Newfoundland and Ireland’s Marine Institutes sign Charter agreements aboard the RV Celtic Explorer

Photograph: Mr Glenn Blackwood, Executive Director, The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University, Newfoundland and Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute (Ireland) signing the Charter Agreement. (Back LtoR:) Mr Alastair O'Reilly, Deputy Minister, Dept of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Govt. of Newfoundland and Labrador; Mr Glenn Janes, CEO Research & Development Corporation Newfoundland and Labrador and the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister, Dept of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Govt of Newfoundland and Labrador. 

The Marine Institute of Ireland and the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland of Canada, signed charter agreements on Friday (8th October 2010) aboard the RV Celtic Explorer in Galway to dispatch Ireland’s flagship research vessel on a mission to the Labrador Sea in February 2011.

The cultural and historical ties between Ireland and Newfoundland are long established, with over fifty percent of Newfoundland’s population being of Irish decent.  "I'm delighted to think that an Irish vessel renowned for its excellence in fisheries science research will soon retrace the historical voyage of Irish fishermen from centuries ago in travelling to the waters off Newfoundland - this time the vessel will hopefully provide a platform for Newfoundland scientists to assist in the management and recovery of their fisheries resources.” said Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute (Ireland).  

The Marine Institute of Newfoundland will initially be chartering the RV Celtic Explorer to undertake an offshore fisheries acoustic survey during the winter of 2011 in the Labrador Sea. The Celtic Explorer will arrive in St. John’s Newfoundland in early February 2011 and will support the survey operations until early March 2011.