Join us for a post-conference field tour: Aquatic Environments and Invasion Threats around Strangford Lough
Date: Friday, Aug. 28
Time: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Cost: £45 + VAT
Following the ICAIS sessions at Queen’s University Belfast, delegates are invited to a full-day conference coach tour with stops focused on practical conservation, research activities, and continued education. The itinerary centres on Strangford Lough, one of the most ecologically significant and invasion-sensitive aquatic inlets in the region, exemplifying both local and global issues.
Stop 1: Castle Espie Wetland Centre
Overlooking the northern shore of Strangford Lough, Castle Espie offers a close look at managed and natural wetlands linked to the wider lough ecosystem. A guided walk will highlight habitat restoration, waterfowl conservation, and the invasive species challenges posed by non-native species within this internationally important site and wider ecosystem.
Stop 2: Queen’s Marine Laboratory
Located directly on Strangford Lough’s edge in Portaferry, Queen’s Marine Laboratory is a longstanding, multidisciplinary facility that accommodates researchers working within and between fields such as biology, engineering, and chemistry, having recently celebrated its 80th anniversary. A guided tour of the lab’s unique facilities, including a wave tank, aquaculture laboratories, and experimental mesocosms, will provide an overview of the breadth of research concerning invasive species and other interlinked areas. Lunch will be provided.
Stop 3: Echlinville Distillery
Delegates will visit Echlinville Distillery on the Ards Peninsula, known for crafting premium Irish whiskey, gin, vodka, and poitín from barley grown, harvested, and malted on a family farm. The distillery sources local ingredients, such as barley, making it a strong example of sustainable industrial practices, including reducing the risk of introducing non-native species that can occur through international trade pathways of introduction. A ‘tour and tipple’ of the distillery will offer a relaxed setting for delegates to continue building collaborations while providing a first-hand experience of the importance of protecting communities from the impacts of invasive species.
Register
Register for the post-conference field tour at the same time you register for the upcoming ICAIS event! Already registered for the event? You can edit your registration and add on this unique experience. Learn more about how to do that here.
