ObSERVE Phase III Project: Standards and Protocols for Marine Surveys of Mammals, Birds and Sharks in Irish Waters

This project consists of a desktop study undertaken by an external expert consultant with critical experience and expertise in the at-sea surveillance of marine mammals, marine birds and sharks. The work will incorporate a review of the ObSERVE Programme surveys undertaken so far, the methods used and outputs generated, and then the careful evaluation of standards and international practices with regard to site-level or sub-regional surveys. The project will result in a final report on the work undertaken, along with several annexes describing the survey design standards, survey methodological standards and protocols recommended for use for marine mammals, marine birds and sharks. This is so that site-level and ObSERVE surveys are better aligned and compatible with one another regarding the use and interpretation of outputs.