Sally O’Meara

Hi there! I’m a graduate of GMIT with a BSc (Hons) in Applied Freshwater and Marine Biology. I worked in the MFRC as a seabird research assistant. Most of my work involved carrying out boat based seabird surveys in both offshore and inshore waters, where I documented their abundance and distribution which helps inform management plans and conservation initiatives. I also have experience working as a Little Tern warden, a Bluefin Tuna observer, and a fisheries sampler.

EQFw4OxXkAAXxEY
As part of a strategy to protect seabirds, we need to identify offshore areas that are ecologically important for them.  Identifying these areas is challenging, seabird species have a variety of foraging ranges, strategies and habitat preferences. Our team analyse aerial and ship-based survey data in order to predict the distribution/abundance of selected bird species in the Irish EEZ.  The results will inform decisions on conservation or management actions for species where a site-based approach is appropriate.