Talk: Plankton of the Irish Sea by Barry Kaye

Join Barry Kaye for an in-depth look at the plankton that inhabit the waters along our North West coastline. Barry, who has been monitoring plankton in the Wyre Estuary every fortnight since 2022 and previously spoke at North West Marine Ecosystems 2025, will share his insights into how local conditions shape these tiny but vital organisms.

Most of the Irish Sea is vertically mixed by waves and currents and has limited exchange with the Atlantic. In the Eastern Irish Sea, which borders our coastline, waters are influenced by significant human inputs — from industry, agriculture, and major population centres. These factors create a distinctly local plankton community. Barry’s talk will explore how plankton populations vary across the region, drawing on scientific literature and illustrated with findings from Knott End.

What lies beneath the surface? How do human activities shape plankton communities, and what does this mean for our coastal ecosystems?

Join Lancashire Marine Conservation Society to find out.

Date: Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Time: 19:30 – 21:00
Location: Lancaster Maritime Museum