The Marine Institute here and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been jointly studying the effect of oceanic conditions on fish stocks and how to protect breeding grounds.
The survey in Irish waters from the fishing vessel, Emerald Dawn and the marine research vessel, Celtic Voyager, ended yesterday.
The first phase identified concentrations of fish eggs and larvae, and the second focused on areas where samples were taken at different depths. For this a net known as MOCNESS (multiple open/closing net and environmental sampling system) was towed behind the ship, its nine nets each controlled by a computer. Also recorded are depth, salinity, temperature, chlorophyll fluorescence, and flow.
Aerial photographs taken by a US satellite throughout the survey showed water temperatures and oceanic conditions. Other areas identified for co-operation include marine data management, early-warning systems for harmful algae and studies on salmon migration.
