Boat-based visual surveys for Harbour Porpoise in the Rockabill to Dalkey Island SAC, Co. Dublin in 2021

Tender description

The Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (DHLGH) is responsible for the conservation of natural habitats and species and the protection of biological diversity in Ireland. It is also responsible for providing advice to Licensing Authorities in that regard. All species of Cetacea (i.e., whales, dolphins & porpoises) occurring in Ireland are protected under Irish and European legislation and through international agreements. These include the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012, the Habitats Directive, the OSPAR Convention, the Bonn Convention and the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. As part of Ireland’s conservation obligations concerning cetaceans there is a significant requirement for the monitoring of cetacean occurrence in all Irish waters, including inshore water and the coastal zone. The State also has a legal obligation through the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) to monitor key marine habitats and species and to report on their conservation status to the EU. Since Rockabill to Dalkey Island, Co. Dublin comprise a Special Area of Conservation (SAC 003000 https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/003000) for inter alia Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) a number of population assessment studies have been undertaken within this site, the most recent being boat-based surveys carried out during 2016 and 2013. An additional regional-scale survey for cetaceans was also conducted off the east coast of Ireland in 2011. For information on the above studies see http://www.npws.ie/marine/marinereports/. In order to fulfil its monitoring requirements, the National Parks & Wildlife Service of DHLGH now invites tenders for the provision of ecological services to carry out boat-based visual surveys for Harbour Porpoise in the Rockabill to Dalkey Island SAC, Co. Dublin in 2021. A detailed specification of the technical and proposal requirements is set out in the RfT document.