Seabird Monitoring undertaken during the Western European Shelf Pelagic Acoustic Survey (WESPAS) 2022

However, the at-sea abundance and distribution of many of the seabird species occurring in Irish waters remains poorly understood. Under the EU Birds Directive, there is a requirement on member states to conduct surveillance of seabirds occurring within their waters.

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), through the Marine Institute, commissioned a seabird survey from the MRV Celtic Explorer during the annual Western European Shelf Pelagic Acoustic Survey (WESPAS), running from 15th June- 22nd July 2022. A standard line transect survey methodology was employed by the seabird observer with additional visual point sampling at fishing locations and oceanographic sampling stations.