This presentation aims to explore, develop, and apply scientific ideas and concepts through communication, language, math, design, and creativity. The students will learn about and understand energy sources that generate power through discussion and interactive activities.

This document addresses the growing concern over the impact of underwater noise on marine ecosystems, particularly in the context of offshore renewable energy developments. As offshore wind and other forms of renewable energy continue to expand, understanding and mitigating the effects of underwater noise on marine life is paramount. For this purpose, a study will be undertaken to develop two sets of guidance for monitoring and minimising possible impacts of ORE developments on the environment concerning underwater acoustic noise: ▪ Procedures and technical specifications for compliant underwater acoustic noise monitoring and reporting by Irish ORE developments, and ▪ Criteria, thresholds, and mitigation measures of underwater acoustic noise generated by ORE developments. The stakeholders involved in offshore renewable energy include government agencies, industry players, environmental organizations, research performing groups and local communities. A preliminary survey of relevant stakeholders in Ireland and abroad has been performed.

This document is the third and final deliverable of the study carried out to address the topic “Underwater Noise guidance for Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) developers”, under the Marine Institute’s Research for Policy Awards 2023. A first deliverable (document BD01923001- 01 Scope and Problem Description) defined the scope of the research. Once the problem was described, the study was split into two sections, both approached under the ORE perspective. The first addresses the monitoring and reporting of underwater acoustic noise, covered in the second deliverable, document BD01923002-01 – UN Monitoring and Reporting Guidance for ORE. The second section, which is the subject of this document, covers mitigation measures and thresholds for underwater noise.

Adult returns to many Atlantic salmon wild and hatchery stocks of the North Atlantic have declined or collapsed since 1985. Enhancement, commercial fishery closures, and angling restrictions have failed to halt the decline. Human impacts such as dams, pollution or marine overexploitation were responsible for some stock declines in the past, but adult returns to river and hatchery stocks with no obvious local impacts have also declined or collapsed since 1985. Multiple studies have postulated that the recent widespread occurrence of low adult returns may be caused by climate change, salmon farming, food availability at sea, or marine predators but these possibilities are unsupported by stocks that persist near historic levels, loss of stocks remote from farm sites, a diverse marine prey field, and scarcity of large offshore predators. The decline and collapse of stocks has common characteristics: 1) cyclic annual adult returns cease, 2) annual adult returns flatline, 3) adult mean size declines, and 4) stock collapses occurred earliest among watersheds distant from the North Atlantic Sub-polar Gyre (NASpG). Cyclic annual adult returns were common to all stocks in the past that were not impacted by anthropogenic changes to their natal streams. A flatline of adult abundance and reduction in adult mean size are common characteristics of many overexploited fish stocks and suggest illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fisheries exploitation at sea. Distance from the NASpG causing higher mortality of migrating post-smolts would increase the potential for collapse of these stocks from IUU exploitation. By-catch of post-smolts and adults in paired-trawl fisheries off Europe and intercept adult fisheries off Greenland, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and off Europe have been sources of marine mortality but seem unlikely to be the primary cause of the decline. Distribution in time and space of former, legal high-sea fisheries indicated fishers were well acquainted with the ocean migratory pattern of salmon and combined with lack of surveillance since 1985 outside Exclusive Economic Zones or in remote northern regions may mean high at-sea mortality occurs because of IUU fisheries. The problem of IUU ocean fisheries is acute, has collapsed numerous stocks of desired species worldwide, and is probably linked to the decline and impending collapse of the North Atlantic salmon population.

Ireland’s Ocean Economy Report, 2024, provides an update on Ireland’s ocean economy across three main economic indicators: turnover, gross value added (GVA) and employment. It provides an analysis of trends over a five-year period (2019-2023) and a commentary on rates of change over a ten-year timeframe (2013 to 2023). The report is accompanied by an online dashboard, where data trends can be accessed. The 2024 Ocean Economy Report is the eight in the ocean economy series. Ireland’s ocean economy statistics are based on nominal values.

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.