BSc Zoology, PhD
Dr Ken Whelan studied Zoology in University College Dublin in the early 70’s. He joined the Inland Fisheries Trust Incorporated in 1975 and served with the IFT from 1975 to 1980. During this time he completed, through UCD, a PhD study on the biology of Irish ephemeroptera (mayflies). This research included the development of novel techniques for the restocking of these important insects.
He also carried out, on behalf of Bord na Móna (the Irish Peat Board), a major environmental impact assessment on the impact of peat bog development on freshwater ecosystems in the midlands and west of Ireland. He worked for the Central Fisheries Board from 1980 to 1989, where he acted as principal adviser to the Board on salmon and sea trout stocks. His work included detailed assessments of a wide range of salmonid habitats and the compilation of policy documents on the management of salmon and sea trout stocks.
He was appointed Director and CEO of the Salmon Research Agency in 1989 and served in that capacity until his appointment, in July of 1999, as an executive Director of the Marine Institute. In this capacity he acts as adviser to the Ministers and Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on all matters relating to salmon and eel stocks.
Since 1989 Dr Whelan has been involved in the rearing of smolts for the aquaculture industry. He was a member of the Sea Trout Working Group from 1991 to 1997 and has extensive experience in the area of environmental impacts arising from fin-fish aquaculture and management of such problems. Through his involvement with the Atlantic Salmon Trust (UK) he has a detailed knowledge of the aquaculture industries in both Scotland and Norway.
He served as a Ministerial nominee on the Sea Trout Review Group, which reported in April 2002. Dr. Whelan has published extensively both in the scientific literature and in the popular press. He has over 100 publications and reports to his credit.
Dr. Whelan has also produced, presented and scripted many films and videos on various aspects of Irish fisheries and is a regular radio contributor to wildlife programmes.
He is currently leading a major international scientific initiative to study the causes of marine mortality of Atlantic salmon – the SALSEA Programme. In May 2007 he was elected vice-Chairman of the Conservatoire National du Saumon Sauvage and in June 2007 was elected Chairman of the International Atlantic Salmon Research Board
