Dean joined the survey with Training Through Research Surveys (TTRS), a collaboration between  the Marine Institute and Strategic Marine Alliance for Research and Training (SMART) for student trainee-ships on the National Research Vessels, Celtic Explorer and Celtic Voyager. CV19002 Labadie Bank UWTV Survey of the Nephrops norvegicus 8-day research cruise on the RV Celtic Voyager from the 21st to 28th of August by Dean Anthony Notaro What its all about: Time stamped image of Nephrops norvegicus on the UWTV survey. Hello, my name is Dean Anthony Not ..read more

CE19010 Western Edge Small Pelagics Acoustic Survey 13thJune – 4th July 2019 Hi, my name is Sally O’Meara and I have recently come to the end of 4 years studying Applied Freshwater and Marine Biology in GMIT. Woo! To my delight I was given the brilliant opportunity through Smart Sea School to work as a seabird observer (SBO) on the R.V Celtic Explorer for the first leg of WESPAS. Throughout this blog I will give a brief overview of the responsibilities of a seabird observer and *hopefully* spark an interest in seabird shenanigans in all of you!  Seabird surveys have been carried out on the ..read more

An observer’s impressions of CE19008  I'm John Boyd and I joined the expedition at the invitation of Andy Wheeler head of the Marine Geology Research Group at UCC and Aaron Lim Expedition Chief Scientist, from the 13th to 23rd May.  These are my impressions of this voyage of discovery, the ideas behind it and the brilliant young scientists forging their careers in ocean exploration.  The cruise report for CE19008 can be accessed at http://marinegeology.ucc.ie/cruise-reports/ 70% Water We say that 70% of the earth is covered by water which must mean that most of the lives lived on earth are l ..read more

With a sunny arrival into Galway harbour on the 25th of March, my ten days on the second leg of the 2019 Irish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey (IAMS) on the RV Celtic Explorer came to a successful conclusion. As a SMART trainee, the two weeks had been an invaluable insight into how a FEAS survey is carried out, the methodology used in biological data recovery, and generally getting accustomed to the fish species of the North East Atlantic. The purpose of the survey is to obtain biomass estimates for both black and white anglerfish (Lophius budegassa and L. piscatorius) and an abundance index ..read more

I'm Edel Sheerin and I'm a researcher on the Cephs and Chefs Project (Interreg) at the National University of Ireland, Galway led by Dr Anne Marie Power . This multi-disciplinary project consisting of 14 partners in total, spread across the EU combines fisheries science, socio-economics, gastronomy and marketing with the aim of developing sustainable cephalopod (squid, octopus & cuttlefish) fisheries in the Atlantic Area (France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, U.K.). My role within this project is to assess the species presently caught in Irish waters using DNA barcoding techniques and assess ..read more

Figure 1. Mobilising for IAMs Leg 1 at the docks in Galway My name is Kevin McGookin, I am a recent graduate of Earth and Ocean Science at the National University of Ireland, Galway and I was selected to take part in the SMART Training Through Research Scheme (TTRS). The first leg of the survey took place aboard the R.V. Celtic Explorer (Figure 1) from the 1st-13th of March 2019. The primary objective of the IAMS is to obtain distribution and abundance estimates for two species of anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius and L. budegassa) and establish an abundance index for megrim (Lepidorhombus whif ..read more

AMBS teaches field skills in marine biological data collection. In 2018 this accredited module ran from the 20th to 23rd March and focussed on Marine Mammals, Marine Birds, Fisheries, and Benthic Biology. Training for AMBS 2018 took place on the RV Celtic Voyager in Cork Harbour and its approaches. Ship time on the Celtic Voyager for AMBS 2018 was supported by the Marine Institute, and funded under the Marine Research Programme of the Irish Government. AMBS 2018 Instructors and Students Six instructors delivered four days of training to eleven participants on the RV Celtic Voyager ..read more

Firstly – I think it’s appropriate to introduce myself, my name is Paul Whitelaw and I am a recent graduate from University College Cork where I studied a MSc in Marine Biology. I have been fortunate to be selected to take part in the SMART Training Through Research Scheme (TTRS) onboard the RV Celtic Explorer for eleven days. For these eleven days, myself and my fellow SMART TTRS colleagues, Kieran Byrne and Felim O’Toole, will be on the second leg of the Irish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey (IAMS). The SMART Training Through Research Scheme is a fantastic opportunity for the three of us to gai ..read more

Time flies and the Irish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey  (IAMS) Leg 1 survey on board the RV Celtic Explorer  for TTRS has come to its end! After these intense days working on board, we´re now turning back to our daily routine on land, even though the boat´s motion will accompany us for a few days. These have been days of intense personal and group work, where we have developed different skills that definitely will help us in our career as marine researchers.  Gabriel, Cristina and Mikel EMBC+ and GMIT participants on IAMS leg 1Throughout these 8 days offshore, we discovered the standard methods ..read more

Hi everyone! I´m Gabriel, a Spanish student who is on the second year of a Master’s Program called “Marine Biodiversity and Conservation” (EMBC+), at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. Along with my colleges Cristina and Mikel, I´ve been selected to participate in the SMART Training Through Research Surveys (TTRS) research survey student placement scheme.  The survey we are on is the first leg of the Irish Anglerfish & Megrim Survey (CE18004) on the RV Celtic Explorer. Gabriel, Cristina and Mikel EMBC+ and GMIT participants on IAMS leg 1As a beginner in these scientific surveys, I belie ..read more