The STREAM project established a stand in the trade area, showing a video and PowerPoint presentation of the work being done on the project and demonstrating the live weather and sonde data available on marinestream.eu.

On Thursday (April 7th) morning, the presentations and discussions at the workshop addressed the priorities of the upcoming European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). The talks covered the continued development of a sustainable and competitive aquaculture sector. This included the supply of quality, healthy and safe seafood and the documentation of the carbon footprint of the Irish mussel industry and the management of marine biodiversity.

Figure 1. STREAM Stand (with a projector in the background showing a video).
Figure 2. BIM and IFA Aquaculture trade stands.

In the afternoon, BIM (Bord Iascaigh Mhara) sponsored the IFA (Irish Farmers Association) Aquaculture AGM and Conference. The Minister Charlie McCongalogue provided a recorded introduction as he was at a European meeting. Then there was an update on the processing of Aquaculture licenses by Sinead McSherry (DAFM), and information on the EMFAF and National Strategic plan was provided by Rory Cambell (BIM). Of particular interest to the STREAM project was Damien Toner’s (BIM) talk on using new technologies like EDNA sensors to reduce aquaculture farm risks.

Figure 3. BIM Conference Area (Hotel Westport April 7th 2022).

On Friday, April 8th, BIM organised a demonstration to show how invasive species are being monitored for shellfish exporters. Later, there was a site visit to Blackshell Farm Ltd sea site.

Figure 4. Dr Arjan Gittenberger describes species found in association with shellfish (April 8th 2022).

Figure 5. Dr Arjan Gittenberger is showing fouling on an oyster bag (April 8th 2022).

STREAM wishes to thank BIM and IFA Aquaculture for the opportunity to show the work of the project to the industry and state bodies. The STREAM project is partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the Ireland Wales Programme.