Title

Marine Environmental Monitoring in Mulroy Bay.

Objectives

Environmental monitoring of twelve sites in Mulroy Bay was conducted at weekly intervals over the summer of 1997. Parameters measured included temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, phosphate, nitrite and nitrate. Sediment samples from a further eighteen sites were analysed for copper, lead and cadmium. Analysis of these sediment samples for tri-butyl tin and its degradation products was attempted but was unsuccessful.

Temperature, salinity and turbidity results were typical for the time of year. Dissolved oxygen levels decreased significantly during August. Nutrient results were generally low in most parts of the Bay over the duration of the project. High concentrations of both copper and lead were recorded in the vicinity of the Meevagh Boatyard, possibly originating from activities undertaken at this site. High levels of copper were recorded in some sites associated with the use of antifoulants on salmon cage nets. No explanation other than a natural geological characteristic could be given for the high cadmium levels reported in several sites.

Duration

1997

Partners/Collaborators

Bord Iascaigh Mhara
Mulroy Bay Aquaculture Producers Group

Funding Agency

Bord Iascaigh Mhara

Contact for Further Details

John Slater – CAMBio Principal Investigator
Email: john.slater@lyit.ie

John Gillespie – Technical Support
Email: john.gillespie@lyit.ie