Licensing rounds awarded by the Petroleum Affairs Division (PAD) in the Irish Atlantic Margin. The 2015 licensing round includes three regions. The Irish Atlantic Margin geographic coverage includes foreshore and offshore waters in what is known as the Currently Designated Irish Continental Shelf. Licensing awarded in 2015. PAD awarded licences to oil and gas exploration companies via licensing options upon application. The role in the Petroleum Affairs Division is to maximise the benefits to the State from exploration for and production (E%amp;P) of indigenous oil and gas resources. In doing this PAD ensure that activities are conducted with due regard to their impact on the environment and other land/sea users through appropriate licensing.

Tectonic elements in the Bay of Biscay.

Location of marine basin divisions in the North Atlantic around Ireland. A geological basin is a large low-lying area. It is often below sea level. There are five designated basins and each basin represents a large submarine depression of a generally circular, elliptical or oval shape and by depression we mean any depressed or lower area in the ocean floor.

Irish Groundfish Survey shot and haul stations. The Irish Groundfish Survey covers fisheries trawl stations in the North Atlantic Ocean, Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and Saint Georges Channel around Ireland. The Irish Groundfish Survey has been a two-legged survey taking place each October-December since 2003. Irish Groundfish Survey has involved shot and haul stations at regular sites where fish species are caught and processed on board the Irish research vessel RV Celtic Explorer in the fisheries lab. The primary goal of the Irish Groundfish Survey has been to develop estimates of juvenile abundance for important fish species. Measurements of the abundance of juvenile fish are a critical measure of the health of a stock, serving as an annual indication of recruitment (the number of newly spawned fish which enter the population each year) success or failure. Most importantly, they allow forecasting of future commercial abundance. In addition, the Irish Groundfish Survey has provided data on the distribution and biology of commercial and non-commercial species of ecological interest, as well as hydrographic and environmental observations. When these data are combined with annual recruitment indices they can help identify the possible causes driving year-class success or failure, and allow us to see long-term changes in populations that may have been caused by fishing, pollution, or climate change. The Irish Groundfish Survey feeds into the International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) for international reporting. The Irish Groundfish Survey has been managed by the Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Services (FEAS) section of the Marine Institute (Ireland). Data complete for each year survey has taken place.

The location of hydro electricity stations around Ireland. Data was created for use in MSFD article 8, 9 10 reporting.

The dataset indicates the location for bottom trawl fishing activity in Irish waters. Attributes when known include year, area, gear type, species, season, days per year (Days_Year), number of vessels (Vessels), vessel size (LOA_Max), gear units, classification, Area of polygon (Area_M2), and data type. This dataset was created in support of the Natura 2000 risk assessment in 2013. Please note that this dataset represents bottom trawl activity for vessels <15 metres length in Irish waters.

Survey stations represent the locations where underwater television surveys have taken place during Nephrops Underwater Television (UWTV) surveys. 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. Nephrops spend a great deal of time in their burrows and their emergence from these is related to time of year, light intensity and tidal strength. Areas surveyed for Nephrops burrows include the Aran Grounds, the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and Porcupine Bank. Nephrops surveys occur annually since 2002. Burrows were surveyed using a standard underwater television camera deployed from the RV Celtic Voyager research vessel. Burrows were counted to support the calculation of the abundance and distribution of Nephrops in the areas identified for populations. Nephrops survey stations deployed by the fisheries science survey team of the Marine Institute (Ireland). Survey stations completed for all UWTV stations.

Department of Communications, Climate Action & Environment commissioned Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan Strategic Environmental Assessment boundary of full assessment area for tidal, wave and wind assessments

Estimated annual average wave height (metres) created by a Pelamis Wave Model for Accessible Wave Energy Resource Atlas. Wave height values are measured as lower and upper values in metres as calculated by the Pelamis wave model. Annual average wave height covers an area known as the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Data model produced in 2005. The Pelamis Wave Model was an oceanographic model using the Pelamis wave energy converter device. The Accessible Wave Energy Resource Atlas was produced to provide data and information on the accessible wave energy resource potential around Ireland. Wave model developed by ESB International (ESBI) as part of the Accessible Wave Energy Atlas Ireland published by the Marine Institute and Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland. Model completed for time period run.

Data on the offshore geologic igneous features in the North Atlantic Ocean near Ireland. Igneous rock (derived from the Latin word ignis meaning fire) is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava. Igneous rock may form with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks. This magma can be derived from partial melts of pre-existing rocks in either a planet's mantle or crust. Typically, the melting is caused by one or more of three processes: an increase in temperature, a decrease in pressure, or a change in composition. Over 700 types of igneous rocks have been described, most of them having formed beneath the surface of Earths crust.