European Ocean Biodiversity Information System

"This dataset contains information on the presence and absence of bycaught infaunal species from Crepidula fornicata surveys in Belfast Lough carried out annually (autumn) from 2013-2017. The survey was carried out on the DARD Fisheries Protection Vessel, Banríon Uladh (renamed in 2016 to Queen of Ulster). The surveys were carried out each year in late September and early October (each over 2 days of surveying). It is important to note that this dataset contains bycatch information and this was not the key aim of the survey. The main aim of the C. fornicata survey is to routinely monitor the extent of the population in Belfast Lough to advise management policies to minimise the spread of this non-native species. C.fornicata (Slipper limpet) is non-native in the UK and Ireland. It is native to the Western Atlantic Ocean and the 1st established population in Belfast Lough was recorded in 2009. From 2013-2015 a small oyster dredge was used to obtain the samples (63x50x18) and from 2016 a small AFBI naturalist dredge with a rectangular mouth (490mm x 215mm) was used (mesh size = 10mm). The dredges were towed for 3-5mins and the catch was sorted and the fauna recorded to species level where possible. The dates of the surveys and number of samples each year are detailed below. • 2013: 23/09/2013 & 24/09/2013, 60 samples. • 2014: 22/09/2014 & 23/09/2014, 59 samples. • 2015: 13/10/2015 & 14/10/2015, 63 samples. • 2016: 27/09/2016 & 29/09/2016, 52 samples. • 2017: 25/09/2017 & 28/09/2017, 44 samples. "