CETUS: Cetacean, Elasmobranch, Turtle, and Seabird distribution modelling platform

This is the OBIS extraction of the Ocean Tracking Network and University College Cork (UCC) CETUS: Cetacean, Elasmobranch, Turtle, and Seabird distribution modelling platform, consisting of the release tagging metadata, i.e. the location and date when the tagged animal was released, and summarized detection events of tagged individuals. If readers are interested in the source dataset they may also inquire with the project PIs as listed here or on the OTN web site (https://members.oceantrack.org/project?ccode=V2LCETUS). Abstract:By 2030, the Irish Government aims to generate 7 GW of energy via offshore wind projects. Irish maritime waters are home to a rich diversity of animals, including cetaceans, seabirds, and elasmobranchs. Owing to the multitude of upcoming offshore renewable energy projects, there is a need to understand the potential interactions between potentially sensitive aquatic fauna and offshore wind infrastructure. Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are generally slow growing, late maturing, and have low fecundity, which makes them vulnerable to overexploitation. Ireland's waters are host to 71 species of elasmobranch. Despite this diversity, there is a paucity of data on their movements in Irish waters, with data predominantly gleaned from observational sightings, mark-recapture tagging and ad-hoc reports. The elasmobranch component of CETUS aims to use acoustic and/or satellite telemetry to track the movements of sensitive and Threatened species, including flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius), porbeagle (Lamna nasus) and tope (Galeorhinus galeus) in Irish waters. As well as the movements of benthic elasmobranchs including the thornback ray (Raja clavata) and small spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula) around Arklow Bank, the only existing wind farm site in Irish waters. These data will be used to identify hotspots of activity, seasonal differences in space use, and potential interactions between existing and proposed offshore renewable wind sites. Resultant findings will be used to inform developers and policymakers regarding the distribution of sensitive species and add to the limited existing published research on these species within Irish waters.

Citation: Orrell, D.L., Haberlin, D.H., Cohuo, A.C., Harman, L., Roche, W., Doyle, T. 2023. Investigating elasmobranch distributions to inform the sustainable development of offshore renewable energy. Accessed via the Ocean Tracking Network OBIS IPT on INSERT DATE

Published: November 05, 2025 at 20:57

URL: https://members.oceantrack.org/ipt/resource?r=otnucccetus_cetacean_elas