Success

ATU Marine Scientists Complete Important Underwater Survey

author image
November 13 2024
ATU Marine Scientists Complete Important Underwater Survey

~2 minutes read

From Gibraltar to Ireland

A team of Galway marine scientists, led by Dr. María Pérez Tadeo, has completed a significant marine survey off Spain’s southern coast, collecting crucial data on marine mammals and underwater noise. 

Throughout their journey, they gathered essential acoustic data, helping to create a soundscape profile and assess underwater noise, a key aspect of marine mammal monitoring.

The survey - funded by the Marine Institute Ship-time Award - kicked off in Lisbon, Portugal, on October 20th. The team navigated across the Gulf of Cadiz, through the Strait of Gibraltar, into the Mediterranean, and returned to Ireland on October 30th. 

Known as the AMIGOS survey, or 'Acoustic Monitoring from Ireland to Gibraltar Oceanic Waters Survey,' this project, conducted aboard the RV Celtic Explorer, aimed to support the EU-funded Horizon project STRAITS (Strategic Infrastructure for Improved Animal Tracking in European Seas).

undefined

Monitoring Marine Life and Noise Pollution

Led by ATU’s Dr. Joanne O’Brien as principal investigator, with Dr. Pérez Tadeo as project manager, the STRAITS project focuses on monitoring marine life impacted by noise pollution. 

"This survey allowed us to gather baseline data on marine mammals and noise levels across European waters," said Dr. Pérez Tadeo. 
"Such data is essential for understanding the impacts of human-made noise on marine ecosystems."

undefined

The team included scientists from the University of Galway, the University of Southampton, and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. They conducted seabird and marine mammal observations, sampled water to analyze productivity, and measured salinity, temperature, and depth to enhance oceanic understanding.

Dr. O’Brien added, 

"The AMIGOS survey was invaluable not only for data collection but also for building collaborations with other universities and training ATU postgraduates."

For updates, follow @amigos_survey on Instagram, or learn more about the STRAITS project.

undefined

Back to the list