Marine Dimensions & Purse Search Ireland

13/08/2026

We don't normally make posts like this, as we usually focus on marine science education, but we feel the need to state our disappointment at the way that many media sources have handled this very unfortunate event.

Sharks have an undeserved reputation as vicious, dangerous animals. This rhetoric is very damaging to the public's perception of sharks, and as a result, shark conservation efforts are harmed.

This was not a shark attack. This was a fishing accident. An angler received an injury from a fish that was caught onboard a boat. This did not happen in the water and we should not be spreading fear around "shark attacks".

We wholeheartedly wish for a speedy recovery for the angler who was injured in this unfortunate accident. For decades, anglers who partake in tagging programmes have been a hugely important source of information on how endangered species, including many sharks, use Irish waters. Fearmongering and clickbait news articles do nothing but harm, and we deserve more from our news sources.

06/05/2026

Tomorrow, our director will be giving a talk in Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 about her work on using joint species distribution models to predict critical habitats for shark and ray species in the North Atlantic! 🦈 She will also be discussing how these predictions compare to the existing IUCN Important Shark and Ray Areas in this area. (By the way, she was also the person who coordinated the creation of these areas for Ireland! 🇮🇪)

This talk is being held at .international , the largest conference for elasmobranch research in the world! So if you happen to be in 🥥 Colombo 🌴 , come check it out and say hi!

21/04/2026

📢 New logo alert! 📢
We are so excited to share our brand new logo, designed by our very own co-director, Ty! New look, same Marine Dimensions. 🩵 What do you think??

16/04/2026

We're so excited for this evernt Galway Atlantaquaria! Hope to see some of you there! 🌊

Join us on Thursday April 23 for the first 2026 event of 'Let's Talk Water' at Galway Atlantaquaria, a series aimed at promoting stories of connection with water from across Ireland!
Visit https://bit.ly/4dhAfaA to book your free ticket before Sunday 19.

Here are the three fantastic speakers of the night, all winners of our 2025 Small Conservation Grant Scheme:
🦈 Bríd O'Connor is the Director of Marine Dimensions & Purse Search Ireland, the home of Ireland's national shark & skate eggcase database. She is a marine scientist whose research focuses on the ecology and conservation of data-poor and sensitive shark, ray, and skate species in Irish and European waters, and she will tell us how the development of modern and accessible educational resources is supporting her work.
🐣 Peter Butler is a longtime member of . His interest in nature conservation started from 20+ years of hiking the Burren. He will share with us the work he and other group members are carrying out to build and maintain in Lough Atalia floating rafts for Common Terns to safely nest upon, aimed at restoring the colony of these birds to its original size.
🐶 Bogna Griffin is a freshwater and marine biologist and Scientific & Technical Officer at the in Galway, where she leads Ireland’s National Crayfish Plague Surveillance Programme. She will share her very special approach to monitoring crayfish populations by training her Bernese Mountain Dog Doby as a conservation detection dog... And Doby is expected to make an appearance on the night!

The event will also include an information session on the Small Conservation Programme 2026, with participants having the opportunity to receive the 2026 application form and ask questions about the funding themes and criteria.
Do you have an idea about a project focused on marine or freshwater involving education and engagement, native species and habitats, or a local community group? Join us in the aquarium from 6.30 pm on Thursday April 23rd and 🌊

16/04/2026

Great video from Clean Coasts showing you just how easy it can be to spot shark & skate eggcases! 🦈🥚

We have a bit of a backlog but will get back to everyone with identifications of your sightings as soon as possible!

30/03/2026

The Wild Atlantic Way was certainly living up to its name this weekend! 🌊

13/03/2026

Marine Dimensions was invited to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment for an eNGO stakeholder meeting today to provide input on the National Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy. We were very happy to be a voice for sharks, skates, and rays in these important developments. Thanks to DCEE for hosting this really productive event!

Inniu, tugadh cuireadh dom chuig an DCEE chun freastal ar chruinniú le páirtithe leasmhara eNGO chun ionchur a sholáthar ar an DMAP for ORE. Bhí an-áthas orm páirt a ghlacadh agus a bheith i mo ghuth ar son siorcanna, sciataí agus rocanna sna forbairtí tábhachtacha seo. Buíochas leis an DCEE as an imeacht fíortháirgiúil seo a óstáil!

17/02/2026

Happy Pancake Tuesday from our favourite ocean pancakes! 🥞 🦈