Wed. 23rd November 2016; 12 noon –2 pm (Coffee 11.30 – Foyer of the Museum Building)
Trinity College Dublin – Museum Building, Room M4.
A group of Coastwatchers from across Ireland North and South came together in Trinity College Dublin to examine preliminary Autumn 2016 survey result findings, draft conclusions and recommendations which would inform our 2017 work.
The agenda was set in three parts
An informal gathering in the Museum building front hall for surveyors and coordinators to meet. This lively session included a ‘pass the parcel’ of micro litter pellets gathered by Paddy Houlihan on East Waterford shores, with guesses as to the origin and use of black pellets as shown in this photo by Dave from Lough Your Lough. Since then, one participant – Patrick Veale of TCD – has come back with tentative origin as recycled plastic. (see here http://bit.do/recycledplasticpellets) (Photo below by Dave and Olivia – Love Your Lough)
After a hearty welcome by Prof Brian Broderick, Head of Dept of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering Trinity College Dublin, session 1 was introduced by Karin Dubsky who set out the aims:
- Give a summary of the Coastwatch autumn 2016 survey results and link to previous years.
- Provide snap shot local experiences which enrich the overview and allow those who did not do the Coastwatch survey to become familiar with it.
- Celebrate citizen science effort, the preliminary results and request feedback from surveyors.
- Outline and if possible agree some recommendations to help better implement and enforce EU and government legislation, especially in two areas: Marine litter and Biodiversity.
Some of the key findings of the Coastwatch citizen science work of autumn 2016 were summarised by Karin Dubsky international Coastwatch coordinator TCD and Angel Duarte, Technical Coordinator Coastwatch – see executive summary. Karin noted that seaweeds and sea grasses would be part of a separate Coastwatch seaweed policy launch and some survey sections will be left as core part of the final result launch in January.
Hold the date: Full Results launch and seminar will be hosted by Dublin City Council in their Wood Quay venue on Jan 19th or 23rd 2017 and accompanied by a one week exhibition which is to include the only 1000 photos surveyors submitted as evidence and illustration in this last survey.
Bernie Connolly – Tyres in the Tide
Dr. David Mccormick – Illegal Dumping in Tralee Bay
Paddy Houlihan – Survey Feedback
Niamh Ni Cholmain – Native Oysters in Dublin
Roselyn Shaw – Fin whale stranding case and follow up.
Dion Deacon – Honeycomb reef in the Waterford estuary (VIDEO)
12.20 Litter and Waste on the shore, in harbours and in birds
Chair Rory Keatinge, Coastwatch regional Coordinator Dun Laoghaire
- 2016 litter section results, with some comparisons to previous years. Angel Duarte, International Technical Coastwatch Coordinator
- A tyres case study; Bernie Connolly, Cork Coordinator
- Tipping and dumping. Dr David Mc Cormick, Tralee Wetland Centre & Kerry CW Coord.
- Micro plastics: ‘Plastic beads, fibres and pellets. Karin Dubsky international Coastwatch coordinatorand Paddy Houlihan, surveyor East Waterford.
- Micro plastics in shellfish, sediments and nephrops, Dr Kevin Lynch Galway city coordinator, with research by Joanne Casserly, Fatimatuj Zohara Sonny, Jake Martin,Audrey Morley, Amy Lusher, Richard C. Thompson, Kevin Lynch
12.50 Discussion and recommendations
13.00 Coastal Nature(flash presentations with immediate questions answered)
Chair Dr Fran Igoe, Regional coordinator LAWCO
- Overview of 2016 results- an unusual year for animal records-: Karin Dubsky
- Jellyfish at Valentia island– Diane Orr, surveyor
- Honeycomb reef in the Waterford estuary- Dion Deacon, Meanscoil Gharman
- Honeycomb reef at Kilfaressy over time – Paddy Houlihan, East Waterford surveyor
- Native Oysters in Dublin. Niamh Ni Cholmain, Dublin City Co Biodiversity Facilitator
- Fin whale stranding case and follow up. Roselyn Shaw, Wicklow CW coordinator
As time ran out, discussion and Recommendations were discussed over a Buttery lunch with participants.
We wish to thank all speakers and chairs, the Water Section of the Department of Housing for grant support which covered printing, travel and refreshments, Trinity College Dublin for the room and equipment and those speakers who donated their travel as project co funding.
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Karin Dubsky Dec 2nd 2016