'Marine Knowledge Camp'
A 'Marine Knowledge Camp' organised by Údarás na Gaeltachta and Nua na Mara was held at Lehanagh Pool (ASTRAL IMTA Lab Ireland) in late 2022.
The ASTRAL team at the Marine Institute gave teenagers insights into careers in the maritime sector and the opportunities that exist locally.
Below, Jack D’Arcy and Joanne Casserly from the ASTRAL team of the Marine Institute presenting ASTRAL species from the IMTA Lab Ireland production system at Lehanagh Pool.
IIFET Conference
The 20th Biennial Conference of the International Institute of Fisheries Economics and Trade (IIFET) was held in Vigo in July 2022 and was attended by Elisa Ravagnan, Pauline O’Donohoe and Inma Sánchez Cantero of ASTRAL. A presentation of the ASTRAL IMTA labs and the work being undertaken by all the project partners was delivered by Pauline O’Donohoe. A poster describing ‘The Role of the ASTRAL EU Horizon 2020 project in the Mainstreaming of women into Aquaculture in Nigeria’ was also displayed.
Figure 1 Purple sea urchin opened in half to assess the gonad index. The rich orange color is the gonad
Figure 2 Ostrea edulis stock March 2022
Figure 3 Ostrea edulis stock July 2022 with new growth frill
Figure 4 European lobster during image analysis process
Species
Eight species are currently being investigated as part of the ASTRAL trials in Lehanagh Pool.
This summer, work continued to evaluate each species for its potential as a value chain for sustainable aquaculture development.
The seaweed stocks reached a harvest yield of nearly 4 tonnes using the new Low Trophic Grid system. The seaweed was part of the circular production system to feed the stock of Parcentrotus lividus - Purple Sea Urchin, which reached harvest size in July.
The stock seemed to thrive on their diet of Kelp-producing rich coloured gonads. The remaining stock was transferred to Carna Research Station for use as broodstock to further research into the development of this species
Further monitoring included the oyster (Ostrea edulis), scallop (Pecten maximus) and Cluisins (Mimachlamys varia). With good growth rates observed in all species. This can be seen in the pictures below, the white frill on the oyster shell is the new growth over the last 4 months.
The European lobster (Homarus gammarus) stock is nearing 1-year-old. Unlike the oyster and other species, their growth is individually assessed using image analysis software.
Bursars
The Marine Institute welcomed 13 undergraduate students, two of whom (pictured below) worked on the ASTRAL project, gaining insight into the production of IMTA species at the IMTA Lab Ireland.
They gained valuable practical experience across a broad range of aquaculture production systems. Todd and Kieran then presented their work to their peers by means of a poster, to summarise the work they carried out during their time on ASTRAL.
Photo credits: Marine Institute (except IIFET)