Scientific Support Services for “Development of Multi-Metric Indicators of Benthic Ecosystem Status”

Description

The Marine Institute is the national agency responsible for Marine Research, Technology Development and Innovation. The successful contractor will work with the Benthos Ecology Unit within the Marine Environment & Food Safety Services (MEFSS) division. This is an applied research position and all outputs will provide key scientific services to government assist in meeting objectives for safe seafood, sustainable development of the marine environment, sustainable aquaculture and clean seas. This project will focus on developing the pre-existing WFD-style benthic status indicator of ecosystem structure and function (e.g. IQI) for use in a wider range of benthic habitats and sediment types with the view to increase their utility in benthic monitoring and reporting exercises nationally. A particular focus will be on developing indicators for use in relation to aquaculture activities in Natura 2000 sites (as a pressure source) as this will directly aid the MI in its’ statutory role as scientific advisor to the Department of Agriculture Food and Marine on the potential effects of aquaculture on the status of benthic habitats.