Marine Institute welcomes 600 visitors to Newport Research Facility

The Marine Institute's Newport Research Facility in Co Mayo welcomed over 400 visitors to its Open Day last weekend. On Sunday 27th April, the Marine Institute opened its doors to give visitors the opportunity to view the research facilities in the Burrishoole catchment.

In addition to the public Open Day, the Marine Institute welcomed seven schools and over 180 primary school children and teachers for tours of the facility.

Throughout the Open Day, visitors toured the freshwater hatchery, fish-rearing facility and laboratories. Marine Institute scientists and staff were on hand to discuss the wide array of research activities taking place at the site, as well as the basking shark and Bluefin tuna tagging programmes.  

Children also took part in hands-on workshops exploring oceanography, marine litter, plastic pollution, and creatures from the deep sea. Visitors could also see fish species up-close, that were collected during marine surveys aboard the RV Celtic Explorer and the RV Tom Crean.

Dr Rick Officer, CEO of the Marine Institute, said, "We are delighted to have opened our doors to the public and to local schools and have over 600 people visit our Newport Research Facility. A range of scientific research is undertaken at this site, and it was fantastic to share that work with the wider community. Thanks to our staff for their contribution to make our  Open Day such a success.”

The Marine Institute’s Newport Facility forms one of the most effective natural laboratories for studying migratory fish in Europe. In operation since 1955, the facility includes laboratories, a freshwater hatchery, fish rearing facilities, fish census trapping stations, and a monitored freshwater lake and river catchment. A range of marine research is undertaken at the Newport Facility including genetics work across several species of salmon, sea trout, pollock and bluefin tuna, as well as research on catchment ecosystems events, climate change, oceanography and aquaculture.

ENDS

For more information, please contact:
Kathleen Sweeney, e. Kathleen.Sweeney@marine.ie m. +353 (0)87 094 5754
Sinéad Coyne, e. sinead.coyne@marine.ie m. +353 (0)87 947 7090
Communications Office, Marine Institute communications@marine.ie t. +353 (0)91 387 200

Editor’s Notes:
Marine Institute
The Marine Institute is Ireland’s scientific agency responsible for supporting the sustainable development of the State’s maritime area and resources. The Institute conducts applied research and provides scientific knowledge, advice and services to government, industry and other stakeholders and users. www.marine.ie