Endangered Species

Bluefin tuna in Irish coastal waters

jkeane — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 14:26:48 +0000

Bluefin tuna in Irish coastal waters

This project aims to set up a monitoring programme to increase our knowledge of bluefin tuna migrations with special reference to their residency in Irish coastal waters and specific use of these habitats, reasons for their presence after more than a decade of near absence up to 2015 and establish whether they are likely to remain as persistent migrants in coming years. Bluefin tuna have appeared regularly and in significant numbers in recent years, off the coast of Ireland often coming within hundreds of meters from the shore. This may be linked to changing ocean conditions influencing bluefin tuna migration.

Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT) are currently managed by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as two populations separated by the 45° meridian. Given the perceived recovery in Atlantic Bluefin Tuna populations since 2016, the Long Term Recovery Plan in place for Atlantic Tuna since 2006 has now been replaced by a Management Plan from 2018 on. The key tasks associated with these objectives are to reduce uncertainty in the current stock assessment and to provide robust management advice into the future. A well-designed international tagging programme, developed over a schedule of several years and with a progressive methodological approach, will therefore be important in improving the understanding of the bluefin tuna ecology and ethology and for developing better stock assessment methods. Use of electronic tagging and receiver platforms negates the need for intensive ship surveys which are expensive, resource intensive and time consuming. Data obtained from electronic tagging improves modelling of key life history parameters including maturation, growth, natural and fisheries mortality. Using electronic tagging to reduce the uncertainty in these parameter estimates is vital to improving new assessment models and projecting accurate biomass assessments of each population, and this ultimately improves new efforts to develop operating models.

There is currently no monitoring programme to assess MSFD and OSPAR indicators for exploited deep-water species; this has been identified as a gap in the last review of the Irish monitoring programme. This project will contribute to the National reporting obligations for management of large pelagic fish species in Irish waters. This proposal is to use biologging techniques to measure residency time, spawning behaviours and life history such as natural mortality, one of the most difficult parameters to estimate in fishery stock assessments, by using electronic tags placed on BFT taken in Irish waters. The main objectives are to extend the electronic tagging efforts on bluefin tuna initiated by the Marine Institute 2019-2022 and use these data to provide empirical data that advance the MSE operational modelling, which is used to establish the status of the stocks and set international quotas to bluefin tuna fisheries as well as to estimate the residency time of bluefin tuna in Irish coastal waters since their re-establishment in 2015 and consistency of this residency in the future.

jkeane Thu, 06/15/2023 - 14:26

Duration:

The project has a 1 year duration and runs in 2023

Project Outputs:

Data outputs

Database on the stock origin of bluefin tuna, size range, oceanic migrations and residency time in Irish waters.
Migration models and forecasting of bluefin tuna presence in Irish waters.
Provision of data to ICCAT for ongoing stock assessments and stock evaluation.
These data sets will expand on the existing 2016 to 2022 data from electronic tagging time-series and inform changing migration patterns of large pelagic marine species. Note - These migration datasets can only be collected as described in this project using electronic tagging techniques.

Reports and publications

A preliminary report submitted to the MI following tagging procedures with numbers of bluefin tuna tagged including length, weights and other biological characteristics.
On recovery of tag information following one year of attachment to the migrating fish, a complete report submitted six weeks after the final tags has transmitted information outlining the oceanic migration of each tagged animal and interactions with fisheries and other man-made and oceanic features.
A final synthesis report with results from all tagged fish for the period to be provided 2 months after the final tag has transmitted information
A migration model indicating depth, temperature and range preferences associated with key oceanic features such as currents, upwelling’s, seamounts etc.
A data package complying with ICCAT requirements for data-reporting templates and standards and for use in ongoing MSE processes and quota setting at an international level. This will include all tracks, depth and temperature information and associated data.
A package containing images of all tracks obtained during the programme and associated depth, temperature data.
Collaborative scientific peer review publications on aspects of catch and release mortality and oceanic migrations of bluefin tuna.

Expected Benefit:

This project will contribute to the National reporting obligations for management of large pelagic fish species in Irish waters and to assess MSFD and OSPAR indicators for exploited deep-water species;
Set up a monitoring programme to increase our knowledge of bluefin tuna migrations with special reference to their residency in Irish coastal waters and specific use of these habitats, reasons for their presence after more than a decade of near absence up to 2015 and establish whether they are likely to remain as persistent migrants in coming years.
Use of electronic tagging and receiver platforms negates the need for intensive ship surveys which are expensive, resource intensive and time consuming. Electronic tagging is less complex and is not affected as much by adverse weather conditions.
Improved the understanding of the bluefin tuna ecology and ethology and for developing better stock assessment methods
Contribute to updating bluefin tuna instantaneous rates of survival, a critical parameter in stock assessment models.

Further Information:

Contact Niall O'Maoileidigh, Marine Institute, Furnace, Newport, Co. Mayo
EMAIL: Niall.O'Maoileidigh@Marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€263,000

Project Tags:

Biodiversity

Endangered Species

Fisheries

Support for MSFD and Biodiversity Support

Project Status:

Ongoing

Development of methods for characterisation and conservation assessment of Inshore Reef Habitats

jkeane — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 11:10:15 +0000

Development of methods for characterisation and conservation assessment of Inshore Reef Habitats

The definition of marine habitats as ordinated biological community complexes can allow variations in structure and prevalence of species to be used to show change that may be linked to environmental pressures. To date, the inshore intertidal and subtidal reef has not been the subject of the same degree of focused surveys as the offshore. As a result, Ireland’s knowledge of the communities that occur here is qualitative and patchy. Without these data it is not possible to describe marine community structure for the development of site-specific conservation objectives in Special Areas of Conservation (as required to facilitate compliance with the Habitats Directive) or to classify marine communities in terms of the European Nature Information System (EUNIS) biotopes. Detecting change in these communities and monitoring of conservation status is obviously not possible without baseline marine community data.
Geogenic reef habitat is variable in structure. It includes a broad range of substrates from bedrock to cobble and from flat fields to structures with significant relief above the seabed. Aspect, slope, rugosity and exposure can vary and provide microhabitats for marine fauna and flora. Marine communities in geogenic reef as a result are complex and variable. Characterisation and monitoring of change is difficult and both sampling methods and sampling design need to be carefully considered.
Sampling can be done in situ or remotely but in both cases this involves taking images rather than physical samples of epifauna/flora on the reef. Infauna is only a consideration in cobble fields and where physical samples would need to be extracted. Camera technology continues to improve as does the capacity to operate cameras using remotely operated vehicles such as gliders. High quality images and video can be acquired at points or along transects. Flora and fauna can be identified from images. The resulting data can be at least semi-quantitative (SACFOR scale), providing relative species abundance estimates, or fully quantitative providing data on numbers per unit area of reef surface. The second and potentially bigger issue, however, is how to extrapolate from a point or transect sample to distribution and extent of particular biological communities (defined at, for instance, a given EUNIS level) over an area of interest given that the underlying physical terrain, which influences biological community structure, may be highly variable. Extent and distribution of biological communities cannot be estimated using biological sampling alone given the inherently variable underlying physical habitat which influences their distribution. Defining the association with underlying physical terrain variables, the distribution of which is known exhaustively, is a key process in predicting extent and distribution of biological communities. Extent and distribution are key metrics for reporting under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive. Combinations of GIS, geostatistical, General Additive Modelling (GAMs) and ordination statistical and modelling methods can all be used to derive predictive habitat maps using a combination of exhaustively sampled physical habitat data and less well sampled biological data (e.g. ICES WGMarine Habitat Mapping) to produce baseline habitat maps for setting of conservation objectives and targets.
Monitoring for change and avoidance of and or detection of deterioration in habitats and mitigating these effects is central to the proper implementation of the Habitats Directive (Articles 6, 11 and 17). Change can be estimated by comparing the structure (species composition) of a marine community at one time compared to another time using multi-variate classification and ordination methods and the species contributing to such change can be identified. This information may provide indicators as the to the cause of change given that some species may respond to certain variables such as temperature, acidification or abrasion from fishing gears for instance. Such change also infers that the modelled relationships between physical terrain variables, which are mostly constant in time, and biological communities also changes. Although samples taken at the same approximate point over time may show shifts in biological communities assessing why such changes occur and their spatial extent requires re-sampling. The sampling design required to assess the spatial extent of change would need to consider how or if such areas were exposed to particular pressures and to re-assess some of the underlying physical variables that may vary in time. The statistical power of such monitoring programmes need to be considered against management objectives which would include maximum thresholds for change and the need for mitigation when thresholds are exceeded.
Objectives:
1. Map physical reef habitat from existing multibeam and LIDAR data
2. Extract physical terrain variables for mapped reef habitat and identify sub-categories of reef on which to base future stratified biological sampling programmes. This would also include other modelled spatial variables such as temperature, depth and kinetic energy to inform the categorization
3. Sample biological communities within a number of reef sub-types using state of the art remote quantitative methods.
a. Initial work on this will be done in 2021 in Kilkieran Bay and an exposed reef area in deeper water with a view to expanding biological sampling across sites in the future.
4. Model the relationship between biology and physical/environmental variables within reef sub-types at fine spatial scale

jkeane Mon, 10/17/2022 - 11:10

NPWS

Duration:

This project began in 2021 and was due to run for 2 years. It is now being extended to complete in 2023

Project Outputs:

1. Methods developed for quantitative assessment of reef biological communities
2. The extent of Annex I geogenic reef habitat and its sub-categories in coastal waters
3. Modelled extent of biological communities in reef sub-categories
4. A methodology for quantitative sampling and assessing the extent of Annex I habitat

Expected Benefit:

1. A tried and tested methodology to be applied in the National Conservation Status Monitoring of Reefs to be carried out in 2022 and onwards, as part of the Article 17 reporting under the Habitats Directive.
2. Improvement in Ireland’s understanding of its inshore reef habitats, with consequent benefits for the implementation of the Habitats Directive here.

Project Cost - Projected:

€350,000

Project Tags:

Project Status:

Synthesis and development of advisory products: SeaRover Phase 3

jkeane — Fri, 01 May 2020 14:01:01 +0000

Synthesis and development of advisory products: SeaRover Phase 3

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 has undertaken three mapping surveys of offshore reefs between 2017 and 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). The spatial distribution of vulnerable marine habitats is also a critical data requirement for the implementation of marine management policies such as the CFP, the MSFD and MSP.

The EMFF Offshore Reef project, SeaRover (Sensitive ecosystem Assessment & ROV Exploration of Reef) was a three-year project (2017-2019) that was co-ordinated and led by Irelands Marine Institute and INFOMAR and funded by the European Maritime & Fisheries Fund Marine Biodiversity Scheme and the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS). Project objectives were to map offshore reef habitats with a view to protecting them from deterioration due to fishing pressures.

In total 154 separate locations were surveyed by ROV over 63 days at sea between 2017 – 2019 targeting seabed depths between 150 m and 3000 m. This included 27 sites within Irelands six offshore SACs and the collection of 336 hours of HD footage of the seabed, 122 sediment samples and 211 biological samples that will enable future studies into the ecological diversity of the northeast Atlantic. The project involved collaboration across three government departments, numerous agencies and international academic research groups including those based locally in Galway

This project will synthesise the output of all three surveys and, in consultation with the most important end-users, map out how the data should be disseminated, analysed and developed into products and tools used for policy support. This will facilitate contribution to the provision of conservation objectives for the offshore Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) work carried out by NPWS, and will fulfil the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) obligations to map vulnerable fisheries resources.

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

jkeane Fri, 05/01/2020 - 14:01

Lead Partner:

National Parks and Wildlife Services

Partners:

INFOMAR

Geological Survey Ireland

National Parks and Wildlife Services

DCHG

Duration:

SeaRover began in 2017 and the final Synthesis phase of the project is due to run in 2020.

Project Outputs:

Synopsis and Synthesis report of the three mapping surveys
Report of internationally best practice on using benthic data to support MPA designation and management
Inclusion of SeaRover Database in the data catalogue for MSP
Web GIS spatial layers including offshore reef layersScoping and development of data products arising from the above to be used for policy support.
Outreach material relating to the above.

Expected Benefit:

Outcome of stakeholder consultation and summary of required data products and dissemination tools for policy support;
Development of data products in support of Habitats Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive, as well as MSP and CFP.
Acquired data sets feed into the MSP interactive tool

Further Information:

Contact: Fergal McGrath. fergal.mcgrath@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€100,000

Related Projects:

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

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

Project Tags:

Biodiversity

Endangered Species

Fisheries

Phase:

Project Status:

Ongoing

Monitoring the recovery of exploited deep-water species

jkeane — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 13:15:41 +0000

Monitoring the recovery of exploited deep-water species

Several deep-water species have suffered stock collapse as a result of commercial exploitation. ICES has advised a zero catch for orange roughy since 2004 and for Portuguese dogfish and leafscale gulper shark since 2005. These species began to be exploited in the early 1990s, and by the end of the decade they had already declined strongly in abundance. Some of these deep-sea fisheries continue, and these species continue to be caught, albeit as un-recorded discards. Fisheries-independent surveys would provide a means to assess their current status and stock development into the future. This project will monitor the recovery of exploited deep-water species following the decline of the deep-water fisheries in Irish waters.

The data will be collected in 2019 and 2020 by extending the depth range of the existing Irish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey series, which takes place in the first quarter of the year and covers the continental shelf up to 1000m. In order to obtain additional information on the selected deep-water species, the sampling depth on this survey needs to be expanded to at least 1500m. It is estimated that three days of additional days-at-sea will be required to complete the additional sampling.

The proposed approach is much more cost-effective than a stand-alone deep-water survey. The costs will be greatly reduced in terms of mobilising and demobilising the fishing gear and scientific equipment (typically 2 days per survey) and steaming time (typically 3 or 4 days for a deep-water survey). Additionally the risk of downtime due to weather or mechanical problems can be managed more efficiently on longer surveys. Marine Scotland has conducted a deep-water trawl survey most years since 1998. The Marine Institute extended this into Irish waters during the years 2006 to 2009. The renewed Irish sampling will again be closely coordinated with Marine Scotland

jkeane Tue, 04/28/2020 - 13:15

Duration:

The project will be run in 2019 and 2021

Project Outputs:

Data on the relative abundance, size composition and spatial and depth distribution of deep-water species. Data on the biodiversity of fish assemblages. These data sets will expand on the existing 2006 to 2009 deep-water survey time-series.
Survey reports, Input to ICES WGEF and WGDEEP assessments of stock status.
Improved ICES advice for these species being provided to the EU, NEAFC and OSPAR based on fisheries-independent survey data.

Expected Benefit:

Fisheries independent monitoring programme to assess the current status of overexploited deepwater stocks and their stock development into the future.
Improved assessments on deep water fish stocks to support MSFD and CFP implementation.

Further Information:

Contact Hans Gerritsen at hans.gerritsen@marine.ie

Project Cost - Actual

€196,222

Project Cost - Projected:

€200,000

Project Tags:

Project Status:

Management and Restoration of Endangered Skate Stocks Phase 2

jkeane — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 11:31:45 +0000

Management and Restoration of Endangered Skate Stocks Phase 2

The key importance of Tralee Bay (but also Clew and Galway) for endangered skates (and the skate-like angel shark) is well known and confirmed thanks to the first two years of EMFF work under the Biodiversity Scheme, and following on from Purse Search, IFI, ICES advice and the recent Irish Red List report. The threats to these species in the area are largely due to tangle netting for crawfish. The species in question are the white skate, common skates, undulate ray, common stingray and the angel shark.

Council of the European Union, December 2016, it was stated that The Commission and the Member States “that the current system of management of skates ad rays under generic TACs could be improved to fully address the need to sustainably manage vulnerable species and data limited stocks and allow for the sustainable exploitation of commercially important species.”

The overall approach is to mitigate the effects of static net fishing for crawfish in general, but especially in the Tralee Bay region. This must be accomplished with the buy-in and involvement of the fishing industry.

In 2019 the main efforts will be in completing synoptic surveys of Tralee Bay using the netting methods established in 2018 and to map the spatio-temporal distribution of egg cases in Tralee.

jkeane Thu, 04/23/2020 - 11:31

Partners:

Marine Institute

Inland Fisheries Ireland

local inshore fishermen

Marine Dimensions Ltd.

the Tralee Bay Angling Club

The project partners are Marine Institute, Inland Fisheries Ireland, with contracted assistance being provided by Marine Dimensions Ltd., the Tralee Bay Angling Club and the local inshore fishermen in Fenit, Castlegregory, The Maharees and Dingle.

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

1. Produce egg case survey report containing the following:

a. details of the abundance and distribution of egg cases per month throughout the year in each area.

b. analysis of the local distribution of these egg cases within each bay, and likely spawning sites.

c. quantification of any possible temporal signal in spawning activity throughout the year (12 month period).

d. discussion of the results in the context of existing knowledge of the distribution and abundance of these species and their egg cases in Irish waters.

e. identification of essential habitats, spawning and nursery grounds as a basis of advice for management and conservation.

2. Report on netting surveys, covering the following:

a. Spatio-temporal distribution of species.

b. Comparison of catch rates and species diversity with previous work.

c. Identification of any mitigation measures short of closure of the fishery.

3. Submission to RIFF on conservation and management of endangered skates.

4. Restoration by means of release of captive bred specimens.

Follow the link to the dedicated project outreach website: http://raysawareness.ie/

Expected Benefit:

1. Strengthen the scientific basis for the importance of Tralee Bay (Galway, Clew) as essential skate/shark habitat.

2. Develop programmes to track recovery of the stocks, especially in Tralee Bay.

3. Mitigate the by-catch mortality due to tangle nets by measures including diversification to other fisheries or activities.

4. Collected data to be disseminated including via National biodiversity database.

5. Engage in public outreach to further goals 1-3.

Further Information:

Contact Maurice Clarke, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway at maurice.clarke@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€142,000

Related Projects:

Management and Restoration of Endangered Skate Stocks

Project Tags:

Phase:

Project Status:

Completed

Publication

Skate and Ray Report Skate and Ray Report

raysawareness.ie

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Management and Restoration of Crayfish Stocks Phase 2

jkeane — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 10:17:20 +0000

Management and Restoration of Crayfish Stocks Phase 2

Crayfish stocks are heavily depleted in Irish waters. This depletion has been driven by over exploitation since the introduction of tangle netting in the 1970s. The restoration potential relies on acquiring better data on crayfish essential habitat, information on migration and stock structure and in managing fishing interactions. The specific project objectives and tasks are:

Characterisation of crayfish habitat at selected sites to improve knowledge for spatial management including the value of reserves.
Crayfish habitat will be characterised and mapped using a combination acoustic data from the national seabed survey and SCUBA and vessel based surveys at selected sites. The extent of reef habitat is available from the national seabed survey data. The extent of reef suitable for crayfish is a subset of this. Crayfish live in physically complex elevated and structured reef habitat. Analysis of slope and elevation of existing shaded relief data for reef habitat can be used to further define the extent of reef that may definable physically as crayfish reef. The physical structure of crayfish reef can be described and ‘ground-truthed’ for a number of areas using SCUBA to further inform the classification of reef habitat. SCUBA will also be used in a limited number of areas to classify crayfish reef to Eunis level 4 or 5 based on characterisation of species diversity in these areas. This will be extended using vessel based camera and video surveys. The output will be a crayfish essential habitat map which has been biologically characterised. This provides the basis for Task 2 (modelling larval dispersal and recruitment from and onto reef), indicates the potential for crayfish stock restoration given available unoccupied habitat, is linked to National Seabed survey priorities for development of habitat maps for priority inshore waters and provides additional data for conservation objective setting of reef which is an Annex I habitat in the Habitats Directive. This work began in 2017 and due to logistics and weather delays the contract issued to MERC Ltd will run into 2019 but with no additional funding over that allocated in 2017.
Assessment of crayfish movement, migration, growth and stock status using mark recapture data.
The work undertaken in 2017 and 2018 will continue. Significant numbers of re-captures were recorded in 2017 and 2018 from the 2017 tag release programme. The industry forums have proposed to give legal protection to marked tagged crayfish from 2019 to facilitate research and to increase spawning potential. The tagging programme will be funded by the BIM inshore fisheries scheme in 2019.
Assessment of catch and by-catch species composition in the commercial tangle net fleet. Observer data in 2017 and Skipper data from 2 vessels in 2018 provided comprehensive information on size composition, catch rate, tag recaptures and by-catch. This work will continued in 2019 and 2020.
Management measures for stock recovery and to reduce the effects of the fishery on biodiversity.
This could include changes from netting to potting or temporary time closures, spatial closures, and monitoring of changes in population.

jkeane Thu, 04/23/2020 - 10:17

Lead Partner:

Inshore Fishing Sector

Partners:

BIM

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

Data sets: size composition, catch and effort, tag releases, tag recaptures, georeferenced data, acoustic map data on seabeds, biological data on reef fauna, distribution of crayfish reef habitat, modelled larval dispersal data and maps. To be incorporated into existing Marine Institute data bases where appropriate.

Report on fine scale acoustic mapping of crayfish reefs and the distribution of crayfish reef habitat.
Report on larval dispersal modelling.
Report on catch and by-catch in the crayfish fishery.
Report on tag release and recapture of crayfish.

Incorporation of data and new information into stock assessment and scientific advice and publications/dissemination thereof.

Expected Benefit:

Management of crayfish stocks: Information from the project will be collated and used to design management measures for the fishery with the objective of re-building crayfish stocks and reducing the environmental effects of the current set net fishery. Particular emphasis will be placed in areas where by-catch is significant and where the reef data shows potential for re-building. Measures might include the increased use of spatial reserves for crayfish, changing from set nets to trap fisheries and temporary closures to enable stock recovery or inclusion of additional technical conservation measures. Improved scientific knowledge on the essential habitat, stock structure and life cycle/connectivity of crayfish stocks in SW Ireland. Overall Expected benefits are:

1. Improved scientific knowledge on the fishery and its impact on target stock and biodiversity

2. Proposed management measures to restore crayfish stocks and protect biodiversity impacted by the fishery taking account of the above.

3. Dissemination of results and related management consideration at regional/national inshore management fora.

Further Information:

Contact Oliver Tully at oliver.tully@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€180,000

Related Projects:

Management and Restoration of Crayfish Stocks

Project Tags:

Phase:

Project Status:

Completed

Publication

Crayfish Notice Crayfish Notice

Publication

Catch and bycatch in the tangle net fishery for crayfish (Palinurus elephas) off the south west coast of Ireland Catch and bycatch in the tangle net fishery for crayfish (Palinurus elephas) off the south west coast of Ireland

Restoration of Crayfish

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MsY proxies for DAta-limited Stocks (MYDAS) for key stone species and species sensitive to the impacts of fishing Phase 2

jkeane — Wed, 12 Feb 2020 12:33:39 +0000

MsY proxies for DAta-limited Stocks (MYDAS) for key stone species and species sensitive to the impacts of fishing Phase 2

Many of the stocks which are caught by the Irish commercial fishing fleets are considered to be data-limited or are not assessed at all. These include a number of key stone species (like sprat, gurnards, saithe, pollack, ling) and species sensitive to the impacts of fishing (like rays and skates, john dory, brill and turbot). For these stocks, the fishing mortality is unknown and MSY reference points are not established. This lack of quantifiable targets is an impediment to the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) as well as the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

In phase 1 of the MYDAS project, a framework was developed to establish and test a range of assessment models and methods to establish MSY (or proxy MSY) reference points across the spectrum of data-limited stocks. A range of case-studies is currently being explored and this work is expected to result in a number of generic approaches that vary depending on the biology of the stock and the types of data that are available.

Phase 2 of the MYDAS project aims to implement the approaches developed in MYDAS1 and build capacity to apply these approaches within the Marine Institute and internationally. In order to achieve this, the project will provide hands-on support in the development of a number of case studies by Marine Institute experts. These case studies will serve to build capacity but also to prove the value of the MYDAS framework internationally. At the same time, the project members will actively engage with the relevant ICES expert groups in order to facilitate wider use of the MYDAS framework.

A number of case studies are proposed; these concern stocks that are of importance to Ireland and for which there is an urgent need to establish the stock status and exploitation level relative to MSY reference points.

The case studies aim to:
1. Develop assessments and (proxy) MSY reference points for data-poor stocks identified in the Western Waters Multi-annual Plan (WW MAP) as target species (e.g. pollack, black anglerfish, four-spot megrim);
2. Develop assessments and (proxy) MSY reference points for sensitive species that are not inclused in the WW MAP as target stocks (e.g. sharks, rays, ling);
3. Develop assessments and (proxy) MSY reference points for stocks for non-TAC stocks that are of importance to the ecosystem (e.g. sprat, witch, lemon sole);
4. Explore Management Strategy Evaluations (MSE) using management rules that are not related to catch, like v-notching and size limits.
5. Use of time series data to establish stocks status, e.g. in-season depletion of lobster CPUE, standardising time series, mapping of CPUE time series for georeferenced catch and effort data, production modelling.
6. Explore if it is possible to obtain reliable growth parameters from mark-recapture data for crustaceans (considering that there is high individual variability in growth).

International collaboration is essential for stocks that are exploited by more than one country. The MYDAS framework can contribute significantly to the development of data-limited approaches. Engagement with key ICES and OSPAR working groups is therefore essential.
The project will:
7. Support ICES in the development of robust generic harvest control rules for a range of classes of data-limited stocks through WKLIFE
8. Contribute to the relevant ICES assessment working groups that might benefit from applying the MYDAS framework (WGEF; WGCSE)
9. Contribute to relevant OSPAR meeting(s)

jkeane Wed, 02/12/2020 - 12:33

Partners:

Galway Mayo Institute of Technology

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

1. Working documents or peer-reviewed papers describing the detailed case studies
2. Improved knowledge on the value of data, informing future data collection priorities
3. Increased number of TAC stocks for which ICES can provide MSY advice
4. Increased number of non-TAC stocks that can be managed nationally at MSY
5. Increased number of stocks for which MSFD GES descriptors D1 and D3 can be estimated

Expected Benefit:

1. Sustainable management of fish stocks, providing maximum yield
2. Increased capacity in the estimation of stock status relative to MSY for data-limited stocks; both with the Marine Institute and internationally

Further Information:

Support for MSFD and Biodiversity Support; 2019 -2020 projects
Contact Hans Gerritsen at hans.gerritsen@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€135,000

Related Projects:

Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) Proxies for Data-Limited Stocks for Key Stone Species and Species Sensitive to the Impacts of Fishing

Project Tags:

Support for MSFD and Biodiversity Support

Phase:

Project Status:

Completed

Publication

MSY proxies for Data-limited stocks (MyDas) MSY proxies for Data-limited stocks (MyDas)

Publication

Project Insert Project Insert

Restoration of Native Oysters in Ireland

nslattery — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 09:39:21 +0000

Restoration of Native Oysters in Ireland

The native European flat oyster is depleted throughout its former European range. Ireland still has a number of extant populations some of which are commercially fished but production and productivity is much reduced compared to historic levels. Oysters, in addition to being commercially valuable and a significant potential source of income for coastal fishing communities, provide valuable ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, maintenance of water quality and provision of structural habitat that may support high biodiversity. Oyster populations are exposed to a number of site-specific pressures, which may limit the scope for restoration unless the pressures are mitigated or intervention measures are developed. Disease, declining quality of freshwater inputs to estuaries supporting oysters, fishing pressure, competition with introduced species of oysters and low productivity due to low spawning stocks and in some cases unfavourable environmental conditions for larval settlement operate to varying degrees to limit productivity. The restoration project aims to identify the site-specific issues that constrain the productivity of oysters and to introduce adaptive intervention measures to offset these constraints where possible. The project will obtain baseline information on distribution, abundance, size structure and biomass of oysters in a number of sites. This will involve working with oyster co-operatives, fishermen and other interested stakeholders to map the current distributions. Significant issues constraining restoration are already known in 2 areas where the project will focus. In Galway Bay increased freshwater inflows can change the salinity regime and increase situation resulting in a shift in the distribution of suitable habitat for oysters. Ocean modelling in combination with experimental data on response of native oysters to a range of salinities will identify the distribution of suitable salinities for oysters in inner Galway Bay. Similarly, survey observations and modelling will identify areas receiving silt from freshwater and which are likely to be unsuitable for oysters. Habitat availability may be a key constraint for larval settlement. Field experiments and trials will be used to identify how provision of clean settlement substrates may enhance spat settlement and determine the best method for provision of this substrate. Re-distribution of spawning stock may be necessary to increase retention of larvae in the system or to increase fertilisation rates. This can be done by integrating oyster farmers into the project to hold small quantities of native oysters at high density distributed throughout the Bay. In Lough Swilly there is competition between native oyster and introduced Pacific oyster which has naturalised in the Lough. Mitigation programmes to remove Pacific oyster from areas of the Lough and to relocate native oyster to protected areas during this removal programme will be developed.

nslattery Tue, 04/02/2019 - 09:39

Partners:

Cuan Beo

Oyster Co-operatives

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

Survey data and maps on distribution and abundance of native oysters.
Reports on laboratory and field experiments on response of native oyster to salinity and settlement substrates.
Report on the prevalence of Bonamia in Galway Bay oysters.
Particle (larvae) tracking model output in Galway Bay.
Engagement of stakeholders in survey data collection.
Protocols for native oyster restoration.
Establishment of MPAs for native oyster to enhance productivity and spill over effects.

Expected Benefit:

Improved or scope for improved ecosystem service provision from oysters. Increased productivity of oyster populations and known on benefits to local oyster fishermen and oyster farmers.

Further Information:

Contact Oliver Tully at oliver.tully@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€350,000

Project Tags:

Project Status:

Publication

Restoration of native oysters in Ireland Restoration of native oysters in Ireland

Publication

Status and restoration of native oysters in Galway Bay 2018-2023 Status and restoration of native oysters in Galway Bay 2018-2023

Shellfish resources in Ireland

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Management and Restoration of Endangered Skate Stocks

dkelly — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 07:43:12 +0000

Management and Restoration of Endangered Skate Stocks

Skates are a branch of the shark family, we sometimes called them flat-sharks. Some of these flat-sharks or skates are extremely rare with Ireland holding some of their last remaining European populations. The main refuges for these species are Tralee and Galway Bay. How do we know this? The main information comes from Citizen Science project. Over the years, interested citizens have sent in recordings of egg cases of these species. The egg cases wash up on beaches and are easily identifiable by species. The species in question are the white skate, common skate, undulate ray, stingray and the angel shark.

Advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) was that these species are severely depleted. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified these species as critically endangered with extinction. The outstanding threats are largely due to by-catch in fishing gear, especially tangle netting for crawfish. The overall approach of this project is to gather information that can be used to develop means to restore these species to healthy population levels. This can only be accomplished with the buy-in and involvement of the fishing industry.

The first task of the project was to identify the essential habitat of these species. In 2017, the Marine Institute outsourced services to Marine Dimensions Ltd. to identify spawning, nurseries and essential habitat of these endangered skates. Tralee and Galway Bays are confirmed as the main hot-spots for these species. Within these bays, further work is being done to understand local distribution and essential habitat within the bays. For Tralee Bay, it can be seen that white skate nurseries are quite localised. This is valuable information in future restoration work.

In 2018, the main effort will be in surveys using static nets in the greater Tralee Bay area to investigate the extent to which skates and sharks are intercepted where these gears are deployed. These surveys are termed “gauntlet” surveys because it is understood that the skates/sharks are not resident in the inner bay all the time, and must run the gauntlet of static net fisheries upon entry/exit. Preliminary results to date in 2018 confirm the presence of adult white skate in the Kerry Head region. Another important result of observer work in 2018 is that the presence of the commercially important blonde and spotted rays was confirmed from the Tralee region, despite these species not turning up in recreational catches in the area. These data will allow a more complete map of life history of the species to be developed. A secondary outcome of this work is to scope out these surveys as potential indicators of future stock development. In 2018 follow-up research will be carried out involving beach surveys in the main bays to underline the central importance of these bays, especially Tralee.

dkelly Wed, 06/27/2018 - 07:43

Partners:

Marine Institute

Inland Fisheries Ireland

local inshore fishermen

Marine Dimensions Ltd.

the Tralee Bay Angling Club

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

The project is ongoing and completion of tasks is in progress. The expected outcomes are listed below:

Project reports on the importance of Tralee Bay and the behaviour patterns of the species which can form the basis of advice for management and conservation
Report on Programme established to track onward development and recovery of key species
Public outreach through stakeholder interaction, traditional and social media, and through dissemination of scientific results that furthers the 4 aims of the project
Report on by-catch in relevant fisheries
Incorporation of data and new information into stock assessment and scientific advice and publications/dissemination thereof

Follow the link to the dedicated project outreach website: http://raysawareness.ie/

Expected Benefit:

The project will strengthen the scientific basis for managing Tralee and Galway Bays as essential skate/shark habitat. It will further develop programmes to track recovery of the stocks, especially in Tralee Bay and mitigate the by-catch mortality due to tangle nets by measures including diversification to other fisheries or activities.

Further Information:

Contact Maurice Clarke, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway at maurice.clarke@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€200,000

Project Tags:

Phase:

Project Status:

Completed

Publication

Project Insert Project Insert

Publication

Final Report - Rays Awareness Final Report - Rays Awareness

raysawareness.ie

Website Preview

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Management and Restoration of Crayfish Stocks

dkelly — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 06:52:05 +0000

Management and Restoration of Crayfish Stocks

Characterisation of crayfish habitat at selected sites to improve knowledge for spatial management including the value of reserves
Crayfish habitat will be characterised and mapped using a combination of acoustic data from the national seabed survey and SCUBA and vessel based surveys at selected sites. The extent of reef habitat is available from the national seabed survey data. The extent of reef suitable for crayfish is a subset of this. Crayfish live in physically complex elevated and structured reef habitat. Analysis of slope and elevation of existing shaded relief data for reef habitat can be used to further define the extent of reef that may definable physically as crayfish reef. The physical and biological structure of crayfish reef can be described and ‘groundtruthed’ for a number of areas using SCUBA to further inform the classification of reef habitat. SCUBA will also be used in a limited number of areas to classify crayfish reef to Eunis level 4 or 5 based on characterisation of species diversity in these areas. This will be extended using vessel based camera and video surveys. The output will be a crayfish essential habitat map which has been physically and biologically characterised.
Modelling larval dispersal and stock structure.
Crayfish have a prolonged larval life of 6-9 months. Larval dispersal is the main determinant of population structure and recruitment. The connectivity across crayfish reef habitat in Irish waters will be investigated using the Ichthyop particle dispersal model interfacing with archived modelled oceanographic files in the Marine Institute.
Assessment of crayfish stocks off the north Kerry coast using a mark recapture programme.
The fleet will be contracted to catch, tag, release and record tag re-captures of crayfish in the area to provide information on migration, movement and possibly estimates of population size.
Assessment of catch and by-catch species composition in the commercial tangle net fleet.
This will form part of the work of the by-catch project (MB 2017, 14).
Management plans for stock recovery and reduce the effects of the fishery on biodiversity.
The outputs of the project will inform future management plans for crayfish including the need to minimise by-catch of endangered species.

dkelly Wed, 06/27/2018 - 06:52

Partners:

Inshore Fishing Sector

The inshore fishing sector and in particular vessels using tangle nets off the coast of Kerry.

Duration:

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

Project Outputs:

Data sets: size composition, catch and effort, tag releases, tag recaptures, georeferenced data, acoustic map data on seabeds, biological data on reef fauna, distribution of crayfish reef habitat, modelled larval dispersal data and maps. These will be incorporated into existing Marine Institute data bases where appropriate.
Reports: 1. Report on fine scale acoustic mapping of crayfish reefs and the distribution of crayfish reef habitat. 2. Report on larval dispersal modelling. 3. Report on catch and by-catch in the crayfish fishery. 4. Report on tag release and recapture of crayfish
Incorporation of data and new information into stock assessment and scientific advice and publications/dissemination thereof.

Expected Benefit:

Information from the project will be collated and used to design management measures for the fishery with the objective of re-building crayfish stocks and reducing the environmental effects of the current set net fishery. Particular emphasis will be placed in areas where by-catch is significant and where the data shows potential for re-building of stocks. Measures might include the increased use of spatial reserves for crayfish, changing from set nets to trap fisheries and temporary closures to enable stock recovery or inclusion of additional technical conservation measures. Improved scientific knowledge on the essential habitat, stock structure and life cycle/connectivity of crayfish stocks in SW Ireland.
Overall expected benefits are:
1. Improved scientific knowledge on the fishery and its impact on target stock and biodiversity
2. Proposed management measures to restore crayfish stocks and protect biodiversity impacted by the fishery taking account of the above
3. Dissemination of results and related management consideration at regional/national inshore fisheries management fora

Further Information:

Contact Oliver Tully at oliver.tully@marine.ie

Project Cost - Projected:

€330,000

Project Tags:

Biodiversity

Endangered Species

Species Restoration

Phase:

Project Status:

Completed

Publication