Please, note that this X account is no longer actively monitored. To stay up to date with the latest news, research updates, events and opportunities from the Marine Institute, we invite you to follow us on: 🔗 LinkedIn - Marine Institute 📸 Instagram - marineinstituteireland 👍 Facebook - Marine Institute - Foras na Mara 🌐 Marine.ie We look forward to continuing the conversation with you on our other social channels. 🌊Thank you for your continued interest and support!

Today, we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. In #DiadSea, we count on remarkable women fostering transnational management of diadromous fish at sea. Meet some of them at 🔗linkedin.com/feed/update/urn… Funded by @AtlanticArea. Endorsed by @UNOceanDecade.

🌊🤖 A new international study highlights how Europe’s Digital Twin of the Ocean (DTO) can become an active, adaptive monitoring system, and the Marine Institute’s SmartBay underwater observatory in Galway Bay is already playing a key role. The Digital Twin of the Ocean is a digital replica of real marine environments, combining data from sensors, research surveys, fisheries and even citizen observations to help scientists and policymakers better understand ocean conditions and human impacts. 📡 SmartBay’s cabled infrastructure provides continuous, high-resolution biological and environmental data, forming the basis of a four-dimensional Digital Twin of Galway Bay. Together with Spain’s OBSEA observatory, and through @DIGI4ECO EU-funded project, SmartBay is helping turn Digital Twins into practical tools for marine restoration, policy and sustainable ocean management across Europe. Find out more: marine.ie/site-area/news-eve…

🐦🌊 Our research on oystercatcher birds in Dundalk Bay was featured on @rtenews this weekend, highlighting how Marine Institute scientists are working with citizens to protect vulnerable habitats and fisheries. Using GPS trackers and leg flags, researchers are mapping where birds feed, how they move around the bay, and how their feeding areas overlap with cockle beds. This helps build the evidence needed to support sustainable fisheries management while safeguarding this protected coastal ecosystem. 📸 Pictured is Natasha Murphy, Scientific & Technical Officer (STO) – Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems Assessments, Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Service. 👀 If you spot an oystercatcher with a white leg flag and three-letter code, you can report the sighting and contribute directly to the research. 👉 Read the full story and watch the video on the RTÉ website to learn more: rte.ie/news/regional/2026/01…

What better way to celebrate the @MarineInst Explorers Education Programme's 20th anniversary than by expanding to include schools in Ireland's non-coastal counties! We are very excited and cannot wait to work with you! Please do reach out to apply! bit.ly/4sVgknf #KeepExploring

🌊📊The Marine Institute has just published the Ocean Economy Report 2025, revealing how our marine and coastal sectors are contributing to jobs, growth and regional development across the country. The report explores 13 marine sectors, from tourism, seafood and shipping to offshore renewables, blue biotech and marine technology, with trend analysis over 5, 10 and 15 years, showing how the ocean economy is evolving, recovering and growing. It also compares Ireland’s performance with the wider EU Blue Economy, helping policymakers, researchers, industry and communities understand where opportunities and challenges lie. 👉 Download the full report from the Marine Institute website to explore the findings in detail: marine.ie/site-area/news-eve…

🌊🗺️ Using participatory research to include local knowledge in conservation decisions. This month, the @BioProtect_EU Project joined the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Dublin, where visitors from across Ireland helped researchers map what matters most in our coastal and marine environments. Using Participatory Mapping (PPGIS), people shared: 📍 places they value 📍 places they’re concerned about This community-led data will support researchers from the Marine Institute and the University of Galway in identifying priority areas for conservation, helping ensure local knowledge informs decisions on Marine Protected Areas and Marine Spatial Planning. 🗺️ The insights from the event are now pinned on the map of Ireland shown here, do you spot places that matter to you? 💬 Tell us in the comments what you’d add, or which coastal and marine areas you think deserve extra care. 🔗 Learn more about the project: bioprotect-project.eu #BioProtect #MarineConservation #PPGIS #CitizenScience #MarinePlanning #IrishWaters

The Belgian Embassy docks at the Marine Institute of Galway. Thank you CEO Rick Officer for your warm welcome ! Let’s explore synergies between the 🇧🇪 and 🇮🇪 blue clusters. @MarineInst @VLIZnews

🌱🔬 Our Long-term Ecological Research Facility in Newport has achieved the highest level of @My_Green_Lab Certification, recognising our commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of laboratories across 14 core categories, from energy to engagement. This milestone reflects real progress in energy use, waste reduction and water conservation, and supports our goals under the Marine Institute’s Climate Action Roadmap, highlighting that world-class research and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. 🌍💙 Find out more: marine.ie/site-area/news-eve…

🌊 The European Marine Board (EMB) is seeking two new artists for the 2026–2027 edition of our EMBracing the Ocean artist-in-residence programme! 🎨 As we enter the 6th year of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, connecting people to our Ocean is more important than ever. This programme offers: ✅ €10,000 grants ✅ Collaboration with Ocean scientists ✅ A chance to create impactful art that inspires sustainability and new perspectives. EMB welcomes applications from creative individuals or groups worldwide, across disciplines such as: 🎨 Visual Arts (painting, photography, digital art, sculpture) 📚 Literary Arts (fiction, poetry, storytelling) 🎭 Performing Arts (dance, music, theatre) 🌍 Traditional & Indigenous Arts 🗓️Deadline: midnight CET on 16 February 2026 📌 Learn more and apply here: marineboard.eu/open-calls cc @EMarineBoard

When it comes to the Arctic, vast, pristine landscapes of white and blue come to mind. However, these marine ecosystems are already being re-shaped by environmental changes and drivers. 👉 Swipe to discover how scientists are investigating harmful algal blooms in the Arctic, and why it matters for oceans and seafood at home. Full story on our website: marine.pulse.ly/9uzcnq1exu

🌍🤝 Today, the Marine Institute welcomed H.E. Nicolas Nihon, Ambassador of Belgium, to Marine Institute headquarters in Oranmore for discussions on the strong and growing collaboration between Ireland and Belgium in marine science, innovation and the sustainable ocean economy. During the visit, Marine Institute leadership and scientific teams explored shared priorities including ocean observation, climate research, marine ecosystems science and offshore renewable energy (ORE), highlighting the importance of scientific evidence and environmental monitoring in enabling responsible development at sea. The discussions also recognised the depth of cooperation under Horizon Europe, where Ireland and Belgium currently collaborate on 62 marine-related projects worth €624 million, supporting research, innovation, capacity-building and ocean literacy across Europe. The Ambassador received briefings on Ireland’s national research vessel fleet and expanding marine infrastructure, which underpin the State’s ability to collect high-quality data to inform policy, industry and environmental protection. Dialogue also covered the @MarineIrlNet, and how it can further strengthen links between research, industry and European partners. We look forward to continuing our close partnership with Belgium, built on a shared commitment to sustainable ocean development and strong European scientific collaboration. 🌊💙🇪🇺 cc @agriculture_ie

European Ocean Days are around the corner. From 2–6 March in Brussels, we’ll look at the state of the ocean, coastal resilience, marine data, new ideas in the blue economy, and long-term perspectives for fisheries and aquaculture. Register here: link.europa.eu/XnMp8P

Our call for the '26–'27 #EMBracingtheOcean #artistinresidence programme is open until 16 Feb 2026! Looking for #artists to co-create work with scientists to embrace connection to the Ocean, inspire behaviour towards sustainability & contribute to science: tinyurl.com/f7jc8b53

🚢🌊 Ever wondered what it’s really like to be a scientist on a winter research cruise? ❄️⚓ In our latest Scientists@Sea blog, four early-career researchers take you on board the SCOOP survey in the Celtic Sea, a 10-day expedition exploring how fish, plankton, sediments and carbon are all connected in the ocean climate system. Told in their own words, it’s an honest, funny and inspiring glimpse into ocean research, from the labs to the mess room. 👉 Read the blog and come aboard the RV Tom Crean with the SCOOP team: scientistsatsea.blogspot.com…

🚀New #EMFAF call on #MaritimeSpatialPlanning @cinea_eu has launched a €1.7M call to boost Maritime Spatial Planning in the #Atlantic & @EU_BlackSeaAM Looking for innovative, cross‑border MSP solutions that support sustainable use of our seas 📅 Apply by 15 April 2026 🔗Learn more: tinyurl.com/2tmb2ucw @EU_MARE

🌊 How do we balance offshore renewables, fisheries, biodiversity and coastal communities in Ireland’s seas? Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) brings science, data and people together to guide sustainable use of our seas. 👉 Swipe through to learn how Marine Institute's scientific insight supports smarter ocean management decisions. And find out more on our website: marine.ie/site-area/news-eve…

Just launched - the call for evidence for the #EUOceanPact's EU Ocean Act, focussing on improving coherent and effective implementation of maritime governance. Make sure you #HaveYourSay, deadline 9 February 2026: oceans-and-fisheries.ec.euro…

Don’t miss the #MissionOcean & Waters session at the #EUMissions Info Days! 📢 Join us on 21 January at 13:30 – 15:30 (CET) to learn about the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026 and new funding calls under the Mission. Find out more 👉research-innovation-communit… @Cinea_EU @EUScienceInnov @EU_MARE @EU_ENV @EUClimateAction @HorizonEU @HorizonMagEU @BlueMissionAA @BlueMissionMed @MissionBanos