Natura fisheries interaction

Seabed sediment and ecosystem data collection in support of MSFD, Natura and Habitat mapping

jkeane — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 13:47:10 +0000

Seabed sediment and ecosystem data collection in support of MSFD, Natura and Habitat mapping

Knowledge of offshore and coastal seabed sediment characteristics enable marine spatial planning decisions and contribute to fisheries resource management, aquaculture site selection, habitat mapping, conservation objectives and reporting under various environmental legislation including the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Sediment classification charts, based on acoustic and ground-truthing data, are limited by the availability of sediment samples, which are critical to verify interpretations and provide greater confidence in the maps. Subsequently, there is an ongoing requirement for high resolution substrate maps that accurately depict the sediment properties of the seabed and improve our knowledge of the marine environment.

The EMFF Coastal Sediment Sampling Project proposes to conduct intense sediment sampling and environmental data collection (video and imagery) surveys on areas of interest in Ireland’s coastal waters to develop high resolution sediment maps, create habitat maps and support ancillary EMFF projects coordinated by the Marine Institute. Survey platforms will include appropriate commercial vessels (subject to tender) and/or the R.V. Kristina for inshore survey and the continued use of the R.V. Celtic Explorer and R.V. Celtic Voyager to conduct opportunistic offshore sampling where possible.

Potential Sites of interest include, Tralee Bay, to resolve existing sediment classification and to contribute to a proposed Inshore fisheries crayfish project; Achill Bay, where a significant number of sediment samples are required to create accurate Seabed Classification Charts and Habitat maps; Dungarvan Bay, to augment the Water Framework Directive Benthos sampling programme and, Galway Bay, to augment an oyster restoration project and to inform an OCIS sedimentation model in development. Further inshore areas may be considered subject to review as the project evolves. Finally, offshore sediment sampling will continue as per availability of relevant FEAS surveys.

Lack of adequate sediment data impacts the accuracy of key derived products such as substrate and habitat maps which are key to supporting Ireland’s Marine Spatial Plan, whilst the evolution of existing environmental sampling programs, implemented through this project, in support of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive have been identified as priority action(s) of the EMFF Operational Programme.

jkeane Thu, 07/15/2021 - 13:47

Duration:

This project will run in 2021 and 2022

Project Outputs:

Sediment Interpretation in line with international best practices catalogued / integrated within the Marine Atlas and/ or EMFF Sediment and Imagery viewer.
Interpretation and analysis of ancillary video data catalogued and integrated within the Marine Atlas and/ or EMFF Sediment and Imagery viewer.
Creation of accurate sediment and substrate classification maps catalogued and integrated within the Marine Atlas and/ or EMFF Sediment and Imagery viewer.

Expected Benefit:

Quantitative, publicly available sediment information, seabed classification and habitat maps in support of reporting obligations under MSFD, WFD and the Marine Spatial Plan.

Further Information:

For further information contact david.osullivan@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€75,000

Project Tags:

Natura Aquaculture Interaction

Natura fisheries interaction

Support for MSFD and Biodiversity Support

Project Status:

Ongoing

Evaluation of Biodiversity and habitat mapping in the Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA)

jkeane — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 11:02:57 +0000

Evaluation of Biodiversity and habitat mapping in the Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA)

The Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA) is situated off the west and south coasts of Ireland and is considered to encompass an area of high biological sensitivity. It contains important spawning and nursery grounds for exploited north east Atlantic fish species. It is particularly important for the northern hake stock and has been subject to high levels of fishing activity by vessels from Spain, France, Ireland and the UK. The Biologically Sensitive Area was established under Article 6 of Council Regulation 1954 of 2003 and replaced the ‘Irish Box’ set up under the Iberian Act of Accession of 1986. Its primary objective is to ensure that the level of fishing intensity in this vulnerable area does not increase.

A review clause (scheduled for 2008) was part of the initial regulation, however efforts to evaluate the utility, functioning and effectiveness of the BSA (STECF-11-12 2011) were inconclusive, and although science advice from ICES (ACOM; June 2009) has indicated that the fishing pressure in the area has stabilized, they also state that the effects of these measures cannot be precisely quantified.

Now almost 17 years after its adoption, a review of the utility, functioning and effectiveness of the BSA is overdue. The objectives of this study are as follows:

To review the literature underpinning the information base of the biological and ecological sensitivity of the area. To establish the extent of vulnerable biological processes and ecological habitats in the area especially those specific to this area
To review the information on pressures in the area over time, taking account of MSFD descriptors, especially the trends in the pressure on biological resources including vulnerable and commercially exploited species.
To review information on the status of biological resources over time within and without the area.
To review what changes if any have been affected by the designation, and provide recommendations for further research work or specific monitoring which would be required to provide an information base which is currently not available.
To produce a report which details the biological basis for the BSA and the effectiveness of the designation as an instrument to afford protection to the area. To update information on changes (temporal spatial or other) if any, to the biological processes in the area. To identify gaps in the current knowledge and approach and propose mitigation to address such gaps.

jkeane Thu, 04/30/2020 - 11:02

Duration:

This project is due to running during 2020 and part of 2021.

Project Outputs:

Report detailing the biological basis for the BSA and the effectiveness of the designation as an instrument to afford protection to the area.
Update information on changes (temporal spatial or other) if any, to the biological processes the state of biological resources and pressure on such resources in the area.
Gaps in the current knowledge and approach and propose mitigation to address such gaps.

Expected Benefit:

The report would form the basis of a review of the BSA, as called for in Article 6 of Council Regulation 1954 of 2003. This would then feed into a review of the Common Fisheries Policy which will be required by December 31^st 2022 .

Further Information:

Contact Hans Gerritsen at hans.gerritsen@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€68,000

Project Tags:

Biodiversity

Fisheries

Natura fisheries interaction

Project Status:

Completed

Assessment of Species Catch Composition in Fisheries Posing a Risk to Biodiversity Phase 2

jkeane — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 14:50:16 +0000

Assessment of Species Catch Composition in Fisheries Posing a Risk to Biodiversity Phase 2

The estimation of bycatch of protected, endangered and threatened species (PET) in commercial fisheries and its sustainability assessment is an important consideration in the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy, the Marine Strategy Framework directive (Descriptor 1) and the Habitats and Bird’s directives. Since 2016, the reporting of all bycatch is a requirement of the data collection framework to support this assessment (EU MAP: EU- 2016 1251). This project follows on from the assessment of species catch composition in Phase 1.

Although Ireland currently has an observer programme on commercial inshore and offshore fleet metiers, and records all bycatch, these programmes are optimised for assessment of fish catches for the Data Collection Framework (DCF). PET species are not typical in fish catches but occur sporadically but also potentially catastrophically in the case of small or localised/resident populations (i.e. potentially high but infrequent by-catch). Estimates for such zero inflated data are difficult to obtain and the resolution of this problem requires an enhanced observer programme for fleet metiers that pose the highest risk of by-catch of such species. In 2017-2018, in consultation with other end-users, the fisheries that have been identified as posing the highest risk to bycatch and warrant an enhanced bycatch programme, are set net fisheries in the first instance. These have received additional sampling effort on a national and regional level (SW table net fishery). In 2018, additional effort has been provided to the pelagic trawl fishery catching horse mackerel.

This enhanced data collection could usefully be combined with sample provision to existing studies (e.g., population genetics) to augment information on the population ecology of species that are incidentally caught. High uncertainty of by-catch is one of the gaps identified in the Fisheries Natura risk assessment for seals and cetaceans (Marine Institute 2015).
The at sea observer programme will be used to collect bycatch data. As in Phase 1, observers will collect small tissue samples from by-caught species for laboratory analysis (i.e., skin and blubber biopsy) and collect seabird carcasses to enhance data collection. In 2019-2020, observers will be provided with small toolkits related to the collection and storage of tissue samples.
A co-ordinating observer will be contracted to manage the enhanced observer programme. This will include the identification and allocation of trips to observers across the different metiers, payments to observers and logging of data & sample returns. All SOPs and data management procedures for this type of work are already established in the Marine Institute. Methods will be reviewed based on the outcomes from the EASME funded project fishPi2 and the ICES workshop PETSAMP.

jkeane Fri, 04/24/2020 - 14:50

Partners:

Marine Institute

National Parks and Wildlife Services

DCHG

IWDG

Galway Mayo Institute of Technology

DAFM Veterinary Laboratory

The project is carried out in close collaboration with the Marine Institute (Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Services), National Parks and Wildlife Services, and its parent department, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (DCHG). The post-mortem examinations of stranded cetaceans are carried out on behalf of the project partners by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG), Galway Mayo Institute of Technology and the Veterinary Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) benefitting from specimen collected under the Cetacean Strandings Scheme.

Duration:

The project has a 2 year duration and runs between 2019 and 2020.

Project Outputs:

Screening of stranded carcasses of seals and small cetaceans: Although the observer programme observes a sample of the fisheries by-catch in real time and can provide estimates of total by-catch for different metiers if there is adequate coverage, additional information can be obtained if the cause of mortality of stranded animals is determined. Under Ireland’s ongoing Cetacean Strandings Scheme a small proportion of the annual stranding records show scientifically established external signs of fisheries by-catch, including broken bones, obvious net marks, gear entanglement or fins cleanly removed. In parallel with its at-sea observation method, the enhanced monitoring programme provides an important opportunity to subsample stranded marine mammal carcasses for evidence of by-catch interaction, if this occurs. It is aimed to use both components of the study to inform one another, improve the assessment of relevant metiers of concern and to enhance scientific and management understanding of such interactions and their risk to protected species. This project will establish contracts for the targeted recovery and post-mortem examination of a sub-sample of small cetaceans stranded around the south and west coasts of Ireland through liaison with the coordinator of the Cetacean Strandings Scheme and through international best practice in post-mortem examination (PME).

Data obtained from Phase 1 and Phase 2 will be used to model the risk of bycatch to populations of different PET species.
Future sampling recommendations: Results from the enhanced by-catch monitoring programme will be reviewed in relation to end-user requirements. Recommendations on sampling methodologies and sampling effort for bycatch monitoring will be drafted to inform future data collection programmes (link to UP3) and will feed into the review of EUMAP.
Bycatch data will be disseminated to endusers via official data calls and in direct consultation with national and international endusers (eg DAFM, DCHG, DHPLG, ICES, DCF RCG North Atlantic ).

Expected Benefit:

Improved scientific reporting in on bycatch events of seals, small cetaceans, seabirds and rare and endangered species by fishing metier.
Scientific reporting on the evidence, if any, for fisheries by-catch in the population of stranded cetaceans around the Irish coast.
Training of Irish scientists in international best practice where PME of marine mammals is concerned.
Contribution of key tissue samples of relevance in assessing population structure and ecology among the species by-caught in monitored metiers.
Future estimates of the population level effects of by-catch on seals, small cetaceans and rare and endangered species.
Recommendations and management coordination on mitigation measures to ensure compliance with EU Directives.
Recommendations on sampling methodologies and sampling effort for bycatch monitoring to inform future data collection programmes under revised EUMAP (link to UP3).
8. Enhanced ability to advise on permissible by-catch levels for marine mammals.

Further Information:

Contact ailbhe.kavanagh@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€500,000

Related Projects:

Assessment of Species Catch Composition in Fisheries Posing a Risk to Biodiversity

Project Tags:

Biodiversity

Fisheries

Natura

Natura fisheries interaction

Phase:

Project Status:

Ongoing

Automating data acquisition for vessels under 12m in length Phase 2

jkeane — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 12:04:49 +0000

Automating data acquisition for vessels under 12m in length Phase 2

The project aims to develop or adopt methods for automating data acquisition from inshore fishing vessels. Data provision for the majority of the inshore fleet (<10m in length) is extremely poor with no direct reporting of landings, effort or position. The number of registered under 12m vessels (mainly targeting shellfish inside 6nm) is approximately 1900 although probably about half this number are active. Paper based reporting systems are not suitable for this number of vessels but automation is technically possible depending on how the system is designed and how user (industry) acceptance can be optimised. This project would build on the iVMS project now operating mainly in the Irish Sea by expanding iVMS to other fleets but more importantly adding functionality to enable capture of fishing effort and catch data. The approach would be to ‘cherry pick’ from known applications and methods that are now on the market or possible to develop relatively simply. The evaluation of these methods would be based on how the data could be seamlessly streamed to existing or modified databases, hardware costs, reliability and importantly how the operators (fishermen) interface with the system. Improved data provision is important for a range of reasons including stock assessment, pressure monitoring for MSFD, activity mapping for MSP, seafood hygiene regulations and control of fisheries TACs and other measures. The Marine Institute will lead the project in 2019 under the guidance of DAFM and the regional (RIFF) and national (NIFF) industry forums.

1. The Marine Institute are currently contracting services from Applied Satellite Technology Ltd (AST), Succorfish Ltd and IDS Monitoring for the provision of iVMS and gear sensor hardware, data transmission, data hosting, data API and integration and maintenance of the systems. The project in 2019 and 2020 will maintain these contracts for services. There is a regulatory requirement for vessels fishing with hydraulic dredges for razor clams to report VMS position when fishing which the project is responsible for.

2. Detecting Fishing events: Work will continue with service providers on gear sensors to identify fishing events within the larger iVMS data set using a range of radio, Bluetooth sensors and also sensors that record depth and temperature when fishing gear is in the water and uses this to provide information on location of gear deployment and recovery. In addition, modelling of iVMS data will be undertaken to identify patterns in fishing vessel behaviour.

3. Data integration: given that iVMS data could be provided by multiple providers (currently 3) and that any future rollout of these systems to the under 12m fleet could be single or multiple supplier the project will demonstrate how data from different systems can be pushed, using API, to a single interface. This is critical to effective control.

4. Evaluation of solar powered units. Based on experience to date with units relying on vessel power and because of variability in how that power is provided the project will evaluate the efficacy of solar powered iVMS units. Some of these have already been installed but different units from existing and other suppliers will be evaluated.

Maintenance contracts: maintaining iVMS systems installed on vessels is critical to avoiding loss of fishing time (due to tie up) and loss of unrecorded fishing time. The quality and implementation of the service level agreements between suppliers and MI will be further evaluated and lessons learnt will be included in project guidelines.

jkeane Thu, 04/23/2020 - 12:04

Partners:

Inshore Fishing Sector

The Marine Institute will lead the project in 2019 under the guidance of DAFM and the regional (RIFF) and national (NIFF) industry forums.

Duration:

The project has a 2 year duration and runs between 2019 and 2020.

Project Outputs:

The project is ongoing. The expected outcomes are listed below:

iVMS and gear sensor data sets for dredging and potting vessels under 12m in length.
Demonstration of the feasibility of acquiring fisheries data from inshore vessels.
Interfaces to real time visualisation of vessel positions and data integration.
Maps of data sets acquired showing high resolution spatial data.
Report on implementation of the project including types of data, systems, costs, depreciation and recommendations on larger scale roll out.

Expected Benefit:

Improved fisheries advice to DAFM.
Mapping of fishing pressures in relation to Natura 2000 sites and for MSFD descriptors.
Improved data on landings, effort and economic value of the sector.
Will improved interaction with RIFFs and allow the agencies to improve services to these groups.
Better data required for ICES and STECF data calls and to deliver the DCF.

Further Information:

Contact Oliver Tully, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway at Oliver.Tully@Marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€250,000

Related Projects:

Automating Data Acquisition from Vessels under 12 Metres in Length new

Deployment of Vessel Monitoring Systems (iVMS) on Inshore Fishing Vessels Using Dredges

Project Tags:

Biodiversity

Fisheries

Natura

Natura fisheries interaction

Phase:

Project Status:

Ongoing

Assessment of fisheries/habitat interaction on offshore reefs: SeaRover Phase 2

jkeane — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 15:12:56 +0000

Assessment of fisheries/habitat interaction on offshore reefs: SeaRover Phase 2

Consistent with sub-article 6.2 of the Habitats Directive (EC 92/43/EEC), which requires member states to take measures to avoid deterioration of protected habitats, Ireland will undertake a further mapping survey of offshore reefs in 2019 to evaluate status and introduce conservation and management measures in proportion to status and pressures from fishing. This study has been identified as highest priority by DAHG for the marine environment and is based on a letter by DAHCG to DAFM (attached).

Under the Habitat’s directive reporting requirements, Ireland has reported to the European Commission that Annex I habitat reef is in unfavourable/bad status in its waters, and this is primarily arising from fisheries-related issues in the offshore resource. Reviewing habitat fisheries interaction and arising conservation requirements is of high priority for offshore reef habitats to fulfil Ireland’s obligation under the habitat’s directive. Existing information and datasets on deep Ireland’s deep reef habitat have been collated to assess the known extent and status of reef in water depths greater than 200m and evaluate sensitivities of deep reef habitats as part of a commissioned desk study by DCHG.

Spatial information on reef habitats was overlaid with VMS data from fishing vessels disaggregated by fishing gear to link potential impact with habitat sensitivity and identify data deficiencies.
The desk study on reef habitats combined with the analysis of terrain data derived from the INFOMAR national seabed survey along with the spatial VMS overlay has formed the basis of reef habitats selected for direct observation as part of reef surveys over the past two years. The surveys are using Ireland’s remote operated vehicle and a drop-frame camera to collect video footage and stills along fixed transects for detailed investigation and mapping of Annex 1 reef
habitat.
Areas of focus are reefs with high conservation value and low interaction of fishing effort.

In selecting new sites to be surveyed for 2019, the following aspects will be taken into account:
1. Existing data records
2. Level of fishing pressure, focussing on low impact sites;
3. Geographical distribution in relation to existing designations.
4. Coverage of sites in 2017 and 2018 as part of SeaRover project Phase 1.

The 2019 survey will visit an existing SAC designation and monitor signs of impact and recovery along transects that have been previously surveyed in 2009. This data will be used to evaluate detection of change and effects of mitigation in designated sites.
The project will be carried out in close collaboration with the Marine Institute (with contribution from the service areas of Advanced Mapping, Fisheries and Research vessel operations) and DAHG to ensure appropriate staff expertise is provided and project objectives are achieved.
Final data analysis, compilation and dissemination will be concluded at the end of the project (2020). A consultation with the most important endusers will be carried out to ensure that that data products and dissemination processes are adequate and fit for purpose.

On a national level, the critical endusers are DAFM, DCHG, DPHLG, DCCAE. On an international level, the endusers include ICES, OSPAR and the EU. The National Biodiversity Centre will be included in the consultation to maximise existing dissemination tools.

jkeane Fri, 02/14/2020 - 15:12

Partners:

INFOMAR

Geological Survey Ireland

National Parks and Wildlife Services

DCHG

Duration:

The project has a 2 year duration and runs between 2019 and 2020.

Project Outputs:

1. Assessment of Irish National Seabed Survey bathymetric data and existing offshore reef data to identify high likelihood of reef distribution.

2. Review of VMS overlay of vessels using bottom impacting gears.

3. Proposed survey design based on fisheries (VMS) habitat interaction of Irish reef habitats >200m.

4. Survey reports of the ROV offshore reef survey.

5. Data output of each reef survey:

I. Drop camera stills and video footage along predefined transects of targeted annex 1 reef habitat.

II. Ground-truthed habitat characterisation and species inventory on transects.

III. Quantitative data on % reef cover

IV. Quantitative data on % living/dead and reef occupation

V. Qualitative assessment of ground truthed pressure impacts.

6. Project reports detailing survey and data analysis results.

7. Data dissemination via web interface including offshore reef web map viewer.

8. Outreach material relating to the above.

Expected Benefit:

1. Characterisation of offshore reef habitat in Irish EEZ at selected sites to include existing designations and areas of low fishing impact and limited data availability
2. Evaluation of fishing impact on reef habitat at selected offshores sites
3. Input data to support reporting requirements for Ireland under the Habitats Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
4. The 2019 survey will visit one of the offshore SACs thus providing comprehensive data for the completion of the site specific conservation objectives for this SAC.
5. Of the six offshore SACs all bar one have been surveyed over the three years of this programme; the last site will be visited in 2019 thus completing the monitoring of all of Ireland’s offshore SACs.

Further Information:

Support for MSFD and Biodiversity Support; 2019 -2020 projects
Contact Fergal McGrath. fergal.mcgrath@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

1,000,000

Project Tags:

Natura fisheries interaction

Support for MSFD and Biodiversity Support

Phase:

Project Status:

Ongoing

Multidisciplinary Digital Aerial Mapping of the Marine Coastal Environment

nslattery — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 11:46:20 +0000

Multidisciplinary Digital Aerial Mapping of the Marine Coastal Environment

There are a number of data gaps on the marine coastal environment which limits Ireland’s capacity to report to various EU Directives such as the Habitats and Birds Directives, MSFD and MSP. These include the monitoring and assessment of coastal habitats and wildlife populations and assessing the effects of human activities on these features. Furthermore these ecological and landscape features are difficult to access and assess using traditional ground based survey methods. Recent developments in digital aerial monitoring, using high resolution camera systems and georeferenced image capture, opens the possibility of acquiring a range of data on coastal ecosystems using aerial survey. Adaptive survey design was used to acquire data at sample (transect) or census (100% ground coverage) level depending on objectives and the scale of the feature.

Using vertically mounted camera systems on commissioned aircraft the following types of data was obtained on purpose designed surveys and using nested and adaptive survey designs. Estimates for wildlife populations are quantitative and achieved by adjusting ground coverage in relation to the expected level of population aggregation and in the case of landscape mapping achieving 100% ground coverage. The entire range of data could potentially be acquired on a single survey depending on the features of interest within the survey area. The data are relevant to a number of end users including aquaculture compliance, NPWS wildlife status reporting, MI appropriate assessments and monitoring of interactions of fisheries and aquaculture with ecological features. Data was acquired on

Populations of seabirds at sea
Populations of cetaceans and seals at sea
Populations of highly aggregated populations
a. Seabirds at colonies
b. Seals at haul out
c. Waterbird populations in intertidal habitats
Coastal habitat landscape mapping
a. Intertidal habitat mapping; mussel reef
b. Vegetation mapping
c. Vegetation health
Topographic digital elevation data and models
Habitat use
a. Assessment of fishing effort by static fishing gears at sea
b. Aquaculture installations and habitat use; a rapid method to identify the real (site use) footprint of shellfish aquaculture
c. Interactions of wildlife and human activities at sea

nslattery Tue, 04/02/2019 - 11:46

Duration:

The project has a 3 year duration and ran between 2018 and 2020.

Project Outputs:

In 2018 the project delivered a survey of coastal areas of the Irish Sea from Dundalk to Skerries and off East Wexford to provide data on waterbird (intertidal) and seabird distribution and its relationship with fishing. The area supports important bivalve fisheries for razor clams, seed mussel and cockles but these fisheries may also deplete prey resources for species designated under the Birds Directive. The survey was in direct response to an appropriate assessment of the seed mussel fishery completed in 2018 which identified a gap in knowledge and a high uncertainty in the potential impact of bivalve fisheries on some bird species.

In 2019 and 2020 and in consultation with other end users such as NPWS, DAFM, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government additional multi-disciplinary demonstration surveys were designed and completed to deliver data products relevant to end users in the areas of policy, regulation and monitoring.

Expected Benefit:

Improved reporting capacity for Natura 2000, MSFD, MSP.
Technology transfer from private sector to Marine Insitute re aerial survey methodology and analysis and management of high resolution and high volume images.

Further Information:

Contact Oliver Tully at oliver.tully@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€600,000

Project Tags:

Natura fisheries interaction

Support for MSFD and Biodiversity Support

Project Status:

Ongoing

SeaRover (Phase 1) Assessment of Fisheries/Habitat Interaction on Offshore Reefs

dkelly — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 07:38:30 +0000

SeaRover (Phase 1) Assessment of Fisheries/Habitat Interaction on Offshore Reefs

As part of the European Habitats Directive (EC 92/43/EEC), Member States need to take measures to avoid deterioration of protected habitats. Ireland is carrying out extensive mapping surveys of offshore reefs to evaluate status and introduce conservation and management measures in proportion to status and pressures from fishing. This study has been identified as high priority by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (DCHG) for the marine environment to fulfil Ireland’s obligations under the Habitats Directive.

Under the Habitat’s Directive reporting requirements, Ireland has reported to the European Commission that Annex I habitat reef is in unfavourable/bad status in its waters, and this is primarily arising from fisheries-related issues in the offshore resource. Reviewing habitat fisheries interaction and arising conservation requirements is of high priority for offshore reef habitats. Existing information and datasets on Ireland’s deep reef habitat have been collated to assess the status of reef in water greater than 200m and evaluate sensitivities of deep reef habitats as part of a commissioned desk study by DCHG.

Spatial information on reef habitats were overlaid with activity data from fishing vessels using different gears to link potential impact with habitat sensitivity and identify data deficiencies.

The desk study on reef habitats and spatial fisheries overlay formed the basis of reef habitats to be surveyed as part of two 3 week reef surveys in 2017 and 2018 respectively. The surveys use Ireland’s remote operated vehicle Holland 1 to collect video footage and stills along fixed transects for detailed investigation and mapping of Annex 1 reef habitat. Areas of focus are reefs with high conservation value and low interaction of fishing effort. In selecting new sites to be surveyed, the following aspects were taken into account:

Data availability for pre-screening
Level of fishing pressure, focussing on low impact sites
Geographical distribution in relation to existing designations and certain geomorphological features including canyons and escarpments

The 2017 survey also re-visited an existing SAC designation to monitor signs of impact and recovery along transects originally surveyed in 2009. This data will be used to evaluate detection of change and effects of mitigation in designated sites.

dkelly Wed, 06/27/2018 - 07:38

Partners:

INFOMAR

Geological Survey Ireland

National Parks and Wildlife Services

DCHG

The project is carried out in close collaboration with the Marine Institute (Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Services and Advanced Mapping Services), INFOMAR, the Geological Survey Ireland and National Parks and Wildlife Services, and their relevant parent departments to ensure appropriate staff expertise is provided and project objectives are achieved. Additional financial contributions are made by DCHG.

Duration:

The project is carried out in two phases. Phase 1 runs between 2017 and 2018 and includes 2 offshore mapping surveys. Phase 2 will run between 2019 and 2020.

Project Outputs:

The project is ongoing. The expected outcomes are listed below:

Assessment of Irish National Seabed Survey and compiled reef habitat data in Irish offshore waters to identify high likelihood of reef distribution
VMS overlay of vessels using bottom impacting gears
Proposed survey design based on fisheries habitat interaction of Irish reef habitats >200m
Survey reports of two 3 week ROV habitat mapping surveys
Data output of each reef survey
Data dissemination via web interphase
Outreach material relating to the above

Expected Benefit:

The video data acquired during the surveys will help to map the extent of sensitive ecosystems in Irish waters and broaden our ecological understanding of these leading to the sustainable management of Ireland’s marine biodiversity. It will further support the:
• Characterisation of offshore reef habitat in the Irish EEZ at selected sites to include existing designations and areas of low fishing impact and limited data availability
• Evaluation of fishing impact on reef habitat at selected offshores sites
• Provide input data to support reporting requirements for Ireland under the Habitats Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Further Information:

Contact David O’Sullivan, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway at david.osullivan@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€1,400,000 (with €200,000 contribution from DCHG)

Project Tags:

Natura fisheries interaction

Support for MSFD and Biodiversity Support

Phase:

Project Status:

Completed

Publication

SeaRover Cruise Report SeaRover Cruise Report

Publication

Project Insert Project Insert

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Automating Data Acquisition from Vessels under 12 Metres in Length

dkelly — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 07:15:47 +0000

Automating Data Acquisition from Vessels under 12 Metres in Length

The project aims to develop or adopt methods for automating data acquisition from inshore fishing vessels using digital methods. Data provision for the majority of the inshore fleet (<12m in length) is very poor with no direct reporting of landings for vessels under 10m, little information on fishing effort and poor information on location. The number of registered under 12m vessels in the Irish fleet, which mainly fish for shellfish inside 6nm, is approximately 1,900. Paper based reporting systems are not suitable for this number of vessels but automation is technically possible. The design of digitised systems needs to be user friendly, and be acceptable and usable by fishermen, and unit (vessel) costs need to be realistic and proportionate considering the annual value of the landings per vessel.

This project is building on a system already operating in the Irish Sea, where the location of fishing operations is monitored using a fleet tracking system, and adds functionality to enable capture of fishing effort and catch or landings data. The evaluation of these methods includes how the data could be seamlessly streamed to existing or modified databases, hardware costs, depreciation and reliability and also how fishermen interact with the system. Improved data provision is important for a range of reasons such as fisheries monitoring and assessment, marine spatial planning, assessing fishing pressure on the environment and seafood traceability.

The project is divided into a number of tasks and procured in 5 separate lots

Procurement and evaluation of a range of different vessel tracking systems
Evaluation of fishing gear deployment and recovery sensors coupled to the vessel tracking system to pinpoint where and when fishing gears are deployed
Methods for the electronic (digitised) reporting of catch such as mobile phone forms
Data management and data visualization in real time for monitoring purposes and in particular how data from different systems can be integrated to a single database
Management of installations and maintenance of the systems

dkelly Wed, 06/27/2018 - 07:15

Partners:

Inshore Fishing Sector

SFPA

DAFM

The inshore fishing sector, The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA), Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM)

Duration:

The project has a 2 year duration and runs between 2017 and 2018.

Project Outputs:

The project is ongoing. The expected outcomes are listed below:

iVMS data sets for 80 dredging vessels under 12m in length
Demonstration of the feasibility of acquiring fisheries data from inshore vessels
Interfaces to real time visualisation of vessel positions procured
Maps of data sets acquired showing high resolution spatial data
Mid-term report on implementation of the project

Expected Benefit:

1. Improved fisheries advice to DAFM
2. Mapping of fishing pressures in relation to Natura 2000 sites and for MSFD descriptors
3. Fishing maps for marine spatial planning
4. Improved data on landings, effort and economic value of the sector
5. Improved traceability for seafood with knock on benefits to marketing

Further Information:

Contact Oliver Tully, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway at Oliver.Tully@Marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€270000

Related Projects:

Deployment of Vessel Monitoring Systems (iVMS) on Inshore Fishing Vessels Using Dredges

Project Tags:

Biodiversity

Fisheries

Natura

Natura fisheries interaction

Phase:

Project Status:

Completed

Publication

Project Insert Project Insert

Assessment of Species Catch Composition in Fisheries Posing a Risk to Biodiversity

dkelly — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 06:58:36 +0000

Assessment of Species Catch Composition in Fisheries Posing a Risk to Biodiversity

Static net fisheries are known to pose a potentially widespread risk of capture to a number of designated species including grey seal, harbour seal and small cetaceans (i.e. porpoises and dolphins). Furthermore some metiers within the static net fleet also have a by-catch of rare and endangered fish species, of commercial species subject to TAC, and potentially there are also incidences of seabird by-catch. However, because of the nature of the fishery operations (e.g., vessel sizes, seasonality, variable soak times and depths, weather constraints) and of the prevalence and distribution of this by-catch, especially seals and cetaceans, it is difficult to quantify and assess the current spatial/temporal dimension of the interaction and its population level effects. More scientific sampling data are required from relevant regions to increase the precision and accuracy of the existing by-catch estimates. This enhanced data collection could usefully be combined with sample provision to existing studies (e.g., population genetics) to augment information on the population ecology of species that are incidentally caught. High uncertainty of by-catch is one of the gaps identified in the fisheries Natura risk assessment for seals and cetaceans. By-catch is also flagged as an important pressure/threat in Ireland’s reporting on the conservation status of such species to the European Commission under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive. Although Ireland currently has an observer programme on many of the commercial inshore and offshore fleet metiers these programmes are optimised for assessment of fish catches for the Data Collection Framework (DCF). Designated or rare and endangered species are not typical in fish catches but occur sporadically but also potentially catastrophically in the case of small or localised/resident populations (i.e. potentially high but infrequent by-catch). Estimates for such zero inflated data are difficult to obtain and the resolution of this problem requires in the first instance an enhanced observer programme for fleet metiers that pose the highest risk of by-catch of such species.

Project Tasks include the following:

The fishing vessels:
The first task is to identify the population of vessels to be sampled under an enhanced observer programme and the historic fish catch composition of these vessels to identify the metiers (vessel gear catch profiles). Previous work by BIM is a basis for this as is the Marine Institute’s logbook database. However, the level of activity by static net vessels under 10m (no logbook) and the location of activity of vessels under 12m (no VMS) will require profiling through a review of expert and local knowledge held in BIM and the industry. This was last completed in 2013 for the Natura fisheries risk assessment project and again the risk assessment report is a starting point. Metiers will include large mesh tangle nets targeting crayfish, offshore tangle netting for hake and monkfish, inshore gillnetting for cod, pollack and mixed demersal fish and trammel netting for bait in shallow water.
Sampling design:
Once the population of vessels in each metier is known an observer programme can be designed in order to provide unbiased estimates of by-catch and catch composition using methods for statistically sound sampling described by ICES. The observer programme can also be enhanced, for example to collect small tissue samples from by-caught species for laboratory analysis (i.e. skin and blubber biopsy) or to collect seabird carcasses.
Co-ordination of the observer programme:
A co-ordinating observer will be contracted to manage the enhanced observer programme. This will include the identification and allocation of trips to observers across the different metiers and logging of data & sample returns. All SOPs and data management procedures for this type of work are already established in the Marine Institute. In 2017, observers will be provided with small toolkits related to the collection and storage of tissue samples.
Genetic profiling of seal and cetacean by-catch:
One of the central questions in the risk assessment of the interaction between seals and set net fisheries in Ireland is the origin of the animals caught in set nets. This issue may also apply where some cetacean species are concerned. If the by-caught animals belong to comparatively small Irish breeding populations then the risk to the population from by-catch mortality can be much more significant than if they originate from much larger transnational populations for instance. In order to address such questions, tissue samples will be collected from all by-caught seals and cetaceans for genetic screening through separate projects. There is currently one such project in place with co-supervision by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS). Samples collected through the enhanced monitoring project will therefore be made available to NPWS via arrangement with the coordinating observer.
Screening of stranded carcasses of seals and small cetaceans:
Although the observer programme observes a sample of the fisheries by-catch in real time and can provide estimates of total by-catch for different metiers if there is adequate coverage, additional information can be obtained if the cause of mortality of stranded animals is determined. Under Ireland’s ongoing Cetacean Strandings Scheme a small proportion of the annual stranding records show scientifically established external signs of fisheries by-catch, including broken bones, obvious net marks, gear entanglement or fins cleanly removed. In parallel with its at-sea observation method, the enhanced monitoring programme provides an important opportunity to subsample stranded marine mammal carcasses for evidence of by-catch interaction, if this occurs. It is aimed to use both components of the study to inform one another, improve the assessment of relevant metiers of concern and to enhance scientific and management understanding of such interactions and their risk to protected species. This project will establish contracts for the targeted recovery and post-mortem examination of a sub-sample of small cetaceans stranded around the south and west coasts of Ireland through liaison with the coordinator of the Cetacean Strandings Scheme and through international best practice in post-mortem examination (PME).
Future sampling recommendations:
Results from the enhanced by-catch monitoring programme will be reviewed in relation to end-user requirements. Recommendations on sampling methodologies and sampling effort for bycatch monitoring will be drafted to inform future data collection programmes (link to Union Priority 3 – Data collection Scheme).

dkelly Wed, 06/27/2018 - 06:58

Partners:

Marine Institute

National Parks and Wildlife Services

DCHG

IWDG

Galway Mayo Institute of Technology

DAFM Veterinary Laboratory

Duration:

The project has a 2 year duration and runs between 2017 and 2018.

Project Outputs:

Data on by-catch of seals, small cetaceans, seabirds and rare and endangered species by fishing metier in enhanced observer programme based on selected fishing metiers that pose a higher risk to biodiversity, these to include the static net fisheries (2017+) and pelagic fisheries (2018+)
Collection of scientific specimen of by-caught animals in the enhanced observer programme to be disseminated late 2018 for further scientific studies
Results of post mortem examinations of subset of stranded cetaceans from the national stranding’s scheme, stratified by geographic region and species presented in project reports
Collection of scientific specimen of stranded animals used for post mortem examination to be disseminated late 2018 for further scientific studies
Integration of results with data collection scheme and dissemination of data to end-user including DCHG and ICES
Report summarising the results from the enhanced bycatch programme
Inclusion of data in related data calls and advisory requests through ICES, European commission and others as required

Expected Benefit:

1. Improved scientific reporting in 2017+ on bycatch events of seals, small cetaceans, seabirds and rare and endangered species by fishing metier
2. Scientific reporting in 2017+ on the evidence, if any, for fisheries by-catch in the population of stranded cetaceans around the Irish coast
3. Training of Irish scientists in international best practice where PME of marine mammals is concerned
4. Contribution of key tissue samples of relevance in assessing population structure and ecology among the species by-caught in monitored metiers
5. Future estimates of the population level effects of by-catch on seals, small cetaceans and rare and endangered species

Further Information:

Contact Leonie O’Dowd at leonie.odowd@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€270,000

Project Tags:

Biodiversity

Fisheries

Natura

Natura fisheries interaction

Phase:

Project Status:

Completed

Publication

Project Insert Project Insert

Deployment of Vessel Monitoring Systems (iVMS) on Inshore Fishing Vessels Using Dredges

dkelly — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 06:39:01 +0000

Deployment of Vessel Monitoring Systems (iVMS) on Inshore Fishing Vessels Using Dredges

Vessel position reporting is mandatory for vessels under 12m carrying hydraulic dredges and fishing for razor clams in Irish waters. The number of vessels requiring iVMS increased in 2016 as new razor clam fishing areas were opened and as fishing effort in the north Irish Sea increases. Secondly risk mitigation plans, developed to protect sensitive habitats from towed bottom gears, including hydraulic dredging, involve the creation of exclusion zones or areas closed to such fishing. iVMS was required to monitor fishing activity surrounding these closed areas.

This project funded the deployment of iVMS on an additional 30 vessels in 2016. Data is managed within the Marine Institute VMS database. Real time visualisation of vessel position is through applications already developed by suppliers (AST Marine Sciences and Succorfish M2M UK) of the systems contracted to the MI.

dkelly Wed, 06/27/2018 - 06:39

Duration:

The project had a 1 year duration and project work was carried out in 2016.

Project Outputs:

From 2015, a pilot study on the deployment, operation, data provision, reliability and costs of implementing VMS on vessels under 12m in length has been ongoing. Vessels fishing for razor clams are required to have VMS on board irrespective of vessel size. In 2016 the programme continued and expanded. Vessel position and speed data were collected at 10 minute frequency from over 70 vessels in the north Irish Sea, from an additional 10 vessels in the south Irish Sea and from 3 dredging vessels on the west coast. A further 4 potting vessels were contracted to engage in a broader study on electronic catch and effort reporting and on the use of gear in gear out (GIGO) sensors to indicate the actual positions of deployment and recovery of fishing gears.

The implementation of the project involved outsourcing of supply, installation and maintenance to the equipment suppliers through a service level agreement (SLA) between suppliers and the MI. Protocols for maintaining the SLA were developed during the project. Data on vessel positions could be visualised in real time by the MI and SFPA and any other licenced users (fishermen) through an interface which operated on computer and mobile devices.

Data shows generally expected patterns where landings and iVMS effort are correlated, total effort in different fishing areas reflect the size and stock abundance in these areas and no fishing was verified during closed seasons (June). Maps of the data in the north Irish Sea shows a continuous band of fishing from north Dundalk Bay south to Malahide. The data have been used to design fishery assessment and environmental impact surveys.

Separate work was undertaken with a second supplier (Succorfish UK) on the south east and west coasts.

Catch reports for trips and operations were submitted voluntarily by some vessels demonstrating the feasibility of using mobile phone applications on board the vessels. Two methods were used. The Succorfish catch app enables the skipper to log and report catch by species, by trip or operation and also to include other environmental data and observations. This app was available for iOS only. Separately the Fulcrum app allowed the MI to develop various forms for catch reporting and to distribute these forms to fishermen’s mobile phones. The Institute created user licences for fishermen to enable this. The GPS position of the phone is re-laid with the catch report but this is only relevant if catch is logged in real time. The Fulcrum licensing arrangements and flexibility in the design of forms provides an option to customise data acquisition for different fisheries.

Expected Benefit:

• Data collection on catch, fishing effort and distribution for specific gears for vessels <12m
• Evaluation of fishing activity in relation to Natura sites
• Mapping and visualisation of fishing footprint of selected gears
• Optimisation of data capturing methodology of iVMS
• Design of fishery assessment and environmental impact surveys

Further Information:

Contact Oliver Tully at oliver.tully@marine.ie

Project Cost - Actual

€30,000

Project Tags:

Biodiversity

Fisheries

Natura

Natura fisheries interaction

Phase:

Project Status:

Completed