Paul Brooks

@UCDEarth @UCDSBES

Please support and share this MSc project survey lnkd.in/dBeJameB that aims to understand people's/stakeholders' attitudes to Native Oyster Restoration along our coasts @NPWSIreland @DublinPortCo @EPAIreland @Fingalcoco @dublinbiosphere @wicklowcoco @wexfordcoco

@UCDSBES @UCDEarth @ucdscience @UCD_Research Please support by partaking in, and sharing this MSc project survey that aims to understand people's/stakeholders' attitudes to Native Oyster Restoration along our coasts @NPWSIreland @DublinPortCo @EPAIreland @Watermark_ie @Fingalcoco @dublinbiosphere @wicklowcoco @wexfordcoco

Attention all nature lovers and conservation advocates!  On the day that Ireland announces its first ever marine national park, we invite you to participate in a research study on native oyster reef restoration. survey: lnkd.in/dBeJameB @UCDEarth @ucdscience @UCD_Research

🧜‍♂️🌊 UCD and Dublin Port Company boost marine biodiversity with ‘world-first’ eco-engineering 🧱 A series of massive concrete blocks designed to reflect the natural features of a shoreline have been placed along the Great South Wall in Dublin to boost biodiversity in Dublin Port. The project, a collaboration between University College Dublin and Dublin Port Company (DPC), aims to set a new standard for sustainability and environmental stewardship and follows on from a study of 32 natural rocky shores and 32 artificial shorelines in Ireland and Wales to discover the best topographical protection for micro aquatic species. Artificial structures such as seawalls have long served as crucial protective measures for ports and harbours but often pose a challenge for marine ecosystems due to tidal erosion removing the nooks and crannies required by tiny aquatic creatures and algae to weather the changing of the tides. This loss of microorganisms means less food for bigger species and fish resulting in a significant loss of biodiversity. “By incorporating natural topographies into artificial structures, we have the potential to mitigate environmental impacts while promoting ecological resilience along the Great South Wall,” said Dr Paul Brooks, UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science. “This project has been seven years in the making and Dublin Port Company has been with us every step of the way. The result you can now see along the Great South Wall is a world-first and we're very excited to see it finally come to the fore.” Crucially, these units integrate natural topography into eco-friendly concrete, reducing carbon footprint while maximising biodiversity potential. Over the next two years, UCD researchers will comprehensively monitor these structures and how effective they are at encouraging and enhancing marine life in Dublin Port. By studying a diverse array of species Dr Brooks said it is hoped the project can prove that marine biodiversity can be enhanced by a marriage of eco-engineering and environmental sustainability. Eamon McElroy, DPC Port Engineer, added: “This project with UCD has been long in the making. The deployment of fish habitats along the Great South Wall, an iconic Dublin landmark, aims to enhance the biodiversity within the port estate itself. Through our joint efforts with UCD, we reaffirm our commitment to sustainable development and the preservation of marine ecosystems."

A series of massive concrete blocks imprinted with a mould of the rock face and topography of the shoreline of Ringaskiddy has been deposited along Dublin to boost biodiversity and enhance the number of fish species in Dublin Port | Read more: rte.ie/b/1439307

🌱🌍Congratulations to the recipients of 2023 @EPAIreland funding announced today! The @ucddublin projects are: ⭐️Prof Louise McHugh @UCDPsychology - Project: Sow what?: Connecting Farmers and Policy Makers on Climate Change ⭐️Dr Cara Augustenborg @UCDEngArch - Project: Using worldviews to inspire and scale climate action ⭐️Dr William Smith, @UCDEngArch - Project: Solid-fuel emissions to air in Ireland ⭐️Dr Linda Fox-Rogers @UCDEngArch - Project: Remediation of Faulty Septic Tanks: A Mixed Methods Approach to Environmental Risk Communication ⭐️Dr Paul Brooks, @UCDSBES - Project: Enhancing Blue Carbon and Ecological Services through Nature-Based Solutions: Integrated Restoration in Irish Coastal Waters Read more ➡️ucd.ie/research/news/… @ucddublin @ucdscience @ucdsocscilaw @UCDEarth @UCDEnvPolicy @CAugustenborg @louisemchugh @lindafox_rogers @ecolpaul @Dept_ECC @EUClimateAction @farmersjournal @KOSullivanIT @codohertynews @GreenNews_ie @IrishEnvNet @EcoEye

@EPAIreland Looking forward to beginning our 4 year research program to evaluate and test the viability and potential benefits of restoration of Native Oyster reefs and Seagrass beds along Irish coastlines #IrishResearch @UCDSBES @UCDEarth @UCD_Research @UCDEngArch @EOS_NUIG

Today, the EPA announced €14.3m in funding for 33 new innovative research projects to address climate and environmental challenges in Ireland. Watch our video to learn more about how these projects. For more info: ow.ly/nviw50QB2te #ResearchCallAwards2023

🌊🦪Our Oyster Update🦪🌊 Five days after reintroducing oysters to Dublin Bay, we're delighted to witness their thriving presence in their new habitat!✨This positive development serves as a clear indicator of the success of our project! ♻️

Exciting news in Dublin Bay....Oysters are back !! In collaboration with @watermarkcoffee @GreenOceanCoff1, UCD reseachers have deployed the first swathe of native oysters in our Oyster garden project at three marinas along the Dublin Coastline.

@DavidKelleghan Real pleasure working with you on the original obsession and indeed again @DavidKelleghan... really fantastic to see this in print and super proud of the work undertaken by you and our @UCDSBES former final year students, well done on bringing it to fruition 👏 👏 👏

Thanks to my incredible supervisors Tas Crowe and @ecolpaul, along with amazing co-authors @Pippa_J_Moore, @AllyAllyj and Jen Coughlan!

We are looking for a Research Assistant to join our lab ASAP! Must 💕 seaweed! #BeyondBiofuel #MarineEcology #JobFairy #BenthicEcology #kelp @TCD_NatSci @TCDZoology @scienceirel @biOrbic_centre

The overall aim of this part of the @ecostructure_ project is to test if these units can improve the diversity and abundance of fish species targeted by recreational anglers.

Please have a look and share our little overview vid we put together to showcase our work using these bespoke @ecostructure_ habitat units. Available here: youtu.be/CGVqB7cYY3k @IrelandWales @UCDEarth @UCDSBES @DubCityCouncil @DublinPortCo @cubeXindustries @marineffproject

These units utilise similar natural topography designs trialled and tested in earlier work within the Ecostructure project but in this instance these designs have been scaled up to fit these larger units.

Working with industry partners CubeX and JPConcrete, Ecostructure researchers from University College Dublin have designed and built bespoke subtidal habitat units that will be deployed at sites adjacent to artificial structures in Dublin Port.

Just 1 week left until our project finishes! 🥲 What an amazing 5 years of research. If you haven’t watched the presentations from our final conference on YouTube, have a look, or read our summary thread about them below! 🧵 twitter.com/ecostructure_/… 📺 youtube.com/playlist?list=…

Just a reminder that you can still sign up for our event in the Arklow library, this Tuesday @ 7pm! Link --> bit.ly/wicklowresults Entry is free and there will be coffee/tea and cakes, plus lots of information about our @Ecostructure_ work on connections to the Wicklow coast!