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Shellfish Fisheries App
A brief summary of the Lobster and Crab sampling programmes around Ireland
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*VPUE= V-Notched per unit of Effort; OPUE= Oversized per unit of Effort
How to use this map?
- Select a species within the map. Initial load may take a few seconds
- Zoom in and out of the map to focus on an area of interest.
Information displayed
Colours displayed in the map indicate the trends in the SVP Landings per Unit of Effort (LPUE) at ICES rectangle level. Thus, red colours signal negative trends, while green colours are positive.
The Scatterplot on the right, displays the raw LPUE used for this colour assignation, and it is subsetted to particular areas when the users zoom in/out of the map
Only ICES rectangles with a sufficient time series of data are displayed. Still, certain ICES rectangles on given years contain few data points to estimate reliable trends, so caution should be taken when extracting conclusions from particular areas.
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This tab provides a brief description of the different data sources relevant to Shellfish Stocks around Ireland. Not all data sources are currently included in the app, as work is ongoing
Shellfish Surveys
Every year, the Marine Institute in collaboration with the fishing industry carry a number of scientific surveys around Ireland, mainly focusing on bivalves such as Cerastoderma edule (Cockle), Ensis siliqua (Razor clam) and Ostrea edulis (Native Oyster). The data collected during these surveys is assessed using a geostatistical model which provides important information about the biomass and size profile of the stocks. The outputs from this model, are directly reported to the industry. More information about the different surveys carried out annually can be found in the "Assessment and Advice" tab
Sentinel Vessel Programme
The Sentinel Vessel Programme (SVP) is a joint project implement by BIM and the Marine Institute on an annual basis since 2010. In terms of data availability, good quality data are typically available for fish species which are managed via a quota system. However, prior to the SVP, fishing data in relation to smaller vessels targeting non-quota species was very scant and thus monitoring fisheries around Ireland using commercial catch rate data was not possible. Vessels are chosen from different length and gear categories representative of fishing activities by vessels (under 12 m) around the Irish coast. BIM supply participants with logbooks every January and at the end of each year completed logbooks are collected by BIM and are forwarded to the Marine Institute who extract and manage the data. The data recorded in the SVP logbooks includes the catches, landings and discards of several shellfish species, i.e. Homarus gammarus (Lobster), Cancer pagurus (Brown Crab), Maja brachydactyla (Spider Crab), Necora puber (Velvet Crab), Buccinum undatum (Whelk), Ensis sp. (Razor clam),Cerastoderma edule (Cockle) and various finfish species. The fishing location is recorded at either ICES Statistical Rectangle or Inshore Grid Resolution and additional details such as the type and amount of bait used and vessel operating costs (i.e. fuel consumption, number of crew, hour’s worked.) are also recorded. Additionally, although to a lesser extent (every five fishing days), length frequency data for lobsters and crabs may be included.
Observer At-Sea Sampling programme
As part of the European Union (EU) Data Collection Framework (DCF) (or previous versions of it), since the early 90s, the Marine Institute has been requested to report catch sampling information to aid in the assessment of fish stocks. This includes both commercial at sea sampling and port sampling. Since 2011, Marine Institute staff and contractors seat sea sampling on inshore fishing vessels to observe and record fishing activity. Approximately 50-80 day trips are completed annually, although this varies year on year and was lower earlier in the time series and during the Covid lockdown periods. Effort and catch data per haul is recorded, during an observer at sea sampling trip, on several shellfish species such as Homarus gammarus (Lobster), Cancer pagurus (Brown Crab), Maja brachydactyla (Spider Crab), Necora puber (Velvet Crab), Buccinum undatum (Whelk), and the bycatch associated with these fishing events. Furthermore, all individuals or a sample (depending on catch volume) of the target species captured are measured to the nearest mm and their sex is determined, providing a significant amount of valuable biological information for these species. The observer programme provides data at the level of individual fishing operations (catches per Haul). The sampling levels of 50-80 trips per year is low relative to the thousands of trips undertaken by the Inshore fishing fleet annually. Furthermore there is high variance between vessels (related to location of fishing). The low sampling level and high variance reduces precision and even accuracy in these data sets especially when reported to local level where the data supports are diluted.
Skipper Self-Sampling programme
Since 2021, a number of commercial inshore vessels around the Irish coast report daily information at haul level in relation to catches, landings and discards, for several shellfish species. Biological data in relation to individual measurements and sex of the catches are also recorded. This programme is administered fully by the Marine Institute and the information provided enhances both the resolution (haul), and quantity (number of trips) of the sentinel vessel and observer programmes, respectively. As this programme is still in its infancy, data from this programme is not yet included in this Shellfish Fisheries app.
Landings
Annual landings of crustaceans, bivalves and gastropods are collated for Irish vessels landings into Ireland (with exception of King Scallop (Pecten maximus) and Brown Crab (Cancer pagurus), in which landings by Irish vessels abroad are also included). Landings data are reported under two different frameworks depending on the length of the vessel: Logbooks declarations for vessels >10 m and sales notes for vessels <10m.
Port Sampling
Port sampling is undertaken as part of the Data Collection Framework obligation to provide valuable data relating to the size, weight and gender of landings and the area (at ICES Rectangle level) where they were caught. Some of the species routinely sampled around Irish harbours include Pecten maximus (Scallop), Buccinum undatum (whelk), Cancer pagurus (Brown crab) and Homarus gammarus (European lobster) among others.
The Fishery
Species Biology
In development
This tab provides a series of links to other sources of information relevant to Irish Fisheries
Annual Shellfish Stocks and Fisheries Review: an assessment of selected stocks
2022: https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/1814
2021: https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/1744
2020: https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/1688
2019: https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/1591
Atlas: Commercial fisheries for shellfish around Ireland
https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/1243
Natura 2000 Network maps
https://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/
Fisheries Natura Plan for Cockle in Dundalk
2021-2025: http://www.fishingnet.ie/sea-fisheriesinnaturaareas/concludedassessments/dundalkbay-sacspa/
2016-2020: http://www.fishingnet.ie/sea-fisheriesinnaturaareas/concludedassessments/dundalkbay-sacspa/
Annual Stock Book: Review of Fish Stocks
2022: https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/1805
2021: https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/1726
2020: https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/1660
2019: https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/1433
Marine Institute Digital Stock Book (Shiny App)
https://shiny.marine.ie/stockbook/