BBC One Show Crew On Board Irish Research Vessel During Acoustic Survey of Fish Stocks

15th August 2017

Chief scientist Ciaran O’Donnell, Marine Institute provides the BBC One Show film crew a briefing of the survey route planned for the WESPAS survey. Credit: Fionn O'Fearghail

#marinescience - The Marine Institute recently led an acoustic survey of herring and boarfish in the oceans to the north, west and south of Ireland to determine the distribution, abundance, health and maturity of the herring and boarfish stocks in Irish waters. The survey also examined the ecology of plankton, seabirds, and marine mammals.

The WESPAS (Western European Shelf Pelagic Acoustic) Survey took place over a six week period "where scientists on board the RV Celtic Explorer collected acoustic and biological data on herring and boarfish, which will be used to provide an independent measure of these fish stocks in Irish waters" explained chief scientist Ciaran O'Donnell, Marine Institute.

The first leg of the WESPAS survey lasted 23 days and covered the Southwest coast of Ireland, the Porcupine Bank and the Celtic Sea. For the first time, NUI Galway researchers were on board to investigate macroscopic gelatinous zooplankton such as jellyfish and salps in Irish waters. Researchers were also observing the abundance and distribution of seabirds and marine mammals in the offshore waters around Ireland.

For the second leg of the WESPAS survey, scientists were joined by four crew members of the BBC "One Show", who have previously filmed the popular documentary Our Blue Planet. The television crew will produce a series of short documentaries about the work undertaken by scientists on board the WESPAS survey.

The results of the WESPAS survey will be presented to the ICES Working Group Widely Distributed Stocks (WGWIDE) in August 2017 and the ICES Herring Assessment Working Group (HAWG) in March 2018. These Groups will use the survey results to determine the fishing opportunities for the industry in 2018.

Published in Marine Science

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BBC The One Show

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Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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Marine Science Perhaps it is the work of the Irish research vessel RV Celtic Explorer out in the Atlantic Ocean that best highlights the essential nature of marine research, development and sustainable management, through which Ireland is developing a strong and well-deserved reputation as an emerging centre of excellence. From Wavebob Ocean energy technology to aquaculture to weather buoys and oil exploration these pages document the work of Irish marine science and how Irish scientists have secured prominent roles in many European and international marine science bodies.