Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems
This programme provides research, monitoring and technology transfer in support of evidence-based sustainable management of freshwater fisheries and marine resources in Northern Ireland.
AFBI’s scientific work on marine ecosystem health is currently being expanded in the context of a wider requirement to coordinate marine science at UK level.
AFBI has expertise in marine science relevant to offshore renewable energy. It is developing strategies for evidence-based sustainable management and exploitation of recreational and commercial fisheries resources in inland waters, with a particular focus on the large lake systems of Loughs Neagh and Erne.
AFBI maintain a database of robust scientific evidence in support of international reporting on the status of salmon stocks and the European eel recovery plan.
Key areas include:-
- Marine fisheries stock assessment, with the aid of the institute’s research vessel, the RV Corystes
- Biological oceanography and marine environmental monitoring
- Coastal zone science
- Freshwater fisheries stock assessment and catchment management
AFBI’s customer base is wide, with particularly strong links to Cefas (England), Marine Science Scotland, Scottish Association for Marine Science, and Marine Institute (Ireland).
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