Teens Get Hands-On With Marine Science in Loughs Agency’s Water Warriors Live

25th December 2025

Afloat.ie Team

Local secondary school pupils with Mark the Science Guy at the Balor Arts Centre in Ballybofey, Co Donegal for Water Warriors Live Credit: Stephen Latimer

Over 1,000 young people from across the Foyle and Carlingford catchment areas came together in a series of exciting, hands-on events for the fourth year running as part of the Loughs Agency’s flagship marine science education programme Water Warriors Live.

Throughout November, secondary school pupils attended the interactive sessions in Derry, Newry, Omagh and Ballybofey. Hosted by the energetic Mark the Science Guy, the events invited students into the world of rivers, loughs, climate change, biodiversity and sustainability.

Pupils took part in lively experiments, environmental challenges and teamwork games designed to explore the role of fresh-water ecosystems and the pressures they face.

From discovering how waterways function to considering how human behaviour influences global systems, each session aimed to spark curiosity and build environmental awareness.

Teachers throughout the region commented on how valuable the experience was, with many saying it helped bring classroom lessons on the environment and sustainability to life.

A gallery of images from Water Warrior Live 2025 can be found on the Loughs Agency website HERE.

Published in Loughs Agency, Marine Science

Published in Loughs Agency

Tagged under

About The Author

Afloat.ie Team

Email The Author

Afloat.ie is Ireland's dedicated marine journalism team.

Have you got a story for our reporters? Email us here.

We've got a favour to ask

More people are reading Afloat.ie than ever thanks to the power of the internet but we're in stormy seas because advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news sites, we haven't put up a paywall because we want to keep our marine journalism open.

Afloat.ie is Ireland's only full-time marine journalism team and it takes time, money and hard work to produce our content.

So you can see why we need to ask for your help.

If everyone chipped in, we can enhance our coverage and our future would be more secure. You can help us through a small donation. Thank you.

You might also want to read...

About the Loughs Agency

The Loughs Agency is a governmental body established under the 1998 Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland. The Agency's goal is to provide sustainable social, economic, and environmental benefits by effectively conserving, managing, promoting, and developing the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford areas.

The Agency's governing legislation confers several specific functions, including the promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes in respect of marine, fishery, and aquaculture matters. Moreover, the Agency is responsible for managing, conserving, protecting, improving, and developing the inland fisheries of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Additionally, the Agency has the task of developing and licensing aquaculture, as well as the development of marine tourism.

The Loughs Agency reports to the North South Ministerial Council and its government Sponsor Departments, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, and the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC) in Ireland. The Departments fund the Agency on an equal basis.

The Loughs Agency's focus on sustainable development is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, environment, and local communities in the Foyle and Carlingford areas. The Agency's efforts to conserve and enhance the region's marine resources, including fisheries and aquaculture, are expected to benefit local communities, promote tourism, and contribute to economic growth.

In conclusion, the Loughs Agency plays a vital role in promoting the sustainable social, economic, and environmental development of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Its work on marine conservation and development is crucial in ensuring the long-term viability of the region's natural resources and in promoting sustainable economic growth.