Marine Biodiversity Data Portal - NI

Workshops

As part of the project, we will be organising expert led courses to help build capacity for species identification skills. This will facilitate recording and monitoring of marine species and habitats. The workshops will be offered to a range of organisations involved in species recording as well as citizen scientists.

Polychaete identification workshop, October 2024

Dr Teresa Darbyshire ran a 2-day workshop on how to identify some of the polychaete worms that are found in Northern Ireland. Teresa is the senior curator of marine invertebrates at Amgueddfa Cymru : the National Museum of Wales, with a specialist interest in polychaete taxonomy. The course was aimed at upskilling individuals who are actively identifying and recording polychaetes. The course was attended by representatives from DAERA, Ulster Museum, CEDaR, Ulster Wildlife, National Museum Ireland & QUB.

Seaweed identification workshop, August 2024

Prof. Christine Maggs ran a 2-day workshop at Queen’s University Marine Laboratory on how to identify the seaweeds that we have here in Northern Ireland. Christine is an international expert on the systematics of seaweeds and has authored three books on seaweeds including: Seasearch Guide to Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland, Green Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland and Seaweeds of the British Isles: Volume 1 Rhodophyta, Part 3A Ceramiales. The course was suitable for all levels and was attended by staff from a wide range of organisations including DAERA, AFBI, Ulster Wildlife, CEDaR, Ulster Museum, NBDC & QUB.

Nudibranch identification workshop, April 2024

Christine Morrow & Libby Keatley ran a 1-day workshop at Portrush Yacht Club on how to find, identify and record the diverse array of nudibranchs we have here in Northern Ireland. The course was aimed at both shore and diver volunteers and was targeted at those just getting started with identifying nudibranchs. The course was attended by divers, snorkellers and shore recorders as well as representatives from DAERA, CEDaR, MCS Seasearch, Ulster Wildlife & QUB.

Marine non-native species workshop, October 2023

Dr John Bishop and Chris Wood from the Marine Biological Association UK led a three-day identification workshop on the identification of marine non-native species. The aim of this workshop was training for identification of a wide range of marine invasive non-native species (INNS), especially ascidians and bryozoans in Northern Ireland. The workshop was targeted at those who already have some experience in identifying/recording marine INNS or whose future work will involve recording/monitoring of marine INNS.