National and International Ferry Routes to/from Ireland. Data was created from MIDA for use in Marine Strategy Framework Directive article 8, 9 10 reporting.

The Biologically Sensitive Area sets out the criteria and procedures for a system relating to the management of fishing effort in waters around Ireland that are considered biologically sensitive. A specific effort regime shall apply to the area enclosed by the coast of Ireland to the south of 53° 30' N and to the west of 07° 00' W and straight lines sequentially joining the following geographical coordinates: - a point on the coast of Ireland at latitude 53° 30; N, latitude 53° 30 N, longitude 12° 00 W, latitude 53° 00 N, longitude 12° 00 W, latitude 51° 00 N, longitude 11° 00 W, latitude 49° 30 N, longitude 11° 00 W and latitude 49° 30 N, longitude 07° 00 W. A point on the coast of Ireland at longitude 07° 00 W. An area to the South and West of Ireland has been identified as an area of high concentration of juvenile hake. This area has been made subject to special restrictions on the use of demersal gear. For the same conservation purpose it should also be subject to specific effort limitation requirements within the general system described above. A review of these requirements by December 2008 would allow the Council to reassess the situation. Council Regulation (EC) No 1954/2003 of 4 November 2003 on the management of the fishing effort relating to certain Community fishing areas and resources and modifying Regulation (EC) No 2847/93 and repealing Regulations (EC) No 685/95 and (EC) No 2027/95. The area covered by this designation includes the south coast of Ireland in the Celtic Sea from Waterford to Mizen Head and the south-west coast of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean from Mizen Head to Galway Bay. In 2003 the EU Commission established a Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA); off the south west of Ireland. Area designated via fisheries science research information. Area has been designated as a protected site for fishing effort monitoring. The Biologically Sensitive Area has been created by the European Council directive. Area 100% designated a protected site for biological sensitivity.

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 Atlas of Commercial Fisheries around Ireland reviews the fishing activity on fish stocks of relevance to Ireland that come under the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The Atlas focuses on fishing opportunities (Total Allowable Catches – TACs), landings trends, fleet activity and the state of the resource in the waters around Ireland (principally ICES Sub-areas VI and VII). The Atlas also deals with fish stocks exploited by Ireland outside Sub-areas VI and VII. Every effort has been made to use the most up to date information available on fishing opportunities, landings, effort, and on the state of the resource base. The various ICES and STECF reports and databases together with various EU Regulations should be consulted for the definitive figures and regulatory articles. The Atlas was completed during 2009. The Atlas focus was on fisheries Data Collection, Data Management, Data Analysis, Conducting Assessments, Formulating and Providing Advice and Carrying out Scientific Research on Fish Stocks, both Nationally and Internationally. The Atlas focused on stock assessment to support European fisheries policy. Atlas completed by Marine Institute fisheries science teams. Data in atlas complete per publication date.

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. Area of interest: - Aran Grounds - Irish Sea - Celtic Sea Beam trawl tows were conducted randomly once the UWTV stations have been successfully completed. Beam trawls are used to catch Nephrops for analysis.

The MEFEPO (Making the European Fisheries Ecosystem Plan Operational) project 2nd Edition was made up of a group of ecologists, economists, management experts and fisheries scientists who are trying to make ecosystem based fisheries management (EBFM) a reality in Europe. EBFM seeks to support the three pillars of sustainability’ (ecological, social and economic).The North Western Waters (NWW) area is situated in the north east Atlantic off the west coast of Ireland and Scotland, and extends into the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and the English Channel. The NWW covers approximately 1.15 million km2 and comprises 12 ICES Divisions and three OSPAR regions. Parts of the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) of three countries (UK, Ireland and France) make up NWW. The majority of the NWW area is composed of water less than 100m deep (20%), while 17% lies between 100m and 200m (17%) and 20% between 1,000m and 1,500m. The MEFEPO Atlas project commenced in 2009 and was completed in 2011. The North Western Waters Atlas collected and produced data maps and text on area and depth, climate, water movements, sea temperature, sea floor habitat, contaminants and nutrients, plankton, nutrients, marine reptiles, seabirds, marine mammals, protected areas and fishing restrictions, elasmobranches, fishing activities and mariculture. The MEFEPO Atlas produced to support ecosystem approach in fisheries science. The MEFEPO Atlas produced by University of Liverpool (UK), Instituto de Investigação das Pescas e do Mar (Portugal), Wageningen IMARES (Netherlands), Université de Bretange Occidentale (France), Marine Institute (Ireland), University of Tromsø (Norway), CEFAS (UK), Institute for Fisheries Management (Denmark), Universidad dos Acores (Portugal) and Instituto Espanol de Oceanografía (Spain). Atlas maps completed for edition published.

Estimated annual average wave period (seconds) created by a Pelamis Wave Model for Accessible Wave Energy Resource Atlas. Wave period values are measured as lower and upper values in seconds as calculated by the Pelamis wave model. Annual average wave period 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 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.

The MEFEPO (Making the European Fisheries Ecosystem Plan Operational) project was made up of a group of ecologists, economists, management experts and fisheries scientists who are trying to make ecosystem based fisheries management (EBFM) a reality in Europe. EBFM seeks to support the; three pillars of sustainability’ (ecological, social and economic).The North Western Waters (NWW) area is situated in the north east Atlantic off the west coast of Ireland and Scotland, and extends into the Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and the English Channel. The NWW covers approximately 1.15 million km2 and comprises 12 ICES Divisions and three OSPAR regions. Parts of the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) of three countries (UK, Ireland and France) make up the NWW. The majority of the NWW area is composed of water less than 100m deep (20%), while 17% lies between 100m and 200m (17%) and 20% between 1,000m and 1,500m. The MEFEPO Atlas project commenced in 2009 and was completed in 2011. The North Western Waters Atlas collected and produced data maps and text on area and depth, climate, water movements, sea temperature, sea floor habitat, contaminants and nutrients, plankton, nutrients, marine reptiles, seabirds, marine mammals, protected areas and fishing restrictions, elasmobranches, fishing activities and mariculture. The MEFEPO Atlas was produced to support ecosystem approach in fisheries science. The MEFEPO Atlas produced by University of Liverpool (UK), Instituto de Investigação das Pescas e do Mar (Portugal), Wageningen IMARES (Netherlands), Université de Bretange Occidentale (France), Marine Institute (Ireland), University of Tromsø (Norway), CEFAS (UK), Institute for Fisheries Management (Denmark), Universidad dos Acores (Portugal) and Instituto Espanol de Oceanografía (Spain). Atlas maps complete for edition published.

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.