Fisheries Science Services research, assess and advise on the sustainable exploitation of the marine fisheries resources in the waters around Ireland. These waters contain some of the most productive fishing grounds in the world with International fishing fleets operating here landing around 700,000 tonnes of fish in 2004, worth €500 million.
These waters are important fish spawning and nursery grounds and their ‘Biological Sensitivity ’ is recognised internationally. To ensure the sustainable exploitation of this valuable fisheries resource and to protect the sensitive habitats in which they live, fisheries science is becoming a more ‘broader based’ science that will link into the concept of ‘ocean management’ and not just ‘fisheries management’.
Linking fisheries data with oceanographic, sea bed mapping and climate change data; examining predator prey relationships and interacting with stakeholders are all important components of a new form of ‘ocean management advice’ which comes under the umbrella of the ‘ecosystem approach’. This approach considers all marine related activities such as fishing, gravel extraction and leisure use in a specific area (e.g. the Irish Sea) and provides advice in this context.
Fisheries Science Services carries out fisheries surveys in the waters around Ireland using the research vessels RV Celtic Explorer and RV Celtic Voyager. These surveys collect extensive data for both national and international stock assessments of the main commercial species of fish and shellfish. Survey work is also conducted aboard commercial fishing vessels and FSS staff collect data on the age and length profile of landings and examine fleet activity and fishing patterns. This information is used to produce the annual ‘Stock Book’ which is the primary source of scientific advice on marine fisheries to the Irish Government and the Industry and is used to support fisheries negotiations with the European Union.
Fisheries Science Services is headed up by Dr. Paul Connolly.