Marine and Freshwater Research Centre


This research centre comprises 15 academic staff, principal investigators and post-doctorates. There are about the same number of postgraduate students studying for Masters and PhD qualifications. The Centre has a number of linkages, both national and international and covers a wide range of projects concerned with marine and freshwater science. We facilitate work-based research as well as projects based in GMIT. The Centre has an excellent track record for obtaining funding, publications, and carrying out research which inform policy and management strategies. It is housed in purpose-built laboratories and offices (500m2


) in GMIT. Research Activities


Research to support the sustainable management of commercial fisheries • •


Early life history and recruitment processes


Population dynamics, reproductive potential and stock structure


• • •


Long-term trends and ecosystem interactions in fisheries/environment datasets


Addressing uncertainties in fish stock assessment


Management strategy evaluation: incorporating discarding practices in European demersal fisheries


Development and optimisation of aquaculture techniques/technologies •


Cross-disciplinary research to develop and optimise energy efficient technologies in aquaculture


•


Optimisation of growth and survival in Irish abalone aquaculture through the development of improved nursery rearing processes and technologies


Development of innovative technologies to optimise finfish/shellfish industry


• Development of stress and immune response biomarkers in commercially valuable crustacean and finfish species


Environmental toxicology (iCET) •


•


Development of biomarkers for novel environmental contaminants in bivalve mussels


Development of in vitro cell culture techniques in invertebrates for use in toxicology assessments


Research to support the conservation of marine and freshwater biodiversity •


Cetacean/fishing gear interactions, acoustic deterrents and bycatch research


• Marine megafauna conservation and policy advice (specifically whales, dolphins and basking sharks): population assessment, migration, population structure using molecular techniques, acoustic monitoring, stable isotope analysis, photo-id, satellite tagging.


• •


• Noise in the marine environment


Biodiversity assessment: rapid assessment techniques


Application of animal behaviour in conservation


GMIT is the Irish partner for the international joint doctorate in Marine Ecosystem Health and Conservation (MARES). www.mares-eu.org. Calls for funded doctoral scholarships under that programme are on the www.mares-eu.org website.


Contact Dr Ian O’Connor t: 091 742296 e: ian.oconnor@gmit.ie in GMIT for further details. The Irish Centre for Environmental Toxicology (iCET) is also hosted in GMIT. Further details from Dr Brian Quinn t: 091 742515 e: brian.quinn@gmit.ie.


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