New Atlas on marine fisheries activities available for free download

Geared towards the general public, policy makers, managers, scientists and all stakeholders, the information is presented in a very visual format and uses non-technical language. The focus of the Atlas is on fish stocks that are regulated by Total Allowable Catches (TAC’s) under the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).

The Atlas not only gives information for the main fisheries carried out, but also on; the Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for each of these stocks, on landings trends and on fishing activity (effort levels) in the seas around Ireland. In addition, the Atlas provides a brief overview on the state of the each fisheries resource as indicated by the latest scientific assessments.

“The ocean waters around Ireland contain a very productive and biologically diverse marine ecosystem,” said Dr. Paul Connolly of the Marine Institute’s Fisheries Science Services team. “These ocean waters include a large area of shallow continental shelf less than 200m in depth. There are two important offshore banks off the west of Ireland; the Porcupine Bank and the Rockall Bank. The ocean area also includes a steep continental shelf that extends into the Atlantic Ocean to depths of over 2,500 meters. The Atlas presents maps on these areas and illustrates the various boundaries that have been developed for management and regulation of the seas.“

The Atlas also shows the important herring, cod, haddock, whiting, plaice and sole spawning areas in the Irish Sea and the Celtic Sea. The coastal waters are important nursery areas for young fish. Shellfish stocks such as prawn, crab, lobster, shrimp, scallop whelk and cockles are also abundant in local inshore areas.

The Atlas is available for download free of charge from the Marine Institute’s website as a PDF document: Atlas of the Commercial Fisheries Around Ireland