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Use the URI link below to search the Marine Institute Data Discovery Catalogue for datasets relevant to this report., This is the ninth data point in a time series of UWTV surveys on the ‘Aran grounds’. The survey covers three distinct mud patches; the Aran Ground, Galway Bay and Slyne Head. These have approximate areas of 940, 41 and 26 km2 respectively. For the first time in 2009 this survey was used to develop catch options for the stock using a bias corrected survey estimate as an absolute measure of stock size and recent discard rates and mean weight to forecast catch (ICES, 2009a). This report details the results of the 2010 survey and updates the catch option table using the most recent survey estimate.

Use the URI link below to search the Marine Institute Data Discovery Catalogue for datasets relevant to this report., This is the fifth in a time series of UWTV surveys on the ‘Smalls grounds’. The 2006 survey covered the distinct mud patches of the Smalls Grounds and also indicator stations on the Labadie Bank, Nymphe Bank and Seven Heads, whereas the 2007 to 2010 survey covered the Smalls grounds only due to poor weather and time contraints. This report details the results of the 2010 survey for the Smalls ground Nephrops stock.

Use the URI link below to search the Marine Institute Data Discovery Catalogue for datasets relevant to this report., The prawn (Nephrops norvegicus) are common in the Celtic Sea occurring in geographically distinct sandy/muddy areas were the sediment is suitable for them to construct their burrows. The Celtic Sea area (Functional Units 19-22) supports a large multi-national targeted Nephrops fishery mainly using otter trawls and yielding landings in the region of ~6,000 t annually over the last decade (ICES, 2011). Nephrops spend a great deal of time in their burrows and their emergence behaviour is influenced many factors; time of year, light intensity and tidal strength. Underwater television surveys and assessment methodologies have been developed to provide a fishery independent estimate of stock size, exploitation status and catch advice (ICES, 2009 & 2011).This is the sixth in a time series of UWTV surveys in the Celtic Sea carried out by the Marine Institute, Ireland. The 2011 survey was multi disciplinary in nature and this report details the final UWTV results of the 2011 survey and also documents other data collected during the survey.

Use the URI link below to search the Marine Institute Data Discovery Catalogue for datasets relevant to this report., This is the fourth in a time series of UWTV surveys on the ‘Smalls grounds’. The 2006 survey covered the distinct mud patches of the Smalls Grounds and also indicator stations on the Labadie Bank, Nymphe Bank and Seven Heads, whereas the 2007 to 2009 survey covered the Smalls grounds only due to poor weather and time constraints. This report details the results of the 2009 survey for the Smalls ground Nephrops stock.

Use the URI link below to search the Marine Institute Data Discovery Catalogue for datasets relevant to this report., Since 2003 a joint UWTV survey has been carried out by the Marine Institute (Ireland) and AFBI (Northern Ireland). In 2009 this survey was used to develop catch options for the stock using a bias corrected survey estimate as an absolute measure of stock size and recent discard rates and mean weight to forecast catch (ICES, 2009a). This report details the results of the 2009 survey for the western Irish Sea Nephrops stock. We also update the catch option table using the most recent survey estimate.

Use the URI link below to search the Marine Institute Data Discovery Catalogue for datasets relevant to this report., The prawn (Nephrops norvegicus) are common around the Irish coast occurring in geographically distinct sandy/muddy areas were the sediment is suitable for them to construct their burrows. The Irish Nephrops fishery is extremely valuable with landings in recent years worth around €30m at first sale supporting an important indigenous processing industry. The Nephrops fishery “at the back of the Aran Islands” can be considered the mainstay of the Ros a Mhíl fleet. Without this Nephrops fishery the majority of vessels in the fleet would cease being economically viable (Meredith, 1999). Given these socio-economic realities, good scientific information on stock status to enable sustainable management of the resources are urgently required. This is the eight data point in a time series of UWTV surveys on the ‘Aran grounds’. The survey covers three distinct mud patches; the Aran Ground, Galway Bay and Slyne Head. These have approximate areas of 940, 41 and 26sq.km respectively. In 2009 this survey was used to develop catch options for the stock using a bias corrected survey estimate as an absolute measure of stock size and recent discard rates and mean weight to forecast catch (ICES, 2009a). This report details the results of the 2009 survey and updates the catch option table using the most recent survey estimate.

Use the URI link below to search the Marine Institute Data Discovery Catalogue for datasets relevant to this report., This is the third in a time series of UWTV surveys on the ‘Smalls grounds’. The 2006 survey covered the distinct mud patches of the Smalls Grounds and also indicator stations on the Labadie Bank, Nymphe Bank and Seven Heads, whereas the 2007 and 2008 survey covered the Smalls Grounds only due to poor weather and time contraints. This report details the results of the surveys on the Smalls Grounds only to date.

Use the URI link below to search the Marine Institute Data Discovery Catalogue for datasets relevant to this report., This is the second in a time series of UWTV surveys on the ‘Smalls grounds’. The 2006 survey covered the distinct mud patches of the Smalls Grounds and also indicator stations on the Labadie Bank, Nymphe Bank and Seven Heads, whereas the survey 2007 covered the Smalls Grounds only due to poor weather. This report details the results of the surveys on the Smalls Grounds to date.

Use the URI link below to search the Marine Institute Data Discovery Catalogue for datasets relevant to this report., In 2007 the sixth in a series of annual UWTV survey was complete and the results of that survey together with a synthesis and analysis of the results. A geostatistical analysis indicates that burrow densities and abundances have fluctuated considerably in space and time. The highest densities occurred in 2004 and the lowest densities in the 2006.The 2007 survey shows an increase in burrow density. Using the survey directly for assessment and management is not yet possible. However, there appears to a negative relationship between abundance and landings in the autumn and a positive relationship between observed densities and landings the following spring. The relationship between abundance and landings is not as clear. There is no serious concern about the stock given the recent survey abundance.

Use the URI link below to search the Marine Institute Data Discovery Catalogue for datasets relevant to this report., The Nephrops fishery “at the back of the Aran Islands” is the mainstay of the Ros a Mhíl fleet and sustaining this valuable fishery would be at the heart of any management plan for fisheries in the area. In 2006 the fifth in a series of annual UWTV survey was completed, and the results of that survey together with a synthesis and analysis of the results were published. The survey is multidisciplinary in nature collecting data on burrow abundances from UWTV, Nephrops biological data from beam trawls, oceanographic data from CTD, sediment data, multi-beam and other habitat data. A geostatistical analysis indicates that burrow densities and abundances have fluctuated considerably in space and time. Highest densities occurred in 2004 with the lowest densities in the 2006 survey. There may be a negative relationship between abundance in landings in the autumn and a positive relationship between observed densities and landings the following spring.