Boarfish surveys have been carried out on commercial fishing vessels as part of an industry/science partnership. Boarfish surveys have taken place in the Celtic Seas around Ireland including the North Atlantic Ocean. They have taken place each July and have been collected since 2011. Outside of the spawning season many pelagic species were generally very scattered over a large geographical area and difficult to detect using acoustic methods. A cruise track was first formulated with data from previous surveys, commercial catch data and the help of the fishermen and fishing industry. Acoustic surveys for boarfish have been generally carried out on spawning and pre-spawning aggregations of boarfish to ascertain the abundance and distribution of the target species. Boarfish are the newest species surveyed by Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Services of the Marine Institute (Ireland). Data is 100% complete for the survey years since 2011.

Acoustic surveys have been generally carried out on spawning and pre-spawning aggregations of fish. Outside of the spawning season many pelagic species have been generally very scattered over a large geographical area and difficult to detect using acoustic methods. A cruise track was first formulated with data from previous surveys, commercial catch data and the help of the fishermen and fishing industry. This is the spatial dataset of the acoustic survey haul station locations undertaken during surveys. Acoustic surveys have taken place in the North Atlantic Ocean between Donegal and the west coast of Scotland; and in the Celtic Sea off the south coast of Ireland. Acoustic surveys have taken place on an annual frequency since 1999. Acoustic survey in fishing is one of the research methods that can detect the abundance of target species using acoustic detectors. For example, many pelagic fisheries are generally very scattered over a broad ocean and difficult to detect. Hence survey vessel with acoustic detector emits sound waves to estimate the density of plankton and fish shoal. Generally, the transducer is put under water, which is linked to an echo sounder in the vessel which records the shoals of fish as marks on a screen or paper trace. Then the density and number of marks are converted into biomass. Survey shot and haul stations have been based on acoustic survey data. The aim of an acoustic survey has been to determine the relative abundance of the target species. This information has been then used to determine catch rates and management advice for the following year. Acoustic surveys have been managed by the fisheries science section of the Marine Institute known as Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Services who coordinated the annual surveys on board the research vessel Celtic Explorer. Data is considered a complete record of stations including only those stations between 1999 and 2009 as published on Irelands Marine Atlas.

Catch weights data from a bottom trawl survey series: Trawl positions, duration and gear parameters; catch weights of the target species; length frequency distributions; age, sex and maturity. The target species are: cod, haddock, whiting, saithe, hake, black and white-bellied anglerfish, megrim, plaice, sole, herring, blue whiting, mackerel, horse mackerel, blonde ray, cuckoo ray, spotted ray and thornback ray. Data coverage is for the waters around Ireland from 10m to 180m in depth (Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, West and North of Ireland). The spatial coverage varied from year-to year. The sampling locations were selected from known fishing tracks while trying to ensure maximum spatial spread over the survey area. The surveys took place in February-March of 2004-2009. Samples were collected using a GOV bottom trawl (a scaled-down version of the IBTS standard, see: Manual for the International Bottom Trawl Surveys, ICES Survey Protocols SISP 1-IBTS VIII). The main purpose of the survey was to collect information on the length and age at which target species first reach maturity in the waters around Ireland. The surveys were carried out by the Marine Institute (Ireland) Fisheries Science team. All data collected on the survey are available.

Designated protected site boundary providing for the seasonal closure of the traditional cod fishing grounds off Greencastle, Co. Donegal in the North Atlantic Ocean. The protected site is located to the north of Malin Head, the most northerly point on the island of Ireland. The protected site was established and fishing in the area closed in 2003 and 2004 under statutory instruments. Implementation of the closed area based on catch data statistics from this area known as the Cape. The protected site was designated to support codling stocks. Statutory instrument implemented under SI No. 431 of 2003 by the Irish Government in agreement with local fishermen. As of 2017 local fishermen are still not fishing within the designated area. Boundary area complete for the protected site designation.

The data indicates the location of net 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 net fishing acitivty of vessels <15 metres length in Irish waters.

The Shellfish Stocks and Fisheries Review 2009 presents information on the status activity of shellfisheries in Ireland. It is an overview of shellfisheries legislation, management and economic value in Ireland and assessment of selected stocks. Shellfisheries data coverage is around the coastline of the Republic of Ireland. Data collected from 2008 feeds into the 2009 fisheries review. Data collected on Shellfish Stocks, the Shellfish Fleet, fishing activity patterns, fishing gears, towed dredges, fixed nets, pots and non-vessel based methods. Data collected on all regulations affecting shellfish activity. Landings data for 2004-2008 collected. Value of landings 2008 provided. Data collection was funded under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 and under Irelands National Programme 2008 which was part funded under the EU Data Collection Regulation (EC No 1543/2000). The Shellfish review has been published to provide knowledge and information on the status of Irelands shellfish resource in 2009. The review has been produced by the Marine Institute and Bord Iascaigh Mhara.