The Irish Authorities require Foreign States to apply for consent for their vessels to conduct marine scientific research (MSR) activities in waters under Irish jurisdiction. These waters include the Territorial Sea, the 200-mile Exclusive Fishery Zone and the Continental Shelf.
Applicants should, where possible, make prior contact (at the planning stage of the cruise) with the Irish Marine Institute.
Applications (pdf, 197kb) should be received in Ireland, having passed through appropriate diplomatic channels, at least six months in advance of the commencement of the proposed research activity in Irish waters.
Among the conditions for granting consent, Ireland includes the option to participate in, or be represented in, the proposed research or investigations in waters under Irish jurisdiction and to negotiate the consent and approach of the proposed research or investigations. Access to all data collected in Irish waters during the cruise, both in a processed and unprocessed form, is required.
If the proposed research activities fall within the boundaries of a Marine Special Area of Conservation, the applicant should familiarise himself with the Code of Practice for Marine Scientific Research at Irish Coral Reef Special Areas of Conservation. Further information can be found at the National Parks and Wildlife Service website.
Immediately on entering the area under Irish jurisdiction where the research activity is to be undertaken, the vessel will notify Research Vessel Operations, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Galway (Fax +353-91-387201) of its exact position in latitude and longitude, and will make a similar notification as it leaves such waters.
The scientist in charge of that part of the cruise taking place within waters under Irish jurisdiction will submit to Research Vessel Operations, Marine Institute, Galway, within one week of the end of the cruise, 2 copies of:
- a short cruise narrative describing the cruise and its preliminary results;
- a completed ROSCOP form;
- the ship's cruise track chart.
Subsequently, 2 copies of the full Cruise Report (including an assessment of the results of the cruise) and 2 copies of all publications arising out of the cruise must be provided to Research Vessel Operations, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Galway, Ireland.