Minister O’Dowd Launches Invasive Species Smart Phone App

Minister Fergus O'Dowd TD (right) and Mr Brendan O'Mahony, Chairman of IFI (left), at the new invasive species disinfection facility at the Galway Weir.

Minister Fergus O’Dowd launched a smart phone app to help fight the war against aquatic invasive species and pathogens in Ireland at the famous Galway Weir yesterday, along with a disinfection facility for salmon anglers at the Inland Fisheries Ireland fishery; and a handy and durable set of invasive species identification cards on a key ring as part of a three pronged initiative to protect Ireland’s wonderful natural resources.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the lead agency on the island of Ireland fighting the on-going battle against the threat of pernicious aquatic and riparian invasive species and aquatic pathogens which represent the one of the greatest threats to Ireland’s native species and habitats and prompt action may help prevent and protect our native biodiversity should invasive species be identified. This work was also supported by the EU Life+ funded CAISIE project which is co-financed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service and co-ordinated by IFI.

Launching the initiatives, Minister O’ Dowd stated ‘Unfortunately, the number of Invasive Species recorded in Ireland is continuing to expand. It is important that all technologies available to us to combat these potentially disastrous invasions are utilised. I am delighted, therefore, that we are able to harness the power of smart phone technology in our on-going campaigns to help prevent their spread. I would urge all anglers and water users to help us by downloading and using the app”.

The easy to use and readily accessible ‘Habitats – Invasive Species’ app allows users to photograph and automatically record the location of environmentally damaging and potentially hazardous aquatic and bankside invasive species. The geo-referenced photos of suspected invasive species are uploaded onto a central server for verification by IFI scientists. If a new location for an invasive species that is already known to occur in Ireland is recorded, the site will be uploaded onto IFI’s interactive distribution map, which can be accessed at www.fisheriesireland.ie. The recorder will be acknowledged for the record. If a new species to Ireland is recorded, IFI will implement its Rapid Response protocol and the sighting will be immediately investigated.

The ‘Habitats – Invasive Species’ app, developed in conjunction with MAC (the National Microelectronics Application Centre) as part of the EU Inspired Habitats Project, is available for free download from Google Play.

‘Already, discussions have taken place countrywide with angling clubs and federations about how best to implement disinfection for all domestic and tourist anglers – be they salmon, trout, pike or coarse anglers’ commented Dr Joe Caffrey, IFI, ‘the level of cooperation received to date is most heartening and reflects the growing concern among this stakeholder group about the obvious dangers to their sport and to the environment posed by aquatic invasive species and pathogens’.

Launch of the invasive species App. Left to right: Mr Brendan O'Mahony (Chairman of IFI), Minister Fergus O'Dowd TD, Dr Joe Caffrey (Senior Scientist, IFI and EU Life+ CAISIE Project Leader), Mr John O'Flaherty (App developer) and Dr Ciaran Byrne (CEO, IFI).

Aquatic invasive species awareness rulers and invasive species identification key-ring card set produced by the EU Life+ funded CAISIE project.

Source: CAISIE - Minister O’Dowd Launches Invasive Species Smart Phone App