Marine Biodiversity Projects

Ireland has a programme of measures to implement the Habitats and Birds Directives in marine coastal SACs and SPAs in respect to assessing and mitigating effects of fisheries and aquaculture on these sites. This involves assessment of potential effects of fisheries and aquaculture on marine habitats and species followed by implementation of measures to mitigate risk.

The establishment and monitoring of a genetic baseline of Irish wild salmon populations for determining extent of contemporary and future genetic introgression from escaped farmed salmon

The main objective of this project is to collect the scientific evidence base needed to reconcile sustainable fisheries objectives with nature conservation objectives. The project aims to; extend benthic habitat mapping knowledge beyond Irish coastal waters and offshore reef habitat, identify VME habitats (Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem), improve MSFD assessments on seabed integrity (GES D6), support Marine Spatial Planning, underpin future MPA designations and nature restoration efforts, enable Offshore Renewable Energy development, and underpin Strategic Environmental Assessments.

There is a need for a holistic ecosystem based tool for defining boundaries for aquaculture development within a waterbody, so that it’s ecosystem function and the biodiversity it supports can be sustainably managed. ECC modelling has significant potential to meet this need.

Scientific expertise to provide the Marine Institute a facility to better measure and manage the risks to conservation features from aquaculture and fisheries activities and provide robust scientific advice to DAFM in a timely fashion.

This project will monitor the recovery of exploited deep-water species following the decline of the deep-water fisheries in Irish waters.

Ireland has obligations under the EU’ Marine Strategy Framework Directive to deliver food web indicators under Descriptor 4. The collection of continuous plankton data on a consistent annual basis will feed into the data needs for informing on how plankton abundance and distribution may be changing under the pressures of global climate and ocean change.

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.

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.