We are very happy to announce that starting in 2018 we will officially form a new collaborative relationship with the University of California, Davis (USA). This builds on our existing partnership with the School of Biological Sciences at Queens University Belfast. New research projects are currently being planned for the Malin Head study site and we are all looking forward to working with our new American-based partners in further developing the Malin sea area as an international study site for best practice conservation-led science.
The Inishowen-based shark group welcomed Alex McInturf, a graduate student at UC Davis, and Dr. Peter Klimley, a senior professor, during August of 2017. This mission was deemed a success, and with the assistance of Queens University, a formal research relationship is being established. The group hope that by tapping into the experience and resources of UC Davis they will be able to not just build collaborative links with other marine scientists but further our goals of raising awareness, appreciation and understanding of the basking shark in Irish and international waters. You can read Alex’s 2017 bog on her month in the field at Malin Head through this link: https://alexandramcinturf.squarespace.com/new-index/