The Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CAFS) Professor Zheng Zhiling, and colleagues from the Yellow Sea and East China Sea Fisheries Research Institutes, met with scientists from the Marine Institute in Galway last week to identify areas for joint research and staff collaborations and exchanges.

The group discussed areas for collaboration in seafood safety including research on marine biotoxins and predictive modelling of Harmful Algal Blooms, viruses and bacteria in shellfish, as well as chemical contaminants in seafood.

Dr Heffernan explained, "We were delighted with this opportunity to discuss joint research projects in shellfish safety, and also identify opportunities to partner on applications for European and international funding for example, through the EU's upcoming Horizon 2020 programme and the next Chinese 5-Year Plan. We also had important discussions about our respective marine environment and food safety monitoring programmes"

Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO Marine Institute, and Liu Qing, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences had signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Bejing last year during a trade visit to China with Mr. Simon Coveney T.D., Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine. The MOU aims to enhance cooperation in relation to Fishery science and technology .

The partnership stems from the Action Plan on Mutual cooperation in the Agri food and Fisheries sector signed by Minister Coveney and the Chinese Vice Minister of Agriculture Niu Dun in 2011.

#MarineScience - A team of young scientists have lost a special weather balloon probe somewhere in Dundalk Bay - and they've turned to the internet for help.

CoderDojo mentor Daniel O'Reilly, who has been working with the teens on their project for a national science competition, has appealed on Twitter for assistance, posting an image of the missing item and its last known location.

The silver duct-taped box is marked as 'Infinity-1' and was launched from Armagh on a weather balloon last Thursday 22 August.

The probe parachuted from 30km into Dundalk Bay and has not been seen since. It's last known whereabouts were at co-ordinates 53.09795, -6.29013.

If anyone finds the box, either in full in part, on the shoreline or in the bay, they are urged to contact O'Reilly at +44 (0) 770 890 5697 or 087 689 0785, or email [email protected]

#MarineScience - A collaborative performance fusing arts, music and science has been shortlisted for the 2013 Allianz Business to Arts Awards.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, The Longest River is a unique audio-visual performance intended to communicate the importance of marine science and research, putting a selection of choral music and traditional Irish music to a slideshow depicting marine scenes and video footage of the deep sea environment.

The production, a collaboration between the Marine Institute and Galway-based choir Cois Cladaigh, enjoyed a successful showcase earlier this year in Brussels, where it was also presented to primary school pupils.

“It is a great achievement to be shortlisted for this award as showcasing marine science, research and development through ocean literacy and music has proven to be an innovative way to engage new audiences," said Marine Institute chief Dr Peter Heffernan.

"This is especially important in developing a better understanding of the oceans and showing how this resource is key to generating social, cultural and economic benefits nationally and internationally."

The winners of the 2013 Allianz Business to Arts Awards will be announced on 10 September at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.

#MarineWildlife - A humpback whale new to Irish waters has been confirmed by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG).

Photos of the humpback's fluke and dorsal fin captured by Nick Massett off Clogher and Sybil Heads in West Kerry at the weekend were examined by the IWDG's catalogue experts who have determined that the whale is a new arrival - and one with a fluke colouring that's rarely seen in Irish waters.

Details have since been sent to Allied Whale in the US state of Maine - which curates the North Atlantic humpback whale catalogue - to see if a match can be made among its database of more than 7,000 fluke images.

Meanwhile, Wildlife Extra reports that sailors in the Irish Sea are urged to keep a lookout for a large group of minke whales.

The group includes three juveniles and a calf previously spotted some 19 miles east of Ireland's Eye near Howth.

"Although sightings of Minke whale are to be expected in these waters, such a large group is a rare occurrence," said Danielle Gibas, sightings officer with the UK's Sea Watch Foundation, which is organising Britain's annual National Whale and Dolphin Watch this week till 3 August.

And in other cetacean news, scientists claim that dolphins call each other by name, calling back to the sound of their signature whistle but ignoring whistles that aren't theirs.

Herald.ie reports on the findings by marine scientists at the University of St Andrews, who studied a bottlenose dolphin group off the east coast of Scotland.

Using underwater speakers, they played synthesised versions of dolphin whistles they'd identified with particular dolphins to determine their reactions.

They were surprised to find that individuals called back after hearing their own 'name' but ignored others, whether they were for dolphins in the same group or strangers.

#marinescience – Ever since the foundation of the state, far-sighted supporters of Ireland's marine potential in its broadest sense bewailed the lack of any co-ordinated approach to marine research and development.

In recent years, the situation has been improving with new facilities and projects coming on stream.

This week in the Irish Times, Science Editor Dick Ahlstrom highlighted the beginning of construction work on a new research centre in Cork which will be a significant step in the right direction. (see page 12, Irish Times Thursday July 18th).

#MarineScience - Suitable candidates in the marine science field are invited to apply for the accredited continuous professional development module (CPD) titled Applied Marine Biological Sampling and Data Collection. 

The module will take place from 30 September to 25 October 2013 and is offered by Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) and the Strategic Marine Alliance for Research and Training (SMART).

Applied Marine Biological Sampling and Data Collection aims to provide attendees with the detailed practical knowledge and skills necessary to design and implement biological sampling and data collection campaigns on marine commercial platforms.

The module is aimed at postgraduate students of marine science and marine industry personnel.  

Four days of ship-time sampling and data collection onboard the RV Celtic Voyager and the IWDG's Celtic Mist off Cork and in the Shannon Estuary respectively are supported by three days of intensive laboratory practicals and lectures in GMIT.  

1. onboard, at practicals and lectures is required from 7-13 October with all other elements accomplished through student-centred distance learning.   

Themes addressed include quantitative sampling of fisheries and benthos; surveying and monitoring methodologies for cetaceans and seabirds; tissue sampling and preservation; and oceanographic data collection and sampling.  

Completion of the module results in an award of 5 credits at NFQ level 9 under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).   
 
The Strategic Marine Alliance for Research and Training (SMART) is a marine science partnership programme designed to further develop capacity in carrying out offshore operations on board research vessels for third level students of marine-related science and technologies.

This strategic collaborative inter-institutional programme is led and funded by Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the Marine Institute, and is also supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

The online application forms is available HERE or my e-mailing [email protected]. Further details on the course and its instructors is included in a PDF available to read or download HERE.

#UCC – An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D. turned the sod at the site of the new Beaufort Building in Ringaskiddy, in Cork Harbour today (Thursday, 11 July).

Led by University College Cork, which is acknowledged as Ireland's leading maritime science and engineering Institute, the Beaufort building will be a flagship development in the Irish Maritime and Energy Resource Cluster (IMERC). Work will begin immediately on this unique building, which includes the National Ocean Test facility. Over €15 million has been invested in this world-class development.
An Taoiseach welcomed the investment stating that, "I am delighted to be here to turn the sod for the UCC Beaufort Building which will employ 135 people when complete and provide 200 jobs in the construction stage. Ireland needs to be able to compete globally where new research in fields like sustainable energy and maritime science are concerned. The Government's Action Plan for Jobs 2013 recognises this and the UCC Beaufort building will play an important role in the marine energy sector and help to drive Ireland's economic recovery".
"The President of UCC, Dr. Michael Murphy commended the work of the Beaufort Research team led by Beaufort Director and Professor of Energy Engineering at UCC, Prof. Tony Lewis.
"The positioning of Beaufort Research as an international leader in the area of maritime and energy research is evidenced by the success of Beaufort in securing funding in excess of €50 million[1] <#_ftn1> from European programmes and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) in recent years.
We welcome the development of the Beaufort Building, which brings together the Hydraulics and Maritime Research Centre (HMRC), Coastal Marine Research Centre (CMRC) and the Sustainable Energy Research Group (SERG) to form a cornerstone of the maritime cluster based here in Ringaskiddy. This centre will continue to drive academia and industry to the forefront of global developments in marine renewable energy research."
The Director of Beaufort Research, Prof Tony Lewis, welcomed "this historic day" as the culmination of his career in maritime engineering and marine renewable energy. The realisation of this UCC facility and its location within the IMERC Campus will place Beaufort at the epicentre of research and innovation in the maritime and energy field in the future.
The construction of the new building will commence immediately, creating 200 jobs during development. When completed in 2014, Beaufort Research will employ 135 full time researchers. The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) estimates that direct employment in this high value sector could double over the next five years, leading to further investment and job creation opportunities.
Named after the Irish Hydrographer, Rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, who was responsible for the introduction of the globally adopted Beaufort Scale, Beaufort Research will provide an accessible entry point for national and international industry and research groups focused on sustainable resource development and will ensure Ireland's position as a global leader in maritime and energy markets.

The facilities at the 4,700 sq. metre building will include the National Ocean Test Facility with a teaching flume and a large test flume (35m x 12m x 3m deep) and 12 electric paddles (ocean wave generators, Edinburgh design), multiple beach scenarios, 1m @ 2.7 second waves and a movable floor among other features required for maritime and wave energy research. The infrastructure will also house the ocean wave basin (25m x 18m x 2m.deep) with 40 wave paddles to produce real three dimensional seas at model scale. A coastal flume (27m x 3m x 1m deep) which includes a flow facility can be used to test tidal turbines. There will be mechanical and electrical workshops, a Power Take-Off lab and Energy Storage and Smart-grid labs as well as industry suites and an incubation space of 200 sq. metres initially.

#marinescience – The Marine Institute and Galway Atlantaquaria recently (1st – 5th July) held a seven day teachers training course at Grattan beach and at the aquarium, where over twenty five primary school teachers were introduced to Ireland's marine resource, oceans and the seashore.

School teachers developed new skills and techniques that they can use in and out of the classroom. Ms Bernie Murphy of Scoil Chroí íosa in Galway said, "the time spent on the seashore and experiments in class provided us with a wonderful opportunity to re-engage with our local seashore and become more aware of how useful the beach is as a teaching resource."

Ms Anne Gilmore further added, "we now feel able to identify and tell the wonderful stories about the many species and their habitats along the seashore including cockles, mussels and even the common barnacle - which has a very interesting social life. Learning about the oceans and Ireland's marine resource provided us all with the inspiration to teach students about the marine in fun ways using subjects such as english, art, mathematics, geography, history and science".

The Marine Institute and Galway Atlantaquaria welcomed the opportunity to run the summer course "Linking Science, Numeracy and Literacy by exploring the Seashore and River", which was offered through the Galway Education Centre and approved by the Board of Education.

"Developing workshops for teachers and providing materials and resources for primary schools is an invaluable way to promote Ireland's marine resource and to inspire students with their career choices in the future. As part of the national plan to 'Harness our Ocean Wealth', it is therefore vitally important that students and our local communities are aware of the significant ties we have with the ocean," explained Cushla Dromgool-Regan from the Marine Institute.

"The course uses materials available from the Explorers Education website www.explorers.ie, where teachers are encouraged to take advantage of the vast resources made available by the unique marine environment and help promote marine knowledge throughout Ireland".

The Explorers Education programme is sponsored by the Marine Institute and run by Galway Atlantaquaria. It is used by over 50 schools and reaches 5000 primary school students across Ireland, from Galway, Mayo, Clare, Dublin and Cork.

#MarineWildlife - An Irish marine research vessel has returned from an Atlantic Ocean voyage with tales of exotic new wildlife in the depths southwest of Ireland.

As The Irish Times reports, remarkable finds such as two-century-old clams and oysters, an endangered sailfin roughshark, a massive sponge and a giant hydroid - a rare relation to jellyfish and coral - were among the marine wildlife recorded by researchers on the RV Celtic Explorer in the Whittard Canyon on the Irish Atlantic margin.

Dr Louise Allcock of NUI Galway, who led the Marine Institute team on the ocean survey, said it was "part of an ongoing effort to understand Ireland's deep-sea biodiversity".

In a similar process to that used by the group who made new marine discoveries at Rockall recently, the Marine Institute team used a submersible remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to collect images and samples from the ocean chasm that's twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.

Some of those samples may aid in antibacterial and pharmaceutical research, the team explained.

The Irish Times has much more on the story HERE.

In other marine wildlife news, the Belfast Telegraph fears that "chilly seas" could be keeping basking sharks at bay from Northern Ireland's waters, as the first sighting of the year was recorded last month.

Reports from various sources indicate that water temperatures are 2 to 3 degrees lower than normal for this time of year, inhibiting the blooming of plankton that are the main source of food for the second-largest fish in the sea.

And the numbers say it all, with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) confirming only 19 sightings of basking sharks around the island of Ireland as of the end of May this year, compared to 84 in the same period in 2012 - although more were spotted earlier this month off Malin Head, as the video below shows:

#MarineWildlife - The Guardian reports that fishing is expected to be banned near Rockall after the recent discovery of a rare ocean floor gas vent and new species of shellfish.

The 'cold seep' methane vent found by Scotland-based marine scientists last year is only the third of its kind to be found in this region of the Atlantic Ocean - and apparently has a 'chemosynthetic' relationship with two species of deep-water clam, and the polychaete worms they contain, that are new to science.

Also found was a frilled shark, described as a 'living fossil' for existing as a species for at least 90 million years. Such sharks are seldom seen north of the tropics.

In the wake of these findings, the International Convention on the Exploration of the Seas has recommended a ban on fishing activity at the site and its surrounds.

Rockall - which adventurer Nick Hancock is attempting to occupy for a world record attempt - is a tiny rocky islet north-east of Donegal, almost halfway between Ireland and Iceland in the North Atlantic. It has long been the subject of territorial dispute, with Ireland, the UK, Iceland and Denmark all staking a claim.

The Guardian has much more on the story HERE.