Researchers host public workshop on marine invasive species (19 Oct)

Coastal communities around Ireland are worried about the negative impacts of invasive alien species on important marine activities. To address these concerns a public workshop on Marine Invasive Alien Species (MIAS) will take place on Friday, 19 October, at the Galway Campus of Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Dublin Road campus.

“Marine Invasive Alien Species: How Can Stakeholders Respond?” will be hosted by the Marine and Freshwater Research Centre (MFRC) with the support of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Marine Institute under the Marine Research Programme with the support of the Irish Government, and Bórd Iascaigh Mhara (BIM).

The objective of the workshop is to build capacity in responding to and managing MIAS by:
• Increasing awareness of marine IAS among those most likely to encounter them
• Providing a forum for knowledge sharing among stakeholders, researchers and agency workers
• Educating stakeholders and the public in surveillance and recognition of early warning signals for the presence of MIAS
• Communicating current best practice guidelines for preventing, managing and, where possible, eliminating MIAS
• Equipping local and regional stakeholders to contribute effectively to monitoring programmes and networks set up to respond to MIAS

Workshop presenters will include leading national and international researchers, representatives from the EPA, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Marine Institute, BIM and stakeholder groups in the greater Galway Bay area. Dr Julia Nunn, Dr Dan Minchin and Dr Rohan Holt will be among the expert speakers present.

Katie O’Dwyer, lecturer and researcher, says: “Workshop topics will examine what invasive species are and how they get here; the current situation with MIAS in Ireland; and the surveillance, assessment and management of MIAS in Ireland. We look forward to open discussions with a view to sharing best practice.”

Registration for this free event is limited to 40 places and can be completed online at: https://bit.ly/2KVgq8g

For further information or if you have any queries about this event please email the event organisers katie.odwyer@gmit.ie and john.boyd@gmit.ie
For further information about the Marine and Freshwater Research Centre in GMIT, see:
http://www.gmit.ie/freshwater-and-marine-biology/marine-and-freshwater-research-centre-mfrc

ENDS

Regina Daly
GMIT Communications Officer
GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway
Tel. 091 742826 / 087-9618355 (m) regina.daly@gmit.ie 
See www.gmit.ie/news