Date: 29 September 2005
In the first of a major series of public lectures to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Marine institute's Newport laboratory, 'About the House' presenter and environmentalist, Duncan Stewart, will chair three talks covering various aspects of Energy from Nature, at the Ridge Pool Hotel Ballina, Co. Mayo tonight (29th September).
The Institute's research facility in Newport, was first established in the Burrishoole catchment as the Salmon Research Trust of Ireland in 1955. Since that time the Newport laboratory has carved out an enviable reputation for science and innovation across a broad range of aquatic disciplines such as: stock dynamics of salmon, sea trout and eels; salmonid genetics; environmental and hydrological studies; catchment management studies as well as extensive research into the rearing of salmonids for stock enhancement, ranching and fish farming.
The lecture opens at 19.30 with an address by Dr. Barry McSweeney, Chief Science Advisor to Government and an introduction by Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO, Marine Institute, who is a native of Ballina. Mr. Torben Andersen, Airtricity will give a talk on 'Energy out of Thin Air' looking at potential for wind energy. Mr. Eoin Sweeney, Marine Institute will present 'The Restless Sea - Sustainable Harvesting of Marine Energy'. Dr. Tom Shaw, Shawater Ltd. UK will examine the implications of modern hydro schemes for fisheries. There will an opportunity for questions and answers with the panel following the three presentations.
Other lectures in the Newport Golden Jubilee series:
Lecture Title Date Venue
Marine Birds & Mammals 13th Oct Travellers Friend Castlebar
Fish Ships and Cages 3rd Nov Wyatt Hotel, Westport
Conservation of Salmon Habitat 15th Nov RDS, Dublin
Burrishoole - Past Present & Future 17th Nov Newport Hotel, Newport
Admission to the events is free. For more information contact Kathleen Sweeney, Marine Institute, Newport at 098 42300 / Kathleen.Sweeney@marine.ie
Ends.
Notes to Editor:
A brief history of Marine Research at Newport
The Salmon Research Trust of Ireland was established in June 1955 as a result of an initiative taken by Sir Hugh Beaver, the MD of Arthur Guinness & Co. Ltd. and Dr Arthur Went, scientific adviser to the Minister for Fisheries. It was located on the Burrishoole System in Co Mayo. Major C W Roberts from whom Guinness purchased the fishery in 1965 originally owned the system.
In 1980 the Roberts family gifted the fishery, the fishing rights, property and other tangible assets to the Trust. Throughout the 1980s Guinness gradually phased out its involvement and the facilities were donated to the state.
On the 1st January 1990 the Salmon Research Agency took charge of the facilities on behalf of the Minister for the Marine. In July 1999, the Salmon Research Agency was transferred to the Marine Institute. Since then the facilities have been upgraded and developed to cope with the growing demands from the scientific community and from industry.
Since the formation of the Salmon Research Trust some 50 years ago, extensive research has been undertaken and progressed in a wide range of aspects of the Burrishoole system. A series of high profile EU funded national and international collaborative projects have also been supported in the facilities. The results of this research have been reported in a series of 50 detailed Annual Reports and in over 200 scientific publications.