An Ecosystem Approach to Marine Resource Management requires, as a prerequisite, a detailed knowledge of benthic habitats, i.e. the seafloor and its associated biological, physical and chemical components.
The focus of this project is the Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA), a conservation area established by the EU off South-west Ireland which replaced the old Irish Box. It was established because international scientific surveys of adult and juvenile fish as well as fish egg production have clearly demonstrated the importance and biological sensitivity of the waters around Ireland.
This project aims to:
- Add value to existing datasets from the BSA through the identification and integration of the various datasets, (e.g. groundfish, pelagic and seabed surveys).
- Develop a targeted sampling programme, using a combination of hydrographic, physical and biological methods and technologies to identify benthic habitats and their roles within ecosystems.
- Incorporate all data and results into a GIS (Geographical Information System) in order to produce benthic maps of the BSA that will permit the querying of data for suitability and sensitivity analyses so that the impacts of existing or potential resource utilization and exploitation within the BSA can be evaluated.
- Identify a set of benthic ecosystem-level objectives to address biodiversity, habitat conservation and sustainable resource exploitation issues.
The main purpose of the project is to implement an ecosystem approach to marine resource management in an Irish context through the understanding and management of benthic habitats in the BSA.
Student: Jason Clarke
Supervisor: Dr. Ian O’ Connor
Host Institution: Marine Biodiversity Research Group, GMIT
This project (Grant-aid Agreement No. PhD/05/005) is being carried out with the support of the Marine Institute and the Marine RTDI Measure, Productive Sector Operational Programme, National Development Plan 2000-2006.
