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Marine Institute Open Access Repository
Welcome to the Marine Institute Open Access Repository
The Marine Institute Open Access Repository facilitates full text access to the publications of the Marine Institute in accordance with copyright permissions. The aim of the Repository is to collect, preserve and provide open access to the publications of the Marine Institute, including the research publications supported by National and European funded marine research programmes.
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The Labadie, Jones and Cockburn Banks Nephrops Grounds (FU2021) 2021 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2022.This report provides the main results of the 2021 underwater television survey on the ‘Labadie, Jones and Cockburn Banks’ ICES assessment area; Functional Unit 2021. The 2021 survey was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. A total of 97 UWTV stations were completed at 6 nm intervals over a randomised isometric grid design. The mean burrow density was 0.12 burrows/m2 compared with 0.102 burrows/m2 in 2020. The 2021 geostatistical abundance estimate was 1202 million, a 18% increase on the abundance from 2020, with a CV of 5%, which is well below the upper limit of 20% recommended by SGNEPS 2012. Low to medium densities were observed throughout the ground. Using the 2021 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2022 that correspond to the ICES MSY approach of 1978 tonnes assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2018–2020. One species of sea-pen (Virgularia mirabilis) were recorded as present at the stations surveyed. Trawl marks were observed at 21% of the stations surveyed.
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The “Smalls” Nephrops Grounds (FU22) 2021 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2022This report provides the main results and findings of the sixteenth annual underwater television survey on the ‘Smalls grounds’ ICES assessment area; Functional Unit 22. The survey was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. A total of 42 UWTV stations were surveyed successfully (high quality image data), carried out over an isometric grid at 4.5nmi or 8.3km intervals. The precision, with a CV of 7%, was well below the upper limit of 20% recommended by SGNEPS (ICES, 2012). The 2021 abundance estimate was 13% lower than in 2020 and at 656 million is below the MSY Btrigger reference point (990 million). Using the 2021 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2022 that correspond to the ICES MSY approach of 1257 tonnes assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2018–2020. One species of sea pen was recorded as present at the stations surveyed: Virgularia mirabilis. Trawl marks were observed at 24% of the stations surveyed.
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FU19 Nephrops Grounds 2021 UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2022This report provides the main results of the twelfth underwater television survey of the various Nephrops patches in Functional Unit 19. The survey was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. In 2021 a total 42 UWTV stations were successfully completed. The mean density estimates varied considerably across the different patches. The 2021 raised abundance estimate was a 16% decrease from the 2020 estimate and at 270 million burrows is below the MSY Btrigger reference point (430 million). Using the 2021 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2022 that correspond to the F ranges in the EU multi annual plan for Western Waters are between 363 and 407 tonnes (assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2018–2020). One species of sea pen were observed; Virgularia mirabilis which has been observed on previous surveys of FU19. Trawl marks were observed at 19% of the stations surveyed.
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Aran, Galway Bay and Slyne Head Nephrops Grounds (FU17) 2021UWTV Survey Report and catch scenarios for 2022This report provides the main results and findings of the twentieth annual underwater television survey on the Aran, Galway Bay and Slyne head Nephrops grounds, ICES assessment area; Functional Unit 17. The survey was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV, CTD and other ecosystem data. In 2021 a total of 44 UWTV stations were successfully completed, 34 on the Aran Grounds, 5 on Galway Bay and 5 on Slyne Head patches. The mean burrow density observed in 2021, adjusted for edge effect, was medium at 0.26 burrows/m². The final krigged burrow abundance estimate for the Aran Grounds was 311 million burrows with a CV (Coefficient of Variance; relative standard error) of 4%. The final abundance estimate for Galway Bay was 12 million and for Slyne Head was 9 million, with CVs of 2% and 2% respectively. The total abundance estimates have fluctuated considerably over the time series. The 2021 combined abundance estimate (331 million burrows) is 16% lower than in 2020, the MSY Btrigger reference and it is below point (540 million burrows). Using the 2021 estimate of abundance and updated stock data imply that catches in 2022 should be no more than 360 tonnes, according to the EU MAP and ICES MSY approach and assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2018–2020. Virgularia mirabilis was the only sea-pen species observed on the UWTV footage. Trawl marks were present at 5% of the Aran stations surveyed.
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Western European Shelf Pelagic Acoustic Survey (WESPAS), 09 June –20 July, 2021The WESPAS survey program is the consolidation of two existing survey programs carried out by FEAS, the Malin Shelf herring acoustic survey, and the boarfish acoustic survey. The Malin Shelf herring acoustic survey has been carried out annually since 2008 and reports on the annual abundance of summer feeding aggregations of herring to the west of Scotland and to the north and west of Ireland from 53°30’N to 58°30’N. The boarfish survey was conducted from 2011 using a chartered fishing vessel and reported the abundance of spawning aggregations of boarfish from 47°N to 57°N. In 2016 both surveys were combined into the WESPAS survey and have been carried out onboard the RV Celtic Explorer over a 42-day period, providing synoptic coverage of shelf waters from 47°30’N northwards to 58°30’N. Age stratified relative stock abundance estimates of boarfish, herring and horse mackerel within the survey area were calculated using acoustic data and biological data from trawl sampling. Stock estimates of boarfish and horse mackerel were submitted to the ICES assessment Working Group for Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE) meeting in August 2021. Herring estimates are submitted to the Herring Assessment Working Group (HAWG) meeting in March every year. Survey performance will be reviewed at the ICES Planning Group meeting for International Pelagic Surveys (WGIPS) meeting in January 2022.
