Aquaculture

Phase:

Project Status:

Appropriate Assessment of Aquaculture Activities in seven SPAs

Appropriate Assessment of Aquaculture Activities in SPAs (2019-2020)

jkeane — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 13:57:03 +0000

Appropriate Assessment of Aquaculture Activities in SPAs (2019-2020)

The aquaculture industry is an important economic activity on all coasts of Ireland. A significant proportion of the activity occurs within, or in proximity to, Natura 2000 sites, which are designated areas under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.

Many Natura 2000 sites are designated as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for wading birds. Such areas, typically inter-tidal mud and sand flats, support nationally and internationally important populations of waders that over-winter in these habitats in Ireland. These bird populations feed on various species of invertebrate that have accumulated in biomass during the summer and early autumn period. Over-wintering survival of wading birds is mainly a question of energetics; availability, access and intake of food must provide sufficient energy to maintain body condition. Significant decline in body condition can lead to mortality or lower reproductive fitness in the following year. The aquaculture industry in SPAs, designated for wading birds, may have an impact on the fitness of these birds. This could come about due to targeted removal of prey species such as bivalves, by causing mortality of other non commercial invertebrate prey species that come into contact with aquaculture installations, by alteration of the habitat and the invertebrate communities it supports and by reducing access to food or time available to feed by disturbing flocks of feeding birds.

Article 6 of the Habitats Directive requires that the impact of projects or plans, such as aquaculture enterprises or licencing of fisheries, be appropriately assessed in relation to the feature (habitat, species) for which the site was designated, so that the likelihood of significant effects on the feature can be objectively estimated. Only when the likelihood of significance has been discounted can these activities be licenced in Natura 2000 sites. This project will investigate the interactions between proposed aquaculture activities and Natura features (birds) in a number of new SPA sites as well as a number of sites assessed previously but with additional aquaculture applications to consider. The challenge with these latter sites is to adequately consider the cumulative effects of additional aquaculture applications on the conservation features of the sites.

jkeane Tue, 04/28/2020 - 13:57

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

Full or updated appropriate assessment reports for aquaculture activities in a number of SPAs (Castlemaine SPA (004029), Inner Galway Bay SPA (004033), Bannow Bay SPA (4020), River Shannon ad Fergus Estuary SPA (4077) and Balllyteigue Burrow SPA (004020)) to AFMD – DAFM and follow-up advisory services.

Expected Benefit:

1. Assessments of aquaculture activities in relation to conservation objectives of SPA sites;

2. Support to aquaculture licencing decisions in relation to Natura sites;

Further Information:

Contact Francis O’Beirn Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway at Francis.XOBeirn@Marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€80,000

Related Projects:

Appropriate Assessment Reports and Advisory Services of Aquaculture Activities in Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

Project Tags:

Phase:

Project Status:

Measure the Effectiveness of Mitigation Measures of Managed Activities (Aquaculture) Carried Out in Natura Sites

Measure the effectiveness of mitigation measures of managed activities (aquaculture) carried out in Natura sites – monitoring and baseline data collection.

jkeane — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 15:50:19 +0000

Measure the effectiveness of mitigation measures of managed activities (aquaculture) carried out in Natura sites – monitoring and baseline data collection.

This project was designed to measure the effectiveness of management or mitigation measures taken as part of aquaculture licencing decisions to reduce or minimise risk to conservation features. Such measures are likely to be of the form of, 1) licence conditions that place certain constraints on activities in certain areas or, 2) redrawing site boundaries. The response of the conservation features to such measures will have to be considered.

This project continued to monitor the response of shorebirds to a reconfiguration of oyster trestles in Dungarvan Harbour SPA (commenced during 2016/2017 winter season). The reconfiguration of trestles allowed for a tidal break to allow shorebirds free movement up and down the shore. The tidal break provides for a single clear corridor of approximately 400 metres. This break is considered an exclusion zone with no shellfish culture activities permitted. For example, travel must avoid this area. Travel across this area will only be permitted across the top of the shore (i.e. in the high intertidal zone). The response of shorebirds, in particular Grey plover, to the creation of this exclusion zone will be monitored during 2018/19 as part of this project.

Surveys were carried out in Bannow Bay SPA to augment shorebird counts to provide greater confidence in the conclusions of the AA reports and subsequent management decisions.

Assessing the impact of aquaculture activity in Shannon Estuary and Wexford Harbour continued during 2019. Monitoring consists of assessing the interactions between bottom mussel dredging activity in Wexford Harbour and how it interacts with site use by the Greenland Whitefronted Geese at the North Slob portion of the SPA. Shannon Estuary monitoring consists of targeted counts of shorebirds in Poulnasherry Bay. Baseline winter low water shorebird counts data collection were required in Castlemaine Harbour SPA to identify sensitive/important bird habitat and areas. These data will be used to validate existing and facilitate future licencing decisions.

A broader survey of SPA sites designated for shorebirds was conducted to calculate annual trends to relate to aquaculture activities at the sites. This includes the acquisition of shorebird trend data from NPWS/Birdwatch and mapping of trestle cover (to reflect levels of activities). This study will help determine the relationship between broader trends in bird numbers with aquaculture activities to aid future planning of aquaculture activities.

jkeane Fri, 04/24/2020 - 15:50

Duration:

The project has a 4 year duration and runs between 2019 and 2022.

Project Outputs:

Monitoring of effectiveness of mitigation measures :

Response of shorebirds to a reconfiguration of oyster trestles in Dungarvan Harbour SPA.
Monitoring of shore birds in Bannow Bay SPA.
Monitoring of targeted counts of shorebirds in Poulnasherry Bay as part of Shannon Estuary.
Baseline low water bird counts in Castlemaine Harbour SPA (Winter 2019).
SPA shorebird population trend analysis allied with site usage (trestle mapping). Production of report.

Reports for each monitoring site are produced annually in March. The reports outline the links between SPA site usage and population status of shorebird species to inform future licencing decisions.

Expected Benefit:

Validation of licensing decisions taken at sites to allow adaptive management of aquaculture in Natura sites.

Further Information:

Contact Francis O’Beirn, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway at Francis.XOBeirn@Marine.ie

Project Cost - Actual

€343,600

Project Cost - Projected:

€346,000

Related Projects:

Project Tags:

Phase:

Project Status:

Appropriate Assessment of Aquaculture Activities in nine SACs

Publication

Dungarvan Waterbird 2021-22 Dungarvan Waterbird 2021-22

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Dungarvan Waterbird 2020-21 Dungarvan Waterbird 2020-21

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Dungarvan Waterbird 2019-20 Dungarvan Waterbird 2019-20

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Dungarvan Waterbird 2018-19 Dungarvan Waterbird 2018-19

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Dungarvan Waterbird 2017-18 Dungarvan Waterbird 2017-18

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Dungarvan Waterbird 2016-17 Dungarvan Waterbird 2016-17

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Dungarvan Waterbird 2014-15 Dungarvan Waterbird 2014-15

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Poulnasherry Waterbird Survey 2022-23 Poulnasherry Waterbird Survey 2022-23

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Poulnasherry Waterbird Survey 2021-22 Poulnasherry Waterbird Survey 2021-22

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Poulnasherry Waterbird Survey 2020-21 Poulnasherry Waterbird Survey 2020-21

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Poulnasherry Waterbird Survey 2019-20 Poulnasherry Waterbird Survey 2019-20

Publication

Poulnasherry Waterbird Survey 2018-19 Poulnasherry Waterbird Survey 2018-19

Publication

Bannow Winter Bird 2017 - 2018 Bannow Winter Bird 2017 - 2018

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Bannow Winter Bird 2018 - 2019 Bannow Winter Bird 2018 - 2019

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Bannow Winter Bird 2019 - 2020 Bannow Winter Bird 2019 - 2020

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Bannow Winter Bird 2020 - 2021 Bannow Winter Bird 2020 - 2021

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Bannow Winter Bird 2021 - 2022 Bannow Winter Bird 2021 - 2022

Publication

Bannow Winter Bird 2022 - 2023 Bannow Winter Bird 2022 - 2023

Appropriate Assessment of Aquaculture Activities in SACs (2019-2020)

jkeane — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 15:43:21 +0000

Appropriate Assessment of Aquaculture Activities in SACs (2019-2020)

As identified, the aquaculture industry is an important economic activity on all coasts of Ireland. The inshore aquaculture industry produces a variety of shellfish as well as salmon and trout. A significant proportion of the activity occurs within, or proximate to, Natura 2000 sites which are environmentally designated areas under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.

These sites have a special status in that the features (habitats and species) for which they are designated must, in the long term, not be allowed to deteriorate. They are not closed areas or areas which aquaculture need explicitly to be prohibited. Rather the activity of any industry must be planned in order that the risk they pose to the designated environmental features can be appropriately assessed and the scale and type of activity can be regulated such that the impacts to the environment in the long term are mitigated.

Article 6 of the Habitats Directive requires that the impact of projects or plans, such as aquaculture enterprises, be appropriately assessed in relation to the feature (habitat, species) for which the site was designated, so that the likelihood of significant effects on the feature can be objectively estimated. Only when the likelihood of significance has been discounted can these activities be licenced in Natura 2000 sites. This project will investigate the interactions between proposed aquaculture activities and conservation features in a number of new SAC sites as well as a number of sites assessed previously but with additional aquaculture applications to consider. The challenge with these latter sites is to adequately consider the cumulative effects of additional aquaculture applications on the conservation features of the sites.

jkeane Fri, 04/24/2020 - 15:43

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

Outsourced services for Appropriate assessments:

To include updating AA reports and ongoing advisory services for a number of SACs (e.g., Castlemaine Harbour SPA (00343), Galway Bay Complex SAC (0268), Lower River Shannon SAC (2165), Clew Bay SAC (1482)) and preparation of full assessment reports for Streedagh Points Dunes SAC (1680) and West Connaught Coast SAC (2998). In addition, ad-hoc screening exercises for non-Natura bays will include consideration of adjacent SAC sites.

Expected Benefit:

Assessments of aquaculture activities in relation to conservation objectives of SACs;
Support to aquaculture licencing decisions in relation to Natura sites.

Further Information:

Contact Francis O’Beirn, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway at Francis.XOBeirn@Marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€50,000

Related Projects:

Appropriate Assessment Reports and Advisory Services of Aquaculture Activities in Two Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)

Project Tags:

Phase:

Project Status:

Dissemination and Outreach of Marine Biodiversity Scheme

Dissemination and Outreach of Marine Biodiversity Scheme

jkeane — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 15:27:27 +0000

Dissemination and Outreach of Marine Biodiversity Scheme

Outreach through a variety of media including webpage, brochures, presentations, storymaps and videos to disseminate Marine Biodiversity Scheme and projects to a variety of audiences. This includes policy makers, stakeholders, scientists and the general public.

jkeane Thu, 01/16/2020 - 15:27

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

1. Up to date EMFF biodiversity website.

2. Scheme and project brochures and other dissemination material printed.

3. Image gallery, storymaps and outreach videos produced.

4. Output from Marine Biodiversity Scheme presented at Seafest and at other educational events.

5. Project Results presented at selected fora.

Learn Why Biodiversity is important in our Oceans & How to Protect it.

View the interactive Storymap Below.

Expected Benefit:

Engagement with stakeholders and dissemination of results and accessibility of information from Marine Biodiversity Scheme to a variety of end-users and stakeholders including policy makers, industry; non-governmental organisations, local community groups, peer scientists and the general public. A variety of media including webpage, brochures, presentations and videos will be used to disseminate project and scheme outputs to different audiences.

Further Information:

Contact Julie Keane at julie.keane@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

100,000

Related Projects:

Project Tags:

Support for MSFD and Biodiversity Support

Phase:

Project Status:

Natura fisheries interaction

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:

Support for MSFD and Biodiversity Support

Project Status:

Dissemination and Outreach of Marine Biodiversity Scheme

dkelly — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 11:29:40 +0000

Dissemination and Outreach of Marine Biodiversity Scheme

Through awareness of information collected on Marine Biodiversity this project will enable engagement with stakeholders with an interest in Ireland’s marine resource.

dkelly Thu, 11/15/2018 - 11:29

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

EMFF biodiversity website for project information dissemination up and running;
Scheme and project brochures and other information dissemination material printed;
Image gallery and outreach videos produced;
EMFF Marine biodiversity forum hosted in 2018; Output from marine Biodiversity scheme presented at Seafest;
Project Results presented at selected fora.

Expected Benefit:

This projects supports the engagement with stakeholders and dissemination of results and accessibility of information from Marine Biodiversity Scheme to a variety of endusers and stakeholders including policy makers, industry, non-governmental organisations, local community groups, peer scientists and the general public.

A variety of media including webpage, brochures, presentations and videos will be used to disseminate project and scheme outputs to different audiences.

Further Information:

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

Project Cost - Projected:

€60,000

Project Tags:

Project Status:

Publication

EMFF Marine Biodiversity Scheme Information Day 29 Nov 2018 EMFF Marine Biodiversity Scheme Information Day 29 Nov 2018

Appropriate Assessment of Aquaculture Activities in nine SACs

dkelly — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 07:13:25 +0000

Appropriate Assessment of Aquaculture Activities in nine SACs

These sites have a special status in that the features (habitats and species) for which they are designated must, in the long term, not be allowed to deteriorate. They are not closed areas or areas which aquaculture need explicitly to be prohibited. Rather the activity of any industry must be planned, in order that the risk they pose to the designated environmental features, can be appropriately assessed, and the scale and type of activity can be regulated such that the impacts to the environment in the long term are mitigated.

Article 6 of the Habitats Directive requires that the impact of projects or plans, such as aquaculture enterprises, be appropriately assessed in relation to the feature (habitat, species) for which the site was designated, so that the likelihood of significant effects on the feature can be objectively estimated. Only when the likelihood of significance has been discounted can these activities be licenced in Natura 2000 sites. This project will investigate the interactions between proposed aquaculture activities and Natura features (habitats and species) in Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and make licencing recommendations and advisory services in relation to subsequent management of aquaculture activities in the sites. The SACs of interest are Castlemaine SAC (000343), Ballysadare SAC (000622), Killala Bay/Moy Estuary SAC (000458), Ballyness Bay SAC (001090), Rutland Island and Sound SAC (002283), Courtmacsherry Estuary SAC (001230), Clonakilty Bay SAC (0091), Great Island Channel SAC (001058), Carlingford Shore SAC (002306).

dkelly Wed, 06/27/2018 - 07:13

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

Appropriate assessment reports for aquaculture activities in the nine SACs of interest.

Expected Benefit:

1. Assessments of aquaculture activities in relation to conservation objectives of nine SACs
2. Support to aquaculture licencing decisions in relation to Natura sites

Further Information:

Contact Francis O’Beirn, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway at Francis.XOBeirn@Marine.ie

Project Tags:

Project Status:

Appropriate Assessment Reports and Advisory Services of Aquaculture Activities in Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

Appropriate Assessment of Aquaculture Activities in seven SPAs

dkelly — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 07:12:10 +0000

Appropriate Assessment of Aquaculture Activities in seven SPAs

The aquaculture industry is an important economic activity on all coasts of Ireland. A significant proportion of the activity occurs within, or in proximity to, Natura 2000 sites which are designated areas under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.

The aquaculture industry in SPAs, designated for wading birds, may have an impact on the fitness of these birds. This could come about due to targeted removal of prey species such as bivalves; by causing mortality of other non-commercial invertebrate prey species that come into contact with aquaculture installations; by alteration of the habitat and the invertebrate communities it supports and by reducing access to food or time available to feed by disturbing flocks of feeding birds.

Article 6 of the Habitats Directive requires that the impact of projects or plans, such as aquaculture enterprises or licencing of fisheries, be appropriately assessed in relation to the feature (habitat, species) for which the site was designated, so that the likelihood of significant effects on the feature can be objectively estimated. Only when the likelihood of significance has been discounted can these activities be licenced in Natura 2000 sites. This project will investigate the interactions between proposed aquaculture activities and Natura features (birds) in seven SPAs and make recommendations in relation to subsequent licencing and management of aquaculture activities in the sites. The SPAs of interest are Clonakilty Bay SPA (4081), Castlemaine SPA (004029), Ballysadare Bay SPA (004129), Killala Bay/Moy Estuary SPA (004036), Courtmacsherry Bay SPA (004219), Cork Harbour SPA (004030), Carlingford Lough SPA (002306).

dkelly Wed, 06/27/2018 - 07:12

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

Appropriate assessment reports for aquaculture activities in the seven SPAs of interest to Aquaculture and Foreshore Management Division of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) and follow-up advisory services.

Expected Benefit:

1. Assessments of aquaculture activities in relation to conservation objectives of seven SPAs
2. Support to aquaculture licencing decisions in relation to Natura sites

Further Information:

Contact Francis O’Beirn Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway at Francis.XOBeirn@Marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€140,000

Related Projects:

Project Tags:

Project Status: