Member State report / Art11 / 2020 / D2 / Ireland / NE Atlantic: Celtic Seas
Report type | Member State report to Commission |
MSFD Article | Art. 11 Monitoring programmes (and Art. 17 updates) |
Report due | 2020-10-15 |
GES Descriptor | D2 Non-indigenous species |
Member State | Ireland |
Region/subregion | NE Atlantic: Celtic Seas |
Reported by | Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government |
Report date | 2021-12-08 |
Report access |
Descriptor |
D2 |
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Monitoring strategy description |
Ireland has one programme to monitor and assess Non-Indigenous species (NIS) in Irish marine waters. The Shellfish Associated Species Inventory (SASI), supported by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), focuses on NIS in the aquaculture sector.
Ireland also has a number of NIS projects that may potentially feed into future marine NIS monitoring programmes. The ongoing ‘Rapid Assessment of Invasive Marine Species’ contract has the potential to become a future marine NIS monitoring programme, while the recent Marine Institute/GMIT Environmental DNA sampling protocols project provides additional information towards large-scale monitoring and surveillance of marine NIS.
In the recent Article 17 update, Ireland has achieved GES within its maritime area for Descriptor 2. |
Coverage of GES criteria |
Adequate monitoring was in place by 2018 |
Gaps and plans |
Gaps identified:The recently published European Commission’s Joint Research Center's paper on MSFD D2 highlights the need for harmonization and coherent implementation of European Marine NIS, mostly in relation to NIS reference points, monitoring, and thresholds. The development of indicators at regional and subregional scale is needed and associated monitoring and surveillance in key areas is required.
The Irish 2013 NIS assessment is now considered incomplete. Confidence in the assessment of the number of new introductions since 2013 is therefore considered moderate. Research is ongoing, through projects outlined in Irelands Marine Strategy Part 1, which will help us evaluate monitoring, modelling and mapping techniques (Tsiamis et al., 2019).
Gap plans: Work is ongoing in OSPAR to look at greater harmonisation of assessment criteria across the OSPAR areas, including the establishment of the new joint OSPAR HELCOM Working Group on Non-Indigenous Species (JWGNIS). |
Related targets |
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Coverage of targets |
Adequate monitoring was in place by 2018 |
Related measures |
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Coverage of measures |
Adequate monitoring was in place by 2018 |
Related monitoring programmes |
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Programme code |
ACS-IE-D02-01 |
Programme name |
Shellfish Associated Species Inventory Ireland |
Update type |
New programme |
Old programme codes |
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Programme description |
The purpose of this monitoring is to assess and better understand the linkages between aquaculture activities and NIS both nationally and internationally. The programme has developed following the use of the Dutch Shellfish Associated Species Inventory at Irish aquaculture sites. In order to gain a better understanding of the status of NIS associated with Irish Aquaculture, BIM have now established a memorandum of understanding with the Dutch operators and enhanced the coverage of the programme in Ireland. |
Monitoring purpose |
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Other policies and conventions |
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Regional cooperation - coordinating body |
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Regional cooperation - countries involved |
NL |
Regional cooperation - implementation level |
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Monitoring details |
During a SASI multiple samples are taken spread throughout the production area. In each sample of approximately 5kg shellfish, all animal and algal species that live between the sampled shellfish are scored. For each species found during the surveys, it is determined if the species is a nuisance species. This method of sampling is suitable for macroflora and macrofauna > 1 mm.
This method is used to capture the total diversity of species in the field. |
Features |
Newly introduced non-indigenous species
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Elements |
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GES criteria |
D2C1 |
Parameters |
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Parameter Other |
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Spatial scope |
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Marine reporting units |
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Temporal scope (start date - end date) |
2018-9999 |
Monitoring frequency |
6-monthly |
Monitoring type |
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Monitoring method |
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Monitoring method other |
GiMaRIS established methodology |
Quality control |
The quality management system of GiMaRIS is NEN-EN-ISO 9001:2015 certified by NCK for conducting national and international, applied and fundamental research, consultancy and policy making for both the private sector and (semi-)government agencies (EA code 35) (certificate no: NCK.2015.364.ISO9001)
https://www.gimaris.com/en-us/About-us/Quality-assurance-and-certification |
Data management |
Data held by BIM and GiMaRIS
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Data access |
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Related indicator/name |
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Contact |
Grainne Devine
grainne.devine@bim.ie |
References |