Rapid Assessment of Invasive Marine Species in Marinas

Tender description

The Department of Housing, Local Government and 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 Consenting and Licensing Authorities in that regard. Article 17 of the Habitats Directive requires Member States to compile and report on the conservation status of Annex I & II habitats and species. The 2019 report noted that one of the most significant threats to marine habitats in the inshore occurred from the introduction and proliferation of invasive marine species. A dedicated survey is required to properly assess the pressure and threat these species pose to protected marine habitats. The rapid assessment of marinas has become an established method of surveying for the presence of invasive marine species. A key advantage of this survey type is it can be run independently of the tidal state and does not require a vessel or significant outlay on equipment. These habitats also tend to be ideal settlement sites for introduced species due to their sheltered nature and thus are good proxies for the condition of the wider environment. It is proposed to survey a representative sample of the coastal marinas in Ireland, to be geographically spread across the western, southern and eastern seaboards. The National Parks & Wildlife Service of DHLGH now invites tenders for the provision of ecological services to carry out Rapid Assessment of Invasive Marine Species in marinas, in 2021. A detailed specification of the Department’s technical and proposal requirements is set out in Appendices 1B and 1C respectively. A strict schedule of deliverables will be agreed with the successful Tenderer [see section 1B (iii) below] with the contract concluding by 13th November 2021 See RfT document for details