Mysteries of our underwater world explored
AN astonishing 220 million acres of Irish national territory is still not mapped fully.
And the reason? It is all under water.
Now an ambitious Irish project has become the biggest civilian marine mapping programme in the world.
It aims to map the seabed and pinpoint underwater resources.
The INFOMAR (Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland's Marine Resource) programme is a joint venture between the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Marine Institute to map Ireland's "most productive and commercially valuable inshore waters," according to the Marine Institute.
It covers some 125,000 sq kms of underwater territory and so far has conducted detailed surveys in Bantry, Dunmanus, Galway, Sligo and Donegal Bays as well as the priority area off the south west coast.
"INFOMAR is exploring and mapping the seafloor using high-resolution multibeam sonar, measuring gravity and magnetic variation and recovering 'grab' samples for biological, chemical and geological analysis," a spokesman said.
A new website, www.infomar.ie, details the survey work and and will help navigation at sea, fisheries management and seabed resource management, according to Sean Power, Minister of State at the Dept of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
The programme has just completed operations in Donegal and Sligo Bays on board the Marine Institute vessel, the RV Celtic Voyager.
LIDAR aerial surveys have concluded in parts of Galway and Tralee Bays together with parts of Lough Foyle.
John Evans, joint programme manager of the INFOMAR programme, said they were "delighted" with the progress made to date.
"These bays are extremely challenging to survey and we encourage all to view the data via the www.infomar.ie website," he said.
- Michael Lavery
