish farms further out to sea, using more robust cages for weather, has been recognised by regulatory agencies. There is a move towards land-based aquaculture in Norway to reduce impact on local ecosystems. The industry says that antibiotic use is declining, and it says that "safe and effective vaccinations have since been developed for farmed fish and are now widely used". Many countries are now adopting a more sustainable approach to removing sea lice from salmon, using feeder fish such as wrasse and lumpsucker fish. Ireland's first lumpsucker hatchery was opened in 2015.

Yes, as it is considered to have better potential for controlling environmental impacts, but it is expensive. As of October 2020, the department was handling over 20 land-based aquaculture applications.

The Irish Farmers' Association has represented fish and shellfish farmers for many years, with its chief executive Richie Flynn, who died in 2018, tirelessly championing the sector. His successor, Teresa Morrissey, is an equally forceful advocate, having worked previously in the Marine Institute in providing regulatory advice on fish health matters, scientific research on emerging aquatic diseases and management of the National Reference Laboratory for crustacean diseases.

BIM provides training in the national vocational certificate in aquaculture at its National Fisheries College, Castletownbere, Co Cork. It also trains divers to work in the industry. The Institute of Technology Carlow has also developed a higher diploma in aqua business at its campus in Wexford, in collaboration with BIM and IFA Aquaculture, the representative association for fish and shellfish farming.

© Afloat 2020

At A Glance - Irish Aquaculture

  • Fish and shellfish are farmed in 14 Irish coastal counties
  • Salmon is the most popular fish bought by Irish families. 
  • In Ireland, most of our salmon is farmed, and along with mussels and oysters, are the main farmed species in the country.
  • The industry sustains 1,833 direct jobs in remote rural areas – 80% in the west of Ireland
  • Every full-time job in aquaculture creates 2.27 other jobs locally (Teagasc 2015)
  • Ireland’s marine farms occupy 0.0004% of Ireland’s 17,500Km2 inshore area.
  • 83% of people in coastal areas support the development of fish farming

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