€1.25 million awarded to five aquaculture research projects

A total of €1.25 million in funding has been awarded to five research projects tackling challenges in Irish aquaculture, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) with responsibility for Fisheries Timmy Dooley TD, announced today.

The Knowledge Gateway Scheme, co-funded by DAFM and the EU under the European Maritime, Fisheries & Aquaculture Fund and administered by BIM, is aimed at strengthening the sustainability of Ireland’s aquaculture sector.

The educational institutions awarded €250,000 each under the scheme are Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, South East Technological University, the Marine Institute and Dublin City University.

The funding spans a range of research projects including how to combat mussel fouling, developing plant growth products from seaweed, protecting salmon health and assessing the environmental value of shellfish and seaweed farming.

Welcoming the awards Minister Dooley said,
“The Knowledge Gateway Scheme is a very important fund supporting cutting-edge research that will strengthen the sustainability of our aquaculture sectors. All of these projects will contribute to making the sector more productive and efficient, benefitting farmers and consumers.”

The scheme brings researchers and aquaculture businesses together to develop practical solutions to industry challenges. The research supports the four priorities of Ireland’s National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture 2030: building resilience and competitiveness; participating in the green transition; ensuring social acceptance and consumer information; and increasing knowledge and innovation.

BIM CEO, Richard Donnelly said, “Aquaculture plays an important role in Ireland’s coastal communities, providing jobs, economic activity and a source of safe, nutritious food. The knowledge generated through these projects will help strengthen the sector’s resilience, support environmental sustainability and drive the innovation needed for future growth.”

The five funded projects are:

• University College Cork – SERPENT
  UCC’s SERPENT project will tackle the build-up of tubeworms on rope-grown mussels which can increase processing costs, damage equipment and cause crop losses. Using Roaringwater Bay, Co. Cork, as a test site, researchers will monitor environmental conditions and tubeworm settlement during the peak fouling seasons in 2027 and 2028. The findings will inform the development of TubewormWatch, an online forecasting tool to help mussel farmers identify high-risk periods and make better-informed decisions about cleaning and harvesting.
• South East Technological University – BIOSHORE
  South East Technological University’s BIOSHORE project will investigate how Irish-farmed seaweed species sugar kelp and winged kelp can be processed into natural products that support plant growth. Researchers will test a supplement from the seaweed on lettuce seedlings, before progressing to trials with tomatoes and grassland, assessing the effects on growth and yields, including performance under heat and drought conditions. The project will also examine production costs, shelf life and the potential for commercial-scale production. If successful, it could open markets for Irish seaweed farmers and help growers reduce their reliance on synthetic fertilisers.
• Trinity College Dublin – Luach na Farraige
  Trinity’s Luach na Farraige project, meaning “the value of the sea”, will examine the environmental, economic and social contributions of seaweed, oyster and mussel production. Led by Professor Nessa O’Connor, the team will use a United Nations ecosystem accounting framework to assess benefits across different species, locations and farming systems. A digital calculator will translate the findings into practical information for producers.
• Marine Institute – Zooplankton Monitoring
  The Marine Institute’s Zooplankton Monitoring project will help Irish salmon farmers better understand and manage risks associated with zooplankton, drifting animals found in coastal waters. Zooplankton are a natural part of the marine ecosystem, but some species can affect farmed salmon, and information on their potential impacts at Irish aquaculture sites remains limited. Researchers will monitor salmon farms in Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Kerry and Cork.
• Dublin City University – POISE
  DCU’s Positive Oyster Indicators for Sustainable Ecosystems: Habitat and Biodiversity Enhancement project, known as POISE, will investigate how oyster farming can influence biodiversity and ecosystems. Working with Oisrí Oileán Cróine Teoranta in Donegal and Moyasta Oysters in Co. Clare, researchers will compare farming areas across different locations and seasons.

The project will combine water-quality monitoring, DNA analysis and chemical testing. Its findings will help develop ecological indicators and an assessment framework to support farm management.

The Knowledge Gateway Scheme operates under Ireland’s European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) programme. It supports sustainable aquaculture by promoting research, innovation, technology and collaboration between public research organisations and industry.

BIM CEO, Richard Donnelly, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Ireland’s leading universities on important research that will be a huge benefit to the aquaculture sector. This is about using research to improve the performance of Irish aquaculture businesses. Whether helping mussel farmers predict fouling, creating new markets for seaweed or giving salmon producers better information about fish-health risks, the focus is on solutions that respond directly to industry needs.”

“The research will also deepen our understanding of aquaculture’s relationship with the marine environment. Robust evidence will help producers assess and demonstrate their environmental performance, build confidence among consumers and coastal communities.”