Marine Biodiversity Projects

Continuous Plankton Recorder 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.

Project Status:

Ongoing

Monitoring the recovery of exploited deep-water species

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

Project Status:

Ongoing

Irish Shelf & Upper Slope Habitat Assessment

The project aims to extend benthic habitat mapping knowledge beyond Irish coastal waters and offshore reef habitat. To support identification of VME habitats, MSFD assessments, MPA designations and Offshore Renewable Energy development.

Project Status:

Ongoing

Investigating the stock structure of Pollack (Pollachius pollachius) for the purpose of sustainable fisheries management

Recent scientific assessments show that pollack stocks in areas around Ireland and the UK (called ICES areas 6 and 7) are in poor condition. This new research project aims at understanding the population structure and movement of pollack in Irish waters, using genetics and tagging.

Project Status:

Ongoing

Impacts of fishing and pollution on ETP species

The project will evaluate mortality due to fisheries bycatch and other pressures using validated necropsy examinations which will be carried out on stranded cetaceans.

Project Status:

Ongoing