Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) and Marine Institute (MI) conducted seabed mapping between 2003 and 2005 under the auspices of the Irish National Seabed Survey (INSS) and mapping continued from 2006 to present day under the INtegrated mapping FOr the sustainable development of Irelands MArine Resource (INFOMAR) programme. INSS, which commenced in 1999 under the GSI was one of the largest marine mapping programmes ever undertaken globally, with a focus on deep water mapping. INFOMAR is a joint venture between the GSI and the MI and is funded by the Irish Government through the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC). INFOMAR Phase 1, 2006 to 2015 focused on mapping 26 priority bays and 3 priority areas around Ireland and creating a range of integrated mapping products of the physical and biological features of the seabed in those areas. INFOMAR Phase 2, 2016 to 2026 intends to map the remainder of Ireland’s entire seabed.

The Stock Book is the principal annual publication of the Marine Institute's Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services (FEAS). Its purpose is to provide the latest impartial scientific advice on the commercially exploited fish stocks of interest to Ireland. The Stock Book is used by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine - (DAFM) at the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) negotiations with the EU in December and throughout the year at fisheries management meetings.

This report provides the main results and findings of the 22 nd 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 2024 a total of 43 UWTV stations were successfully completed, 33 on the Aran Grounds, 5 on Galway Bay and 5 on Slyne Head patches. The mean burrow density observed in 2024, adjusted for edge effect, was medium at 0.36 burrows/m². The final krigged burrow abundance estimate for the Aran Grounds was 429 million burrows with a CV (Coefficient of Variance; relative standard error) of 3%. The final abundance estimate for Galway Bay was 16 million and for Slyne Head was 6 million, with CVs of 3% and 3% respectively. The total abundance estimates have fluctuated considerably over the time series. The 2024 combined abundance estimate (451 million burrows) is 20% higher than in 2023, and it is below MSY Btrigger (540 million burrows). Using the 2024 estimate of abundance and updated stock data imply that catches in 2025 should be between 565 and 649 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 2021–2023. Virgularia mirabilis was the only sea-pen species observed on the UWTV footage. Trawl marks were present at 7% of the Aran stations surveyed.

This report provides the main results and findings of the nineteenth 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 39 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 2024 abundance estimate was 9% lower than in 2023 and at 703 million is below the MSY Btrigger reference point (990 million). Using the 2024 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2025 that correspond to the ICES MSY approach of 1541 tonnes, assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2021 - 2023. One species of sea pen was recorded as present at the stations surveyed: Virgularia mirabilis. Trawl marks were observed at 41% of the stations surveyed.

This report provides the main results of the fifteenth 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 2024 a total 42 UWTV stations were successfully completed. The mean density estimates varied considerably across the different patches. The 2024 raised abundance estimate showed a 32% increase from the 2023 estimate and at 291 million burrows is below the MSY Btrigger reference point (430 million). Using the 2024 estimate of abundance and updated stock data implies catch in 2025 that correspond to the F ranges in the EU multi annual plan for Western Waters are between 385 and 433 tonnes (assuming that discard rates and fishery selection patterns do not change from the average of 2021–2023). One species of sea pen was observed; Virgularia mirabilis which has been observed on previous surveys of FU19. Trawl marks were observed at 13% of the stations surveyed.

EXPLORERS CLIMATE CHANGE SUPERHEROES MODULE 7: Learning about Ocean Science Observations & Climate Change PowerPoint presentation introduces the many different types of marine scientists and the equipment they use to learn about the ocean.

EXPLORERS CLIMATE CHANGE SUPERHEROES MODULE 5: Investigating the Causes, Effects, and Impacts of Climate Change Presentation investigates the natural and human causes of global warming and climate change. It also identifies the impacts of climate change and its effects on humans worldwide.

An acoustic survey of Atlantic herring Clupea harengus was conducted in ICES areas 6aS/7b in November/December 2023 and January 2024. This was the eight consecutive annual survey of herring in this area at this time of the year. The survey is part of an effort to describe the more dominant winter spawning herring in this area when it is geographically separated from other stocks. The survey design has been evolving since its inception in 2016. The survey area covered in the first 3 years (2016-18) included significant offshore coverage in areas 6aS and 7b. The survey in 2019 was much reduced and mostly confined to inshore bays because of poor weather. In 2020, the survey design changed compared with previous years in that only 6 core areas with prior knowledge of herring distribution from the monitoring fishery were targeted for surveying. This design was continued in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The change in survey design was largely based on results from the ICES workshop WKHASS held in 2019 (ICES 2020), and from lessons learned in the previous surveys in this area from 2016- 2019. The design results in a reduced survey area compared to earlier years, but there is more intense coverage of most of the important inshore bays where the monitoring fishery takes place. The survey design objective remains the same; to describe and quantify the distribution of winter spawning herring in the 6aS/7b area when separate from other stocks. The timing of surveys in the core areas was flexible from the outset by design in 2023. It was decided that greater flexibility would allow for a targeted spatial and temporal approach which avoided the inevitable poor weather that can happen in this area during this time of the year and which lead to reduced survey effort in 2019, but also to some extent in 2017 and 2018. Using smaller vessels allowed surveys to be conducted in shallow inshore areas where herring are known to inhabit during this time of the year. The previous surveys in 2016 - 2022 are reported in O’Malley et al (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023).

Explorers Climate Change Superheroes: Learning about the Weather and Climate Presentation introduces children to learning and understanding the differences between weather and climate.

Climate Change Superheroes: Introduction to learning about climate change and climate literacy presentation provides teachers with content to engage children on their journey of becoming climate literate. This will highlight learning about the Earth’s climate system and how it is interlinked to climate change.