Applications are now open for the 2027 SMART Marine Institute Research Vessel Bursaries, providing 30 funded placements aboard the RV Celtic Explorer and RV Tom Crean. These marine science bursaries offer students and early-career researchers hands-on experience in fisheries surveys, seabed mapping, marine data collection, and offshore research vessel operations in Ireland. Bursary Stipends Participants will receive €100 per survey night.
This call is now closed. Thank you to everyone who submitted applications. Stand by for the 2027 call in November. The Marine Institute, in partnership with the Strategic Marine Alliance for Research and Training (SMART), offers 30 bursaries for 2026 FEAS and INFOMAR surveys aboard the Celtic Explorer and Tom Crean. This is a unique chance to gain hands-on experience
INFOMAR is a collaboration between the Marine Institute and Geological Survey Ireland, to map Ireland’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Gain first hand experience of hydrographic surveying by joining a dedicated seabed mapping surveying with experienced Marine Institute hydrographers. INFOMAR’s Impact INFOMAR plays a critical role in: 2026 Survey Bursaries Up to five bursaries will be available on 2026 INFOMAR Hydrographic
The Irish Groundfish Survey (IGFS) is part of an internationally coordinated survey that takes place every year from October to December in the Atlantic shelf waters of Ireland. The main objectives of this survey are to gather essential information on commercially exploited fish stocks and specifically to estimate the numbers of young fish for monitoring of spawning success. IGFS data
The 2026 Celtic Sea Pelagic Ecosystem Survey (CSPES), will be conducted aboard the RV Tom Crean from the 11th of September to the 1st of October and aims to assess the abundance and biomass of key small pelagic fish (SPF) species, including herring, sprat and sardine, in the Celtic Sea and South Irish Sea. The survey will use acoustic methods
The 2026 Nephrops Underwater TV (UWTV) Surveys on the RV Tom Crean in June, July, and August provide critical abundance and density data for Nephrops norvegicus on Ireland’s key fishing grounds. Data collection focuses on high resolution imaging of nephrops habitat supported by oceanographic and acoustic observations. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience in resource monitoring using
The Irish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey 2027 (IAMS) marks the eleventh survey in a series began by the Marine Institute in 2016. IAMS data collection aims to improve the assessment of monkfish and megrim stocks around Ireland, while also expanding maturity sampling of other commercially important species. The survey concentrates on waters to the west and north of Ireland. Survey
The Mackerel and Horse Mackerel Egg Survey is an international survey conducted every three years during the spring and early summer. It covers the seas from the west of Spain, France, Ireland, and the UK, extending as far north as the Faroe Islands. The primary objectives of this survey are to estimate the Spawning Stock Biomass (the total weight of
The WESPAS 2026 survey continues a long-term time series contributing to the assessment of herring and boarfish stocks in ICES areas VIIB and VIA. Led by Mr. Ciaran O’Donnell, an experienced team of Marine Institute biologists will conduct acoustic transects for echo traces of herring, boarfish, and other pelagic species. Survey data collection will also extend to plankton, oceanography, marine
