Annual Nephrops Galway Bay (Aran) and Porcupine Underwater television (UWTV) Survey undertaken by Marine Institute. This survey took place in June 2016 on board the R.V. Celtic Voyager.
Nephrops is a genus of lobsters comprising a single extant species Nephrops norvegicus (the Norway lobster or Dublin Bay prawn). It is common around the Irish coast occurring in geographically distinct sandy/muddy areas where the sediment is suitable for them to construct their burrows. The Nephrops fishery is extremely valuable. Underwater television surveys and assessment methodologies have been developed to provide a fishery independent estimate of stock size, exploitation status and catch advice.
This was a multi-disciplinary survey collecting UWTV, fishing, Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) and other ecosystem data. 34 UWTV stations were successfully completed on the Aran Grounds, 7 on Galway Bay, 4 on Slyne Head patches and 65 on the Porcupine Bank Nephrops grounds.