Identification of important areas for marine birds in Irish offshore waters

Seabirds spend most of their life at sea, i.e. during the non-breeding season or foraging in the breeding season.  As part of a strategy to protect seabirds, we need to identify offshore areas that are ecologically important for them.  Identifying these areas is challenging, seabird species have a variety of foraging ranges, strategies and habitat preferences.

 

Our team analyse aerial and ship-based survey data in order to predict the distribution/abundance of selected bird species in the Irish EEZ.  The results will inform decisions on conservation or management actions for species where a site-based approach is appropriate.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service fund this project.  

Project Contact:

Project Team

Senior Research Fellow
Head of Dept Natural Resources and the Environment