Displaying items by tag: Sea Trout Symposium

10th September 2015

Sea Trout Experts To Gather In Dundalk For International Symposium Next Month

#MarineScience - The second International Sea Trout Symposium will take place in Dundalk, Co Louth from 20-22 October, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Building on the success of the previous symposium on the biology, conservation and management of the important fishing species, held in Cardiff in 2004, next month's convention will bring together fishery scientists, managers, policy makers and other interested parties to discuss developments over the last 11 years, identify strategic gaps in knowledge and review priorities for future investigation.

Inland Fisheries Ireland's (IFI) head of research Dr Cathal Gallagher says: “This is a great opportunity for all those interested in the ecology, management and conservation of sea trout to interact with the leading international scientists, managers and policy makers working in this area.

"It is hoped that the outputs from this important symposium will help to drive Ireland’s policy for the future management of our sea trout populations.”

Dr Ciaran Byrne, IFI chief executive, added that the symposium "gives us an important opportunity to review the progress in improving our understanding of biology, ecology, genetics and behaviour of sea trout [since Cardiff] and to identify knowledge gaps required to support the future management of this important species.”

For more information visit www.fisheriesireland.ie

Published in Marine Science

Tagged under

Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.