Marine Institute appoints two directors
The Marine Institute has appointed two Directors to its Senior Leadership Team: Joe Silke as Director of Marine Environment and Food Safety Services. Dr Ciaran Kelly as Director of Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services.
The Marine Institute’s Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services team research, assess and advise on the sustainable exploitation of Ireland’s fisheries resource and marine ecosystems. Ciaran Kelly graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a degree in marine biology, and earned a PhD in Fisheries Science from University College Dublin.
Starting as a researcher on commercial deep water fish species on trawlers out of Killybegs, Ciaran went on to lead the Marine Institutes’ acoustic survey and pelagic assessment teams, before managing the national Marine Research Funding Programme.
He has advised government managers and policy-makers, and has played a key role in the development of the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) advice framework, along with advice for data limited stocks at the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas.
Seafood safety
As Director of Marine Environment and Food Safety Services, Joe Silke will lead the team responsible for scientific services to government in support of evidence-based policy advice, and to meet objectives for safe seafood, sustainable development of the marine environment and fish health.
He is a graduate of Galway Mayo Institute of Technology and Trinity College Dublin where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science. His career began in the aquaculture industry where he worked in shellfish hatcheries and on-growing facilities.
He then moved into research activities in phytoplankton and oceanography, and carried out several projects in the area of marine aquaculture development and environmental surveying.
Joe Silke has served on several international working groups, and is the current Chair of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC) Panel on Harmful Algal Blooms.
Marine Institute
The Marine Institute is the State agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation in Ireland. It carries out environmental, fisheries, and aquaculture surveys and monitoring programmes to meet Ireland’s national and international legal requirements.
The Institute also provides scientific and technical advice to Government to help inform policy and to support the sustainable development of Ireland’s marine resource.
