Important information for potential applicants to our open Transnational Access Call. Please register your application early and read this information.
Burrishoole Catchment
Burrishoole Catchment & Research Facility
Infrastructure Profile
Infrastructure Provider
Location
Newport, Co. Mayo, Ireland, Eircode: F28 PF65
Organisation & Address
Marine Institute, Newport, Co. Mayo, F28 PF65
Link to Infrastructure Schedules (if applicable)
NA
Normal Area of Operation
Area of relevance would lie within the Newport Clew Bay area of west Mayo, Ireland
Scientists’ Travel and Logistics (T&L) Budget Available
€ 3,000.00
Overview
Breakdown of Equipment Available
Access to the coastal Clew Bay, tidal Lough Furnace and the freshwater Catchment
Services & Sensors Available
Fish count and biometric data (salmon, trout, eel, stickleback and a range of marine species)
Environmental aquatic and meteorological data
A range of field equipment for tracking fish, including PIT and Acoustic technology
Depth of Operation
50 m
Power Supply
Mains Power Supply
Dimensions & Weight
NA
Data Acquisition and Communication Systems
Project specific and whether its fish, tag or environmental data
Scientific and Technical Specifications
General Information
The Marine Institute’s Newport Facility forms one of the most effective natural laboratories for studying migratory fish in Europe. The facility has been in operation since 1955 and includes laboratories, a freshwater hatchery, fish rearing facilities, fish census trapping stations, a salmonid angling fishery and a monitored freshwater lake and river catchment. A range of cutting edge research is undertaken at the Newport Facility including genetics work across several species of salmon, sea trout, eel, sea bass, pollock and bluefin tuna, as well as research on catchment ecosystems and biodiversity events, climate change, oceanography and aquaculture.
Special Features
This is largely a wild fish (salmon, sea trout, arctic char, stickleback, European eel and widely migrating species such as tuna, basking shark, seabass) research facility based on Clew Bay and the Burrishoole river catchment. The facility itself is not available in the traditional sense that you might hire shiptime, for example.
Research proposals can be applied for to work on data being collected, and/or added value research to the species in question may be offered. Areas of interest include migrations, predations, fish production, genetics and the wider issues of ecosystems (freshwater, transitional and marine) and impacts of human activity and climate change. An emphasis is placed on stock conservation and restoration.
Archives include fish scales and otoliths, DNA, data and paleolimnological benthic cores.
Access to fish in the wild or in the rearing facilities must be in the company of core Marine Institute staff, so support for these activities must be included in any proposal.
Support offered to AQUARIUS users
Competent staff at all levels are available, including small boat skipper/crew, field and technical staff for fish tagging, collection of samples etc and staff competent with data or sample extraction from archives.
If a project is deemed to be staff heavy, the project may be requested to provide additional funding for additional staff support within the MI, subject to sanction by the Irish Government.
Infrastructure Availability and Contact Details
Year 2025
Depends on the research proposal
Year 2026
Depends on the research proposal
Year 2027
Depends on the research proposal
Contact email for applicants to discuss the initial feasibility of their work while they prepare their application
Please direct all queries to the AQUARIUS Coordination Office: aquarius[at]marine.ie
Certification and Clearance Requirements
Additional clearances/certification or documentation required for an area or type of activity
Projects involving research procedures on live animals must have HPRA approval before commencement.
Projects involving in situ infrastructure must have relevant planning and environmental approvals before commencement.
Additional training required
Training is required on personal sea safety. Furthermore, depending on the research, training may be required on fish tagging, use of anaesthesia and standard lab training. Basic training such as Lab Users Competency, Manual Handling, must be completed in advance. Trainings are provided by the Infrastructure Provider and/or an external organization.
Better to come trained to the RI. Training can be done for specific on-site or species circumstances.
Training Material
Available, depending on the type of research being applied for and what interaction the user will have with the facility.