The INFOMAR project has been making waves in the media recently, with coverage across multiple platforms highlighting the importance of Ireland's national seabed mapping programme.
RTÉ News Feature (February 17th, 2025)
RTÉ News published an article on February 17th detailing the latest advancements in the INFOMAR project, showcasing the crucial role seabed mapping plays in safety of navigation, environmental monitoring, and marine resource management. You can read the full article here: RTÉ News - INFOMAR Survey.
Nationwide on RTÉ One (February 17th, 2025)
Later that evening, INFOMAR was featured on Nationwide, a programme hosted by Anne Cassin on RTÉ One. The episode focused on two historic shipping disasters along Ireland's coast, highlighting the critical role of seabed mapping in preventing such tragedies today.
Aileen Bohan, who has been working with INFOMAR for over a decade, spoke about the project's efforts in mapping hazards on the seafloor. She emphasized how high-resolution seabed data contributes to safer navigation and disaster prevention—such as avoiding uncharted obstacles like those that led to the sinking of the SS Roussalka in 1933 off Killary Bay. She also highlighted INFOMAR's achievement in mapping over 500 shipwrecks in Irish waters and how this data underpins the sustainable management of Ireland's marine resources.
You can watch the full Nationwide episode here: RTÉ Nationwide - INFOMAR Feature.
BBC Belfast's Good Morning Ulster (February 18th, 2025)
INFOMAR's media presence continued with an insightful interview on BBC Belfast's Good Morning Ulster on February 18th. Eoin Mac Craith, a senior geologist at Geological Survey Ireland, spoke with Sarah Brett about the evolution of the INFOMAR project and its significance for marine spatial planning, climate change research, conservation efforts, and the sustainable management of Ireland's marine resources. He also discussed the growing cross-border collaboration between seabed mapping programmes in the North of Ireland and INFOMAR, emphasizing the shared goal of developing comprehensive marine datasets for the island of Ireland.
You can listen to the interview here: BBC Belfast - Good Morning Ulster.
These recent media features reflect the growing recognition of INFOMAR's invaluable work in seabed mapping, helping to ensure the safe and sustainable future of Ireland's marine environment. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to explore and map the depths of our coastal waters.
INFOMAR (Integrated Mapping for the Sustainable Development of Ireland's Marine Resource) is a Government of Ireland seabed mapping programme funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), and delivered by joint management partners Geological Survey Ireland and the Marine Institute. It aims to map Ireland's seabed and deliver a comprehensive baseline bathymetry dataset to underpin the future management of Ireland's marine resource.
Please visit www.infomar.ie to learn more.