BRICONS is an interdisciplinary project that draws on a wide range of expertise from multiple fields, including marine ecology, marine biology, environmental science, analytical chemistry, hydrodynamics, remote sensing, and civil engineering. The diverse backgrounds of the PIs provide a comprehensive skill set to address the complexities of biodiversity monitoring and the implementation of nature-based solutions associated with a key native species in Irish marine systems ATU will lead the monitoring of the biodiversity of native wild Ostrea edulis beds in their restoration sites in Connemara alongside the ongoing Oisre Conamara project led by Dr José M. Fariñas-Franco. Using them as reference sites, they will develop success indicators to assess success in ‘de novo’ restoration sites in Dublin Bay and Belfast Lough. ATU will also replicate the deployment of alternative substrates (reef balls, cultch bags) to enhance protection of existing beds and the creation of new reef areas in suitable sites within their remit areas. They will develop and refine a monitoring and survey methodology that will be replicated across all sites for consistency.
BRICONS is funded by the Marine Institute under the “Changing use of Ireland’s ocean: Measuring and monitoring the impacts on our marine biodiversity and ecosystems” Research Programme
