Arctic char - surviving in Lough Mask since the Ice Age

Mini Bio blitz and Citizen Science event highlighting the importance of Arctic char in Lough Mask.
Learn about the link between the water quality of Lough Mask and the survival of Arctic char over the last 10,000 years.
Learn how Citizen Science approaches can be used to monitor water quality.
Learn how to recognise rocks, plants, animals (invertebrates), trees and shrubs using a mini-bioblitz approach.
Interactive and fun event suitable for families

Arctic char in Lough Mask
Lough Mask supports one of Ireland's best-known Arctic char populations. The lake's depth and generally cool waters have allowed the species to persist for millennia. The lake has been deepened by a geological fault resulting in a deep trough on the west side of the lake. Fisheries monitoring has shown that char are typically found in the deeper, cooler parts of the lake outside the spawning season, making them relatively difficult to observe.
Protecting water quality in Lough Mask is therefore essential not only for Arctic char but also for the lake's entire ecosystem.