Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water
The University is committed to ensuring its operational impacts on our water bodies are minimised, whilst research and engagement on Life Below Water continues to grow and strengthen.
Aquatic Ecosystem Educational Programmes, Events and Outreach Opportunities for Local or National Communities.
Launched in 2023, the ongoing 'The Future Island Island Project' aims to create a 'green economy' for Rathlin via community outreach on sustainable tourism and waste management. Queen's researchers have partnered with Ulster University to use co-design, applied design, knowledge exchange and worldbuilding using 3D immersive technology, to shape new design-led green economies on six challenge-based objectives. A key out come will be protecting Northern Ireland’s only offshore inhabited island, Rathlin, from any negative impacts of tourism by sustainably managing island resources.
As part of Reach'25 Art and Sustainability Festival a performance and panel discussion was hosted about Lough Neagh. The performance was an immersive audiovisual piece that documents HIVE Choir's site-specific performance at Lough Neagh, the largest fresh-water lake in the British Isles and a site of recent ecological controversy. The panel discussion focused on what we can do to address the algae blooms.
The Portaferry Marine Lab welcomed kids from the STEAM Summer Scheme enabling them to understand why our marine environment is so important, and what they can do to protect it. The learnt about our local fresh-and-saline marine life, threats to marine life (pollution, overfishing, invasive species) and how they can play a role in protecting our marine environment.
Events aimed at Promoting Conservation and Sustainable Utilisation of the Oceans, Seas, Lakes, Rivers and Marine Resources
As part of the Portaferry Sails and Sounds Festival, Queen's Marine Lab opens its doors annually to the local community. Queen's Marine Laboratory hosts an annual, free open day on the first Saturday of August every year, attracting over 400 visitors. It is a family-friendly event where you can meet staff and students to learn about what happens within the lab. The local community can see the wave tank in action and learn about how this is used to assist academics when researching renewable technologies. Individuals can also get close to local marine and freshwater life - this includes starfish, terrapins and lion fish. Visitors leave with an increased knowledge about our local marine life and how they can play a role in conserving this important habitat.
The School of Biological Sciences hosted a 'Queen's Biology Showcase' as part of the NI Science Festival during February 2025. The free, family-friendly event allowed visitors to explore the fascinating world of biology, witnessing first-hand the ground breaking research conducted at the School of Biological Sciences. Interactive exhibits included fascinating displays of flies, shells, and seaweed, offering a unique opportunity to learn about the natural world and how we can protect nature.
Support Aquatic Ecosystems Through Action
The University is committed to ensuring that fish served on-campus is sustainably harvested from a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Within our Sustainable Food Policy we have committed to exclude fish species identified most at risk by the Marine Conservation Society, and only choose fish from sustainable sources, such as those accredited by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Academics within the University continue to research and work directly with communities and industry to maintain and extend existing ecosystems and their biodiversity.
Lough Neagh has repeatedly experienced blue green algae blooms. Throughout 2022-25, researchers at Queen’s School of Biological Sciences and Institute for Global Food Security continued to monitor and research this biodiversity disaster to find a solution, and ensure the Lough's biodiversity is maintained and extended.
Academics are focused on working with the marine sector to create technologies that minimise or prevent aquatic ecosystem damage.
Queen’s University spin-out company, Fjordstrong, is developing innovative underwater surveying technology that will help conserve vulnerable marine species. Fjordstrong, which is based at Queen’s Marine Laboratory in Portaferry on the shores of Strangford Lough, has developed a patented zero-impact biodiversity underwater survey system called Auto-release Baited Underwater Video (ABUV), designed to survey high conservation value species and protected marine areas. The company continued to research new technologies to prevent the trawling of seabeds, which would have a high ecological impact, by replacing trawling with underwater surveying cameras.
Water Sensitive Waste Disposal Policies and Guidelines
The University is committed to protecting water courses within, and surrounding, Queen's campus. The Sustainable Water Policy provides standards and guidelines that uphold water quality and therefore prevent marine pollution to important ecosystems from land-based activities.
Single-use plastic within the university has been assessed, and is continuing to be addressed, via our Single-Use Plastic Policy.
Programmes That Support Good Aquatic Stewardship Practices
The School of Biological Sciences hosts a rolling programme of events aimed at collaborating with our local community to protect, maintain and monitor our important aquatic ecosystems. This includes events such as the Marine Laboratory Open Day, Summer Schemes, Showcases as part of NI Science Festival, panel discussions within the annual Reach'25 Art and Sustainability Festival.
Key ecosystems include Lough Neagh, Irish Sea and Strangford Lough.