Galway Atlantaquaria Grants for Small Conservation Projects

Mission Ocean Actions from Galway Atlantaquaria

This year Galway Atlantaquaria wants to invite the public to get out and ‘Explore the Shore’ as part of our Ocean Literacy Engagement Activities.

The objective is to host regular monthly experiences on the shore and to learn about the hidden biodiversity by the sea. The experiences will focus on rockpools, recording the species discovered, and helping keep our beaches free from litter. The EYSE will also include ocean literacy information from invited speakers and take place at varied zones along the shoreline. It is our mission to encourage the wonderful hobby of rock pool exploration, so the public becomes more aware of biodiversity and how litter can negatively impact it.

In another Ocean Charter Action, Galway Atlantaquaria was delighted to support five local conservation projects through their new conservation small grant initiative. Aimed at supporting and encouraging individuals or community groups working in marine conservation and education, the initiative was promoted by the aquarium and the Irish Ocean Literacy Network.
The successful applicants, based in counties along the west coast of Ireland include The Sea Collective, run by David and Cat McCann. Their project, called ‘The Coastal Custodians, Machaire Rabhartaigh’ will be based in Co. Donegal and carried out in collaboration with their partners Oilean na nÓg and Ionad Mhachaire Rabhartaigh. The next project supports the inspiring work of Scoil Chaitríona Junior Renmore, through their project entitled ‘Looking After Our Oceans’. The project will be run in conjunction with Teacher Artist Partnership-Artist Thérese Murphy, Artist Lara Luxardi, Erasmus+ French school exchange-Genévieve Cueff from École Notre Dame de la Charité in Brittany in France, Dr. Katie O’Dwyer from Atlantic Technological University, Dr. Sandra Austen from Marino Institute of Education, as well as Galway Atlantaquaria and the Marine Institute Explorers Education Programme.
The Team at The Ray Project have been awarded funding to use towards the ‘Native Irish Lay Site Project’, which will conduct research into species of Native Irish skate. Working together with the community, the team aims to identify active egg laying sites and nurseries for vulnerable species of skate. We are also delighted to be able to support work being carried out by Sea Synergy Ltd. founded by Lucy Hunt and managed by Natasha Howard. The ‘Oyster Project’ with the aim to establish the feasibility of a European oyster (Ostrea edulis) reef restoration within the Portmagee Channel in Co. Kerry, with work being carried out by Anna Kellagher.
In our fifth and final project, four coastal community organisations are coming together to complete a survey of a unique seagrass ecosystem near Banna Beach in Kerry. ‘The Flowering Plants of the Black Rock Pool Seagrass Project’ will be carried out by Banna Coastcare (Rachel Geary & Maeve Ferris), Maharees Conservation Association (Martha Farrell, Huw Roberts & Martin Lynch), Banna Sea Rescue (Pat Lawlor, Sarit O’Donovan, Eoin Buckley & Steve Baker) and Fenit Coast Conservation (Ed Sheldon, Trisha O’Halloran, John Walsh, Sarah O’Malley & Gosia Horajska-Shaikh).