Western European Shelf Pelagic Acoustic Survey 2016

Introduction (from the Scientists@Sea blog, follow link here for more information)

"The Western European Shelf Pelagic Acoustic Survey (WESPAS) is a new multidisciplinary research survey representing the largest single vessel acoustic survey program in Europe. WESPAS is the consolidation of two existing acoustic surveys (the Malin Shelf herring and the boarfish acoustic surveys) into one. This new survey will be undertaken onboard the RV Celtic Explorer over the coming six weeks covering shelf waters from Northern Scotland to northern Biscay. The primary aim of the survey is to determine the acoustic abundance of small pelagic fish, namely herring, boarfish and horse mackerel for use in stock assessment. The survey grid provides an opportunity for complimentary research to enhance the overall program providing important metrics on the drivers that influence pelagic fish distribution. As well as investigating fisheries, scientists onboard are also investigating marine water chemistry, sampling for plankton, undertaking visual surveys for marine mammals and seabirds and also surveying for whales and dolphins using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM). The survey will also be retrieving acoustic moorings deployed during the blue whiting acoustic survey in March as part of the ObSERVE-Acoustic program. All in all, an action packed survey ahead!"

During the first leg of WESPAS in late mid-late June, surveying for marine mammals and sharks was conducted by Hannah Keogh (Irish Whale and Dolphin Group) around the Hebridean shelf waters off West Scotland and Northwest Ireland. Below is a summary map of her observations during that period which included a sighting of the male killer whale known as 'John Coe' on 18th June near the island of Coll. This animal was seen near The Blaskets, Co. Kerry just nine days later (see here for more info).

WESPAS leg 1 sightings June 2016 (c) Hannah Keogh (IWDG)

(white-beaked dolphin, common dolphin, Risso's dolphin, killer whale, minke whale, humpback whale, grey seal and basking shark)

The second and third legs of the WESPAS survey will take in the waters off West Ireland including the Porcupine Bank and Celtic Sea as well as heading to the canyon systems west of Scilly/Brittany. During this survey period in July, a full team of marine mammal and seabird surveyors will be present from ObSERVE-Acoustic, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Marine and Freshwater Research Centre GMIT and MaREI/University College Cork.

Survey route for the second and third legs of WESPAS in July 2016 within the red box

This diverse group of seasoned surveyors includes several members of the Cetaceans on the Frontier team, hence why we will be hijacking the COTF blog here to bring you sightings updates from the WESPAS survey this July!

Day 1 sightings: Monday 4th July 2016

The RV Celtic Explorer left Galway docks at 03:30 this morning and began making its way north off the coast of Connemara and Mayo towards the start of the survey transect lines

Black Rock lighthouse and Achill Island (c) Niall T. Keogh

Strong northerly headwinds and a sea state of 5 made survey conditions challenging and no marine mammals were observed. Some dolphin whistles were picked up on the hydrophone however so the honour of 'first blubber' goes to the passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) operators!

The seabird team had a good day for 'getting the eye in' with 13 species recorded: gannet, fulmar, manx shearwater, sooty shearwater, European storm-petrel, pomarine skua, kittiwake, great black-backed gull, lesser black-backed gull, Arctic tern, puffin, razorbill and common guillemot.

 Manx shearwater, one of the most abundant species seen today as we passed by several of their west coast breeding sites (c) Niall T. Keogh

A juvenile and adult razorbill (c) Niall T. Keogh

Sighting of the day however was "RESCUE118" the Irish Coast Guard Sikorsky-S92 duty helicopter, operating out of Sligo, which came over to RV Celtic Explorer in order to carry out some training exercises while we were well to the northwest of The Mullet Peninsula.

"RESCUE118" in action (c) Niall T. Keogh

COTF6: Introduction

On Wednesday 17^th September 2014 a team of 18 scientists and 16 crew will embark on a week long survey of Irish offshore waters, concentrating on the continental shelf. This is the sixth dedicated 'Cetaceans on the Frontier' survey to take place on-board the R.V. Celtic Explorer since 2009, supported under the Marine Institutes competitive Ship-time scheme in collaboration with Woodside and will be led by Chief Scientist, Dr. Joanne O'Brien of the GMIT Marine & Freshwater Research Centre.

R.V. Celtic Explorer

This years team of scientists and students from the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and BirdWatch Ireland will aim to carry out a variety of scientific investigations around some of the most interesting and important marine habitats in Irish waters. Primarily, the survey is focused on recording the distribution and abundance of cetaceans through visual and acoustic techniques. This involves two teams of observers on deck (visual) during daylight hours in conjunction with detecting any communication signals emitted from the animals with a towed hydrophone (acoustic). Surveying using acoustic methods will also continue during hours of darkness. Records will also be taken of all other megafauna encountered such as turtles, sharks, tuna or sunfish.

Marine Mammal Observers in action

If the opportunity arises or weather permits, the IWDG RIB 'Muc Mhara' will be launched to try to gather biopsy samples from cetaceans encountered. These samples can be used for genetic and pollutant analyses and give vital information on our offshore species which are often hard to encounter. With the assistance of staff from RPS Australia we will also retrieve acoustic loggers in the Porcupine Seabight area which were positioned there during a dedicated cetacean and seabird cruise on the R.V. Celtic Voyager in May 2014.

Common Dolphin

A seabird team from BirdWatch Ireland will undertake a visual survey recording the distribution and abundance of seabirds encountered as well as continuing a survey of anthropogenic marine debris (macro litter) which began in 2012. Additionally, the night-time team will generate conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) profiles of the water column, by collecting temperature and salinity recordings at various depths.

Kittiwake

This collection of various datasets is extremely important to piece together what is happening in these offshore ecosystems, and will contribute towards Ireland meeting requirements of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives aiming to ensure the effective conservation of these important offshore ecosystems.

Sightings and pictures from the current trip will be posted here on the  COTF blog and also on the new COTF Facebook page.

COTF5: Introduction

On Monday 20th January 2014, a team of 20 scientists will embark on a two week long survey of the Irish continental shelf. This will be the fifth dedicated 'Cetaceans on the Frontier' survey to take place on-board the R.V. Celtic Explorer since 2009, supported under the Marine Institutes competitive Ship-time scheme and will be led by Chief Scientist, Dr. Joanne O'Brien of the GMIT Marine & Freshwater Research Centre. This years team of scientists and students from the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, BirdWatch Ireland, Queen's University Belfast and Université de La Rochelle will aim to carry out a variety of scientific investigations around some of the most interesting and important marine habitats in Irish waters.

Proposed survey transects for Cetaceans on the Frontier 5

R.V. Celtic Explorer

Primarily, the survey is focused on recording the distribution and abundance of cetaceans through visual and acoustic techniques. Records will also be taken of all other megafauna encountered such as turtles, sharks, tuna or sunfish.

Blows from a group of 3 fin whales seen during Cetaceans on the Frontier 3 © Clo Collins

Offshore bottlenose dolphins, photographed c.150km West of Ireland during Cetaceans on the Frontier 3 © Joanne O'Brien

If the opportunity arises or weather permits, the IWDG RIB 'Muc Mhara' will be launched to try to gather biopsy samples from cetaceans encountered. These samples can be used for genetic and pollutant analyses and give vital information on our offshore species which are often hard to encounter. We will also deploy C-PODs (acoustic devices) close to the continental shelf to record dolphin species in the area over the survey period.

Long-finned Pilot Whales investigating the R.V. Celtic Explorer during Cetaceans on the Frontier 3 © Joanne O'Brien

IWDG RIB 'Muc Mhara' being loaded onto the R.V. Celtic Explorer © Conor Ryan

A seabird team from BirdWatch Ireland will undertake a visual survey recording the distribution and abundance of seabirds encountered. Additionally, a micro-plastics team from GMIT will filter seawater whilst the ship is underway as the presence of such is recognised as an environmental pollutant with our understanding of its effect on organisms still limited. During night-time hours, a phytoplankton and zooplankton team will take over and carry out vertical hauls with specialised nets as these tiny organisms form the basis of the food chain which supports larger predators such as cetaceans and seabirds. Additionally the night-time team will generate conductivity, temperature and depth (CTD) profiles of the water column, by collecting temperature and salinity recordings at various depths.

A 'blue' morph Fulmar, a winter visitor to Irish waters from the Arctic seen on Cetaceans on the Frontier 4 © Alex Borawska

Plankton sample from Cetaceans on the Frontier 4; a Euphausiid krill & two copepods © Fergal Glynn

CTD being lowered for sampling © Emilia Chorazyczewska

This collection of various datasets is extremely important to piece together what is happening in these offshore ecosystems, and will contribute towards Ireland meeting requirements of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives aiming to ensure the effective conservation of these important offshore ecosystems.

COTF4: Introduction

On 21 January 2013, the RV Celtic Explorer will depart from Galway with 18 scientists and crew on the fourth dedicated cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises) research cruise since 2008.

‘Cetaceans on the Frontier’ has become an annual research cruise, lead jointly by the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) and the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) which aims to record abundances and distribution of cetaceans along the continental shelf edge. This region is an important habitat for cetaceans as they feed there due to rich food resources available from increased productivity caused by upwelling when nutrients are brought to the surface from the depths. This project aims to identify particular areas of importance for these and other species such as seabirds. This year we are focusing on the bottlenose dolphin. 

While many people are familiar with coastal bottlenose dolphins that are resident in the Shannon Estuary, or those which occasionally venture into bays and harbours during summer months, little is known about their offshore counterparts. DNA analysis, photo-identification and behavioural traits suggest that a distinct ‘eco-type’ exists in offshore waters. This species is required to have strict protection under the EU Habitats Directive, but this is difficult to achieve for animals living offshore as we know little about their ecology, movements and the threats that they may face. As in 2012, we will take skin samples from these dolphins by deploying a small boat from the Celtic Explorer using a biopsy darting system to collect skin samples for DNA analysis, under licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. We will photograph their uniquely marked dorsal fins and catalogue individuals’ movements. We also hope to characterise their preferred habitat type, e.g. their preferred depth and distance from the shelf edge.

Offshore bottlenose dolphins, photographed from Muc Mhara, c.150km west of Ireland, Cetaceans on the Frontier 3 (c) Joanne O'Brien (GMIT/IWDG)

We expect to record other species such as common dolphins, white-sided dolphins, pilot whales and fin whales. A hydrophone will be towed behind the ship to listen for clicks from cetaceans that are not visible at the surface, such as deep-diving beaked and sperm whales which may be submerged for over an hour during deep dives. The IWDG will deploy a CPOD in 3000m of water and recover it in several months time. This device listens for sounds used by cetaceans for navigating or communicating, and records their presence or absence in an area, day and night for up to three months.

Pilot whale spy-hopping, Cetaceans on the Frontier 2 (c) Conor Ryan (GMIT/IWDG)

Cetaceans on the Frontier is an inter-disciplinary research cruise, and scientists specialising in seabird biology, plankton and micro-plastics will also be collecting data in order to determine how different species are interacting with their environment and with each other. Last year the bird team recorded a rare black-browed albatross, tens of thousands of kilometres from its native Southern Ocean!

Black-browed albatross, Cetaceans on the Frontier 3 (c) Conor Ryan (GMIT/IWDG)

The micro-plastics research, based in GMIT, aims to investigate how prolific plastic pollution is in the ocean, particularly in deep waters far from the sources of dumping. Zooplankton (including jellyfish such as the mauve stinger) will be collected in small nets and analysed for chemical tracers called stable isotopes which help ecologists to model food-webs including the diets and even movements of larger predators such as fish, birds and cetaceans. Scientists from GMIT, IWDG, BirdWatch Ireland, Queens University Belfast, National Oceanographic Centre Southampton, University College Cork and University of La Rochelle will spend two weeks at sea, zig-zagging along the shelf edge from Co. Donegal to Co. Cork.

Proposed track for Cetaceans on the Frontier 4 (prepared by Dave Wall)

Niall Keogh (BirdWatch Ireland) will be maintaining a daily blog here to keep everyone informed of our progress and discoveries along the way. This research will be carried out under grant-aid provided by the Sea Change Infrastructure Supporting Programme, funded under the National Development Plan 2007-2013.

Conor Ryan,

Chief Scientist

Cetaceans on the Frontier 3: Introduction

The Cetaceans on the Frontier III survey team will depart Cork on Friday afternoon. The team consists of scientists and students from the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, BirdWatch Ireland, University College Cork, Queens University Belfast, University of Aberdeen and MEER. The team aims to carry out a variety of scientific investigations over an 11 day period, including:

1.  Double platform cetacean visual surveys and simultaneous acoustic surveys on the slopes and canyon systems of the Goban Spur and Porcupine Seabight.

2.  To conduct a visual survey of marine megafauna including sharks, turtles, tuna and sunfish.

3. To deploy static acoustic monitoring devices (C-PODs) on acoustic release systems on Labadie Bank to investigate offshore dolphin activity.

4. To conduct a survey of seabird species and abundance according to ESAS methods in offshore waters.

5. To sample Mauve Stinger jellyfish Pelagia noctiluca to investigate the prevalence of the bacterium Tenacibaculum maritimum which has serious economic implications for fin-fish aquaculture, while providing further insight into biological factors influencing ecosystem functioning.

6. To sample the for phytoplankton, zooplankton and krill which form the basis of the food chain which supports cetaceans, seabirds and other marine megafauna in these habitats.

7. To carry out systematic CTD sampling stations in order to explore relationships between temperature,primary productivity and presence of marine mammals.

   This survey will be conducted on board the R.V. Celtic Explorer. For more information on the Explorer please view the following: 

     http://www.marine.ie/home/services/researchvessels/explorer/