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"Seahorses to Sea Urchins - The next big splash in Irish aquaculture". The talk is based on a recent BIM publication of the same name which address's diversification of aquaculture in Ireland and looks at the potential and constraints for five new species; Cod, Abalone, Seahorses, Sea Urchins and Perch. The talk looks at a number of key areas which will decide the future of these species in Ireland including economics, markets, technical ability etc.. A positive but cautious outlook is the main theme running through the talk.

Damien Toner is currently a Resource Development Officer for the Cross Border Aquaculture Initiative based in Ireland. Having studied aquaculture in Galway (Ireland), he worked on the development of hatchery and nursery systems for Abalone, Urchins, Clams and Oysters with Udaras na Gaeltachta as a research assistant. He subsequently worked in Scotland on one of world largest scallop farms before returning to Ireland to take up a position managing a Salmon and Trout Hatchery for the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board. He subsequently formed Realt Aquaculture Ltd and succesfully established an oyster hatchery in Carlingford, Ireland. Damien took up his present position in 1999, offering technical, financial and business start up advice to new and existing aquaculture ventures. In recent years he has focused on the development of a perch industry in Ireland, particurarly in rural inland areas. He has worked on numerous new species reports including those detailed in his talk.

Contact details : Damien Toner, Aquaculture Initiative, 14-15 Grays Lane, Park St, Dundalk, Co. Louth, Ireland, Fax: 00353 (0) 42 9352490, tonerd@oceanfree.net