AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
CV20016 Celtic Voyager Nephrops Underwater TV Survey Aran - Porcupine Grounds Northeast Atlantic Ocean 2020

CV20016 , the underwater television (UWTV) survey of abundance and distribution of Nephrops in the Celtic Sea Nephrops Grounds took place in June/July 2020 in the North East Atlantic Ocean on board the R.V. Celtic Voyager. All planned UWTV stations were surveyed successfully in the, Aran grounds and Galway Bay. Three stations were not surveyed in the Porcupine grounds. 30 hours of downtime was experiences due to poor weather conditions. Day grab samples were also collected for the Infomar seabed mapping project and for Galway Mayo Institute of Technology&#039;s (GMIT). Nephrops underwater television surveys are under the Data Collection Scheme, established under the European Union&#039;s (EU) Union Priority 3 (Fostering the Implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy) of Ireland’s Operational Programme which co-funded under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund by the Irish Government and the EU.  This dataset is used to assess the abundance of Nephrops norvegicus stock and provide management advice.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network (IMDBON) - Deployment of weather buoy at M6 (Deep Atlantic Sea)  from June 2021 - January 2022

Deployment of the weather buoy at site M6 (53° 3.63' N, 15° 55.803' W) from the RV Celtic Explorer survey CE21014 on 02/06/2021. Recovered on 17/01/2022 by the Ocean Bank. M6 broke free of mooring and recovered successfully. The purpose of this activity is the redeployment of the weather buoy at site M6 for long-term environmental monitoring.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
CE09014 Cetaceans on the Frontier Survey 2009 North East Atlantic Ocean

This survey, led by Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) was conducted on board the Marine Institute’s R.V. Celtic Explorer as a dedicated survey between 18th and 31st August 2009. The survey area covered waters over the Porcupine Bank, Porcupine Slopes and Irish Shelf and slopes to the west of Mayo. The survey track was designed to target deep-water canyons on the slopes of the Porcupine Bank and the Irish Northwest Shelf.     The main aims of the survey were to carry out visual and acoustic surveys of cetaceans, visual bird and macrofauna surveys, the deployment of the M6 weather buoy and two Deep C-PODs for acoustic monitoring,    The survey vessel travelled at an average speed of 8 knots while on transect, except in heavy swell. The ship spent from 08:30 – 18:30 each day on visual and acoustic transect, and from 20:30 – 08:30 altered between steaming at 8 knots and being stationary while conducting CTDs, water sampling and plankton hauls.    Visual and acoustic surveys for cetaceans were conducted. A towed hydrophone array was used and two Deep C-PODs were deployed during the survey. One POD was deployed on a benthic mooring in 1500m of water, with the sensor facing upwards towards the surface.A second Deep C-POD was deployed at 500m water depth on the mooring for the M6 Weather Buoy. The buoy was moored in 3200m of water. The POD was deployed with the sensor facing down towards the seabed    Acoustic data from bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) encounters were recorded using passive acoustic techniques and provided to a PhD study (based in University College Cork and funded by IRCSET). Visual seabird surveys and megafauna surveys were also conducted on this cruise, as well as the deployment of an argo float. As the primary purpose of the cruise was to record the distribution of cetaceans using visual and acoustic techniques, oceanographic work was conducted only after sunset. 11 oceanographic stations were sampled. Zooplankton samples were not taken at every station due to time constraints (only stations 1, 2, 8, 9, 10, 11). CTD data however was collected at all stations The main focus of the survey was to conduct a habitat specific survey of deep diving cetaceans, particularly the enigmatic beaked whale species.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
CE20012 Celtic Explorer Celtic Sea Herring Acoustic Survey 2020

In the southwest of Ireland and the Celtic Sea (ICES divisions: 7j-g and 7aS), herring are an important commercial species to the pelagic and polyvalent fleet. Acoustic surveys are currently are the only tuning indices available for this stock. Since 2004 the survey has been fixed in October and carried out on-board the RV Celtic Explorer.     During this 18 day survey (4th - 22nd October) was led by the Marine Institute and took place in the Celtic Sea where acoustic data were collected using the Simrad EK60 scientific echosounder. Biological sampling was carried out at 17 stations using a pelagic midwater trawl with all components of the catch from the trawl hauls sorted and weighed; fish and other taxa were identified to species level. Hydrographic data on temperature, depth and salinity (CTD) were collected using a calibrated Seabird 911 sampler. In addition, 23 grab samples were obtained and marine mammal and seabird surveys conducted. 30 hours of the survey were lost due to poor weather conditions. The aim of the acoustic survey is to determine the relative abundance of the target species, herring. This information is then used to determine catch rates and management advice for the following year.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
CV20020 INFOMAR Seabed Mapping Survey 2020 North East Atlantic Ocean

CV20020 INFOMAR seabed mapping survey took place in August/September 2020 in the North East Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Ireland and in the Celtic Sea on board the RV Celtic Voyager. The aims of the survey were to . 1. Undertake a Multibeam Echo Sounder (MBES) hydrographic survey to International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) Order 1A standard in depths less than 100 m and Order 2 in areas deeper than 100 m.  2. Produce bathymetry, shaded relief and backscatter mosaic products to provide depth, seabed features and seabed hardness/roughness information.  3. Acquire Sub Bottom Profiler (SBP) data of the shallow (up to 30 m) sub seabed to determine the existence of buried objects and ascertain the sub-seabed character.   4. Acquire magnetometer data to investigate the sub seabed geology and provide information on manmade seafloor debris.  5. Map in detail and provide hydrographic wreck reports on any wrecks.  6. Film a documentary for a TV programme titled Lighthouses of Ireland. INFOMAR is a Irish Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment (DCCAE) funded joint programme between the Geological Survey Ireland and the Marine Institute, surveying our unmapped marine territory and creating a range of integrated mapping products of the physical, chemical and biological features of the seabed.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
CE20009 Constraining the Impact of Arctic Amplification in the Nordic Sea: A biogeochemical approach (CIAAN) Celtic Explorer 2020

Cruise CIAAN (Constraining the Impact of Arctic Amplification in the Nordic Sea) was a 16 day interdisciplinary and multi-themed research cruise that took place on board the R.V. Celtic Explorer in August/September 2020, The cruise took a holistic approach to transform our understanding of how the signature of climate change is recorded in the Nordic Seas (e.g. temperature, salinity, and the carbonate system (CTD)) and transferred into geologic archives (Multi- and Gravity Cores) via foraminifera. The work program was multinational and facilitated trans-European co-operation through collaboration between an Irish and three leading European Institutes. It brought together researchers from two disciplines at the National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) - Geography and Earth and Ocean Sciences, with researchers also from the University of Southampton, MARUM Research Facility in Germany and the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research in Norway. During the survey 13 CTD , 11 Multinet Vertical  and 7 Multinet Oblique casts were successfully carried out. 5 Multicores, 2 Box Corer and 12 gravity core casts were also conducted. 3 Argo floats were also deployed. The research linked to the project &#039;Constraining the Impact of Arctic Amplification in the Nordic Sea (CIAAN)&#039; will support global efforts to improve our understanding of Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) in the Nordic Seas, which is a key region for the formation of North Atlantic Deepwater and the uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide (pCO2). Specifically, CIAAN aims to define a more comprehensive description of biogeochemical processes in the Nordic Seas and will provide transformative insights into how ECVs are recorded in geologic archives to improve the “long-term monitoring, surveying and modelling to understand the processes and feedback mechanisms between the ocean and atmospheric systems” (Joint Programming Initiative Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans).

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
Shellfish Observer and Skipper Self-Sampling Programmes

Each year since 2009-present Marine Institute (MI) staff or contractors go to sea on fishing vessels targetting shellfish to observe and record fishing activity. About 50-80 day trips are completed annually although this varies year on year and was lower earlier in the time series.  In 2021 a Skipper Self-Sampling Programme was set up to get skippers to record catch and effort data at operational level. Skippers fill out 10-14 fishing days of catch and effort data with some biological data for 8 strings of pots, across the fishing season.

The data recorded in observer and self-sampling trips include the catches, landings and discards of several species such as Homarus gammarus (Lobster), Cancer pagurus (Brown Crab), Maja brachydactyla (Spider Crab), Necora puber (Velvet Crab), Buccinum undatum (Whelk), and the bycatch associated with these fishing events. Furthermore, all individuals or a sample (depending on catch volume) of the target species captured  are measured to the nearest millimeter. Other biological traits such as the sex, whether females are berried and whether any individuals are missing or have regenerating chelae is recorded providing a significant amount of valuable biological information on these species. The observer and skipper self-sampling programmes provide data at the level of individual fishing operations in contrast to fishery dependent data collection programmes which report aggregated data. The sampling levels of both programmes are low relative to the thousands of trips undertaken by the Shellfish fishing fleet annually. Furthermore there is high variance between vessels (related to location of fishing). The low sampling level and high variance reduces precision and even accuracy in these data sets especially when reported at local level where the data supports are diluted.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
Sentinel Vessel Programme (SVP) Daily Fishing Operations

The Sentinel Vessel Programme (SVP) was set up by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) in conjunction with the Marine Institute (MI) to record self-sample information on daily fishing operations data from a subset of Inshore fishing vessels (predominantly < 12 meters) around the Irish coast. Prior to 2025 the programme was administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) as a pilot project funded by the Data Collection Framework (DCF). in 2025 the Marine Institute took over the administration of the programme. Vessels are chosen from different length and gear categories representative of fishing activity by vessels under 12 m around the Irish coast. From 2013 to 2024 data recording was done by distributing hard copy logbooks to the skippers participating on the programme. In 2025 a mobile phone app was rolled out to capture the SVP data electronically. 2025 SVP data was captured using both the hard copy logbooks and mobile phone app. From 2026 onward all SVP data will be recorded electronically using the mobile phone app.

On return of the logbooks to the Marine Institute the data is digitised and is stored in a SQL database. The mobile phone data is electronically transferred to a webapp managed by the Marine Institute and is also stored in a database.

The data recorded in SVP logbooks include catches, landings and discards of several species, i.e. Homarus gammarus (Lobster), Cancer pagurus(Brown Crab), Maja brachydactyla (Spider Crab), Necora puber (Velvet Crab), Buccinum undatum(Whelk), Ensis sp. (Razor clams), Cerastoderma edule (Cockle) and various finfish species.  The fishing location is recorded at either ICES Statistical Rectangle or Inshore Grid Resolution and additional details such as the type and amount of bait used or vessel operating costs (i.e. fuel consumption, number of crew, hours worked.). Additionally, although to a lesser extent (every five fishing days), length frequency data for lobsters and crabs may be included. Due to under 12 meter vessels not being required to fill in an EU logbook, catch and effort data from small coastal vessels around Ireland is limited. The Sentinel Vessel Programme along with other at sea sampling programmes managed by the Marine Institute enable data from smaller vessels around the Irish coast to be recorded.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network (IMDBON) - Deployment of weather buoy at M3 (North East Atlantic)  from October 2020 - January 2022

Deployment of the weather buoy at site M3 (51° 13' N, 10° 33' W) from the Atlantic Towage; Ocean Supporter on 22/10/2020. Recovered on 21/01/2022 by the Ocean Supporter. The purpose of this activity is the redeployment of the weather buoy at site M3 for long-term environmental monitoring.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
Mace Head Sentinel Site Met-Ocean Buoy - NRT Data - all sensors (2018 - present)

The Mace Head buoy is located 2 km offshore from the Mace Head atmospheric research station in Connemara, County Galway and is one of the Sentinel sites. Initially installed in May 2018, sensors have been deployed for the measurement of Temperature, Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate, pH, and pCO2. In addition, an Airmar weather station was installed for measuring wind speed and direction, air temperature, and atmospheric pressure at this site. This work was initially facilitated by the INTERREG funded project COMPASS – Collaborative Oceanography and Monitoring for Protected Areas and Species. Since 2022 the Mace Head buoy has been funded through the EMFAF Sentinels Site project. Data telemetry: For the period 2018 to 2022 measurements were taken every 30 minutes and transmitted every 12 hours to the Marine Institute Headquarters in Rinville, Galway. Since 2023 measurements have been made every 10 minutes and transmitted every 2 hours to the Marine Institute. Disclaimer: These data are real-time (GMT) and raw - they have not yet been through the full quality checking procedures. There may be short term data gaps caused by maintenance, re-deployments, or technical difficulties.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
South Rockall Trough Sub-surface Mooring Deployment  from October 2018 - May 2019

Deployment of a sub-surface mooring at South Rockall (52° 59.956' N, 15° 31.16' W) from the RV Celtic Explorer survey CE18015 on 02/10/2018. Recovered on 28/05/2019 by the RV Celtic Explorer survey CE19009. The purpose of this activity is to collect data to help understand the variability in the water column not visible at the surface and provide context to CTD profile data collected in the South Rockall Trough. These data are vital in understanding the likely impact of future ocean climate scenarios on key marine sectors as well as understanding possible impacts on ecosystem in the North East Atlantic Ocean.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
CV18004 National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) - Shipboard training

The purpose of this cruise was to complete the following practical CIT modules; Trainee Deck Officers (Undergraduate), Seamanship for Trainee Deck Officers, Introduction to Coastal Navigation Trainee Engineering Officers (Undergraduate), Marine Engineering Practice. National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) survey to carry out shipboard training.

Tags: environment
Organization: National Maritime College of Ireland
CE19005 Blue whiting acoustic survey

An acoustic survey targeting blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) spawning and post spawning aggregations in the north east Atlantic in 2019. This survey took place in March/April on board the RV Celtic Explorer.  The purpose of this survey was to survey blue whiting spawning stock using acoustic techniques in coordination with vessel from other participating vessels. Biological sampling of echotraces was carried out to determine species composition, age, spawning state and age profiles of blue whiting. Measurements of both vertical and horizontal physical oceanographic conditions were encountered along the pre-determined cruise track and part inter-calibration exercises conducted between vessels when required to determined acoustic and trawl performance. 1. Survey the blue whiting spawning stock using acoustic techniques in coordination with vessel from other participating vessels. 2. Biological sampling of echotraces to determine species composition, age, spawning state and age profiles of blue whiting

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
CE18006 Anglerfish and Megrim Trawl Survey - Cruise 2/2

The 2018 Irish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey (IAMS) took place from 20th February to 19th March (area 7bcjk) and from 10-21st April 2018 (area 6a) on the Marine Institute&#039;s RV Celtic Explorer to provide abundance indices for anglerfish and megrim and to provide maturity data for a range of species.     The Irish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey (IAMS) is carried out by Fisheries Ecosystems Advisory Services (FEAS). It has taken place in the 1st quarter each year since 2016 on the RV Celtic Explorer. It is coordinated with the Scottish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey (SIAMISS) and uses the same gear and fishing practices.     https://oar.marine.ie/handle/10793/1424 The main objective of the survey is to obtain biomass estimates for anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius and L. budegassa) and establish an abundance index for megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis and L. boscii) in areas 6a (south of 58°N) and 7 (west of 8°W). Secondary objectives are to collect data on the distribution and relative abundance of anglerfish, megrim and other commercially exploited species. The survey also collects maturity and other biological information for commercial fish species.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
CV20001 Winter Environmental Survey

This survey, led by the Marine Institute, took place on board the RV Celtic Voyager in January/February 2020 to carry out an environmental survey of coastal and shelf waters from Dun Laoghaire (Dublin) to Galway for the purpose of Benthos monitoring. 139 Benthic Faunal samples and 140 particle size analysis (PSA) samples were collected from nine waterbodies using a 1m2 Day grab. All faunal samples were sieved on a 1mm mesh sieve. These samples were collected as part of the Benthic maco-invertebrate ecological quality element of the Water Framework Directive. Benthic macro-invertebrates monitoring in transitional and coastal waters under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) in association with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
CE18018 Irish Groundfish Survey (IGFS) 2018 Leg II_IV

This survey was conducted on board the RV Celtic Explorer in 2018 by the Marine Institute (MI) as part of the annual groundfish survey to determine the distribution and abundance of commercial fish around Ireland.    The Irish Groundfish Survey (IGFS) forms part of the International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) programme, an international survey effort coordinated by the International Council of the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Each year the survey, taking place in Autumn/Winter, collects demersal trawl and ancillary data in Irish waters to produce relative abundance indices for fisheries management. In particular the survey provides an index of the share of young fish in the stock, which in turn gives an indication of its spawning success. The IGFS contributes to Ireland’s international obligation to supply scientific data that support the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).    This survey is a series of demersal sampling trawls at pre-defineds stations. The 2018 survey took place over 2 legs. Leg 1 (CE18017) took place in October-November and Leg 2, in the western and southern areas was carried out during November/December. The primary goal of the Irish Groundfish Survey is to develop estimates of juvenile abundances for important commercial fish species. Measurements of the abundance of juvenile fish are a critical measure of the health of a stock, serving as an annual indication of recruitment (the number of newly spawned fish which enter the population each year) success or failure. Most importantly, they allow forecasting of future commercial abundance. In addition, the Irish Groundfish Survey provides data on the distribution and biology of commercial and non-commercial species of ecological interest, as well as hydrographic and environmental observations.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
CE19004 Irish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey

The 2019 Irish Anglerfish and Megrim Survey (IAMS) took place over two survey: CE19004 was carried out from 1st to 25th March. The survey was conducted to provide abundance indices for anglerfish and megrim and to provide maturity data for a range of species. A total of 80 tows was carried out, and 15 grabs on this cruise. No CTDs were conducted. The main purpose of the survey is to provide additional information for the assessment of the monkfish and megrim stocks around Ireland while also extending maturity sampling for other commercial species.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
CE18016 Celtic Sea Herring Acoustic Survey

This survey was conducted by the Marine Institute in Autumn 2018 as part of the annual Celtic Sea Herring Acoustic Survey. The aim of an acoustic survey is to determine the relative abundance of the target species. This information is then used to determine catch rates and management advice for the following year.    In the southwest of Ireland and the Celtic Sea herring are an important commercial species. Since 2004 the acoustic survey has been carried out in October on-board the RV Celtic Explorer.    For biological sampling, a single pelagic midwater trawl was used. All components of the catch from the trawl hauls were sorted and weighed; fish and other taxa were identified to species level. Length measurements of herring, sprat and pilchard were taken. Acoustic data were collected using the Simrad EK60 scientific echosounder. Visual marine mammal and seabird surveys were also conducted. Oceanographic data (conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD)) was collected at preset stations. The aim of the acoustic survey is to determine the relative abundance of the target species, herring. This information is then used to determine catch rates and management advice for the following year.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute
Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network (IMDBON) - Deployment of weather buoy at M2 (Irish Sea)  from March 2024 - February 2025

Deployment of the weather buoy at site M2 (53° 28.02' N, 5° 25.002' W) from the ILV Granuaile on 14/03/2024. Recovered on 22/02/2025 by the Granuaile. The purpose of this activity is the redeployment of the weather buoy at site M2 for long-term environmental monitoring.

Tags: environment
Organization: Marine Institute