Dr. Cooney completed his PhD within the MOREFISH group by conducting the first life cycle assessment (LCA) studies of aquaculture in Ireland. His research focused on using the Water Framework Directive as a means of capturing impacts on biodiversity in LCAs from point source discharges. Dr. Cooney is also a graduate of the BSc in Marine Science (Hons) from NUI Galway. Following the completion of his degree he worked on projects with Inland Fisheries Ireland. Namely the Environmental River Enhancement Programme, focusing on the enhancement of drained salmonid rivers, the National River Sampling Programme, monitoring of Waterframework Directive sites, and the Invasive Species Unit, assessing the extent of trade of invasive species. From working on these projects he has gained skills in habitat assessment, water quality and river vegetation. He has also worked in the smolt unit of the Marine Institute when awarded a summer bursary and as an intern in Dunmore East as a port based fisheries analyst. In 2022, he was appointed to the Early Career Editorial Board of Resources, Environment and Sustainability.

Much of Dr. Cooney’s current work focuses on seafood circularity, material flow analysis and accounting for ecosystem services within food LCAs.