IMIS

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. This is the spatial dataset for UWTV Survey stations in the areas known as the Aran Grounds, the Irish Sea and the Celtic Sea which are surveyed on three separate surveys. The Marine Institute has been using underwater television surveys to independently estimate abundance, distribution and stock sizes of Nephrops on the Aran Grounds and Western Irish Sea. Data are also collected on Nephrops behaviour and the impact of fishing activity on the seabed.