Peadar McArdle, director of the Geological Survey, welcoming a full house, described how this great survey came about and then introduced Mick Geoghegan, survey project manager, to open the first of four themes for the day – Research and Industry Applications, with a review of the activities during 2004. He was followed by four speakers who in turn described respectively surveys by the Marine Institute ships Celtic Explorer and Celtic Voyager, deep seismic data results by the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies, the Hatton-Rockall seismic survey initial results and multi-beam seabed classification.
The second theme was research, three papers being devoted to applications for the massive quantity of incoming data being serviced, much of it in support of sustainable fisheries management. Five papers on near-shore surveys, many of which are yet to be undertaken, constituted the third theme. The future of telecommunications in view of the likelihood of a future increase in seabed cable laying constituted the final theme. In this context, the fullest understanding of the complex continental slope to the south of the Porcupine Bank will be essential, for this is the most suitable entry to the floor of the ocean. There was much discussion between each theme session, which together with a number of poster displays provided a most interesting day.

Starting from scratch, so to speak, the Geological Survey has been able to take the fullest advantage of the most modern equipment and methods in mounting the Irish National Seabed Survey. This aims to reveal everything possible about the sea itself and the seabed and its sub-surface, which will enable maps to be provided, a prerequisite for future policy, management and development of Ireland’s total marine resources. This major survey is an example of how maritime nations could be developing their continental shelves.